Statistical information Paraguay 1993

Paraguay in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap reference:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 406,750 km²
Land: 397,300 km²
Land boundaries:
total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km,
Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none; landlocked
Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in 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
ElevationNatural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land useArable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 39%
Forest and woodland: 35%
Other: 5%
Irrigated land: 670 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 5,070,856 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.8% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Paraguayan(s)
Adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.8% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 32.61 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 4.58 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Current issues note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 72.98 years
Male: 71.42 years
Female: 74.62 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 90%
Male: 92%
Female: 88%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
Conventional short form: Paraguay
Local long form: Republica del Paraguay
Local short form: Paraguay
Government type: republic
Capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu,
Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Dependent areasIndependence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992
National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
ConstitutionLegal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
Legislative branch: bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ
In the us chancery: 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: (202) 483-6,960 through 6,962
In the us consulate: Houston
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jon David GLASSMAN
From the us embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
From the us mailing address: C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34,036-0001
From the us telephone: 595 (21) 213-715
From the us 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)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but does have a large hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak international commodity prices for agricultural exports. In 1987 the economy experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. In a major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach, reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid 100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France, and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the long run, the government must press forward with general, market-oriented economic reforms.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 1.7% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $1,500 (1992 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 17% of
GDP
Labor force: 1.641 million (1992 est.)
By occupation agriculture industry and commerce services government: (1986)
Unemployment rate: 10% (1992 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetTaxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $719 million (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products
Partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports: $1.33 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Commodoties: capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%
Partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,637.6 (January 1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 5,257,000 kW capacity; 16,200 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 862
Usable: 719
With permanentsurface runways: 7
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 4
With runways 1220-2439 m: 64
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterways: 3,100 km
Merchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe