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Background:
|
 In
the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay
lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory.
It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the
Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were
won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo
STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked
increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively
free and regular presidential elections have been held since
then. |
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Location:
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Central
South America, northeast of Argentina |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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total:
406,750 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km,
Brazil 1,290 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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subtropical
to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions,
becoming semiarid in the far west |
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Terrain:
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grassy
plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the
river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydropower,
timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 94.25% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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670
sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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local
flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly
drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation;
water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present
health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked;
lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country |
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Population:
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6,191,368 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
38.2% (male 1,201,459; female 1,162,954)
15-64 years: 57% (male 1,773,151; female 1,758,323)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 136,376; female 159,105)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
21.1 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 21.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.51% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.78
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.58 deaths/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
26.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 74.64 years
male: 72.12 years
female: 77.29 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.11% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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220 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed
Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic
90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant |
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Languages:
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Spanish
(official), Guarani (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay |
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Government type:
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constitutional
republic |
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Capital:
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Asuncion |
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Administrative divisions:
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17 departments (departamentos,
singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay,
Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa,
Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro |
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Independence:
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14 May 1811 (from
Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
14 May (1811) (observed 15 May annually) |
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Constitution:
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promulgated 20
June 1992 |
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Legal system:
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based on
Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review
of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August
2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August
2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos
(since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria
(since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the
president
elections: president and vice president elected on the
same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last
held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008)
election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected
president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%,
Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa
FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other
4.2% |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or
Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or
Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April
2003 (next to be held NA April 2008); Chamber of Deputies -
last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote
by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 16, PLRA 12,
UNACE 7, MPQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 37, PLRA
21, UNACE 10, MPQ 10, PPS 2 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of
Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the
proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates or Consejo de la
Magistratura) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Asociacion
Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [leader NA];
Movimiento Patria Querida or MPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL
Niella]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Colorados Eticos or
UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or
PEN [Diego ABENTE Brun]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or
PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS
[Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]; note - Nicanor DUARTE
Frutos on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR
while serving as President of Paraguay |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Ahorristas
Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of National Campesino
Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinos or
FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers
Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers
Central or CUT;; |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami,
New Orleans, New York
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal
402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728 |
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Economy - overview:
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Paraguay has a
market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal
sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to
neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands
of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the
importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population
derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a
subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of
about 3% annually in 1995-97; but GDP declined slightly in
1998, 1999, and 2000, rose slightly in 2001, only to fall
again in 2002. On a per capita basis, real income has
stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's
poor economic performance to political uncertainty,
corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial
internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $28.03 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1.3% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $4,600 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
27%
industry: 27%
services: 46% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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36% (2001 est.) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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10.5% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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2.5 million (2002
est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 45% |
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Unemployment rate:
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16.4% (2002 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$1.3 billion
expenditures: $2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $700 million (1999 est.) |
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Industries:
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sugar, cement,
textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic,
electric power |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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0% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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44.89 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
0%
hydro: 99.9%
other: 0.1% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.637 billion kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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25,000 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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cotton,
sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca),
fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber |
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Exports:
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$2.727 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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soybeans, feed,
cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather |
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Exports - partners:
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Brazil 29.8%,
Argentina 18%, Chile 5.5%, Bermuda 4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$2.77 billion
f.o.b. (2003 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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road vehicles,
consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical
machinery |
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Imports - partners:
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Brazil 28.9%, US
22.5%, Argentina 17.7%, Uruguay 4.7%, Hong Kong 4.3%, China
4.1% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$3.2 billion
(2002 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$NA (2001) |
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Currency:
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guarani (PYG) |
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Currency code:
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PYG |
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Exchange rates:
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guarani per US
dollar - 6,424.34 (2003), 5,716.26 (2002), 4,105.92 (2001),
3,486.35 (2000), 3,119.07 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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273,200 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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1.667 million
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general
assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 595; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 46, FM 27,
shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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5 (2003) |
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Internet country code:
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.py |
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Internet hosts:
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4,351 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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100,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
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total: 441
km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est) |
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Waterways:
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3,100 km |
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Ports and harbors:
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Asuncion, Villeta,
San Antonio, Encarnacion |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 21
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWT
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)
by type: cargo 14, livestock carrier 1, petroleum
tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: Argentina 2, Japan 1 |
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Airports:
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880 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 869
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 324
under 914 m: 518 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy
(includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force |
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Military manpower - military age:
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18 years of age
(2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 1,504,407 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 1,084,087 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
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males:
63,386 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$52.7 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
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unruly region at
convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of
money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and
fundraising for extremist organizations |
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Illicit drugs:
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major illicit
producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in
Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean
cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets,
Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity,
especially in the Tri-Border Area |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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