In the disastrous War of the
Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and
Uruguay - 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, Paraguay won large, economically important areas
from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER
ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in
recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential
elections since then.
Geography
Paraguay
Location:
Central South America,
northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than
California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil
1,365 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to temperate;
substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far
west
Terrain:
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
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction
of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero
(Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore,
manganese, limestone
total: 0.49 cu km/yr
(20%/8%/71%) per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast
(early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early
October to June)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban
residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between
Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part
of country
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.5 years female: 22 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.39% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
28.47 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.49 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
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 (2008
est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.55
deaths/1,000 live births male: 29.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.56
years male: 72.99 years female: 78.26 years (2008
est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.8 children born/woman (2008
est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue
fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and
Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.6%,
Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none
1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani
(official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write total population: 94% male:
94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)
Government
Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short
form: Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time
difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811
(observed 15 May)
Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman
law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme
Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and
compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President
Francisco OVIEDO Britez (since 21 November 2007); 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 Francisco OVIEDO Britez (since 21 November 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20
April 2008 (next to be held April 2013) election results:
Fernando LUGO elected president; percent of vote - Fernando LUGO 42.3%,
Blanca OVELAR 31.8%, Lino OVIEDO 22.8%, other 3.1%; note - LUGO will take
office on 15 August 2008
Legislative branch:
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 in April 2008);
Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April
2008) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote
by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN
1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or
Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed on the proposal of the
Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza Patriotica por el
Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion
Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Jose Alberto ALDERETE];
Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ
Quintana]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas
Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO
Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido
Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE;
National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis
AGUAYO]; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA];
National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES];
Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary
Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:
CAN (associate), CSN, FAO,
G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES,
LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers chancery: 2400 Massachusetts
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960
through 6962 FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 consulate(s)
general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador James C. CASON
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
Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands
of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band;
unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse
(hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow
five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL
PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right)
bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty
and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy
Paraguay
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a
market economy marked by a large informal sector. This 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, especially in rural areas, derives its living from
agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita
basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute
Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption,
limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. The
economy rebounded between 2003 and 2007, posting modest growth each year.
Growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and
favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.
China 27%, Brazil 20%,
Argentina 13.6%, Japan 8.3%, US 6.4% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$51.09 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.463 billion (31 December
2007)
Debt - external:
$3.632 billion (31 December
2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.057 million (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$233.8 million (2005)
Currency (code):
guarani (PYG)
Currency code:
PYG
Exchange rates:
guarani per US dollar - 5,031
(2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications
Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
331,100 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3.233 million (2006)
Telephone system:
general assessment:
meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly;
deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service has resulted in a rapid
expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among
multiple providers international: country code - 595; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3
inactive) (2006)
Radios:
925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2007)
Televisions:
990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.py
Internet hosts:
12,497 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)
Internet users:
260,000 (2006)
Transportation
Paraguay
Airports:
838 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13 over
3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5
(2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 825 1,524
to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 267 under 914 m:
532 (2007)
Railways:
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)
Waterways:
3,100 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1000
GRT or over) 39,693 GRT/43,530 DWT by type: cargo 16, container
1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off
1 foreign-owned: 5 (Argentina 3, Netherlands 1, Switzerland 1)
(2007)
Ports and terminals:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio,
Encarnacion
Military
Paraguay
Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada
Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval
Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory
and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months
for Army, 24 months for Navy (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49:
1,589,873 females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49:
1,327,730 females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 16-49: 72,109
females age 16-49: 70,509 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1% (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues
Paraguay
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of
Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling,
arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist
organizations
Illicit drugs:
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, and Europe; corruption and some money-laundering
activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering
laws and enforcement
