Map of Paraguay | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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 relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.


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Location: Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 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

Elevation

Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use
Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 39%
Forest and woodland: 35%
Other: 5%

Irrigated land: 670 km² (1989 est.)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June; poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Geography
Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil


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Population: 5,213,772 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.76% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Paraguayan(s)

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 profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.76% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 32.03 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 4.48 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health hazards for many urban residents

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 25.2 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.28 years
Male: 71.74 years
Female: 74.9 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 90%
Male: 92%
Female: 88%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
Conventional short form:

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 areas

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Constitution: 25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992

Legal 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 participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993; Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993; election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998; results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%

Legislative branch: Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Chamber of Senators Camara de Senadores: elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8
Chamber of Deputies Camara de Diputados: elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Gerald McCOLLOCH
From the us chancery: 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
From the us fax: (202) 234-4,508
From the us consulates general: New Orleans and New York
From the us consulates: Miami
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 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 symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports, led by soybeans and cotton. Paraguay lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but possesses 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 export prices for agricultural commodities. 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. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international commodity prices. Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993 because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3.5% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: accounts for 26% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane, soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, 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: 2.2% (1991 est.), accounts for 20% of GDP

Labor force: 1.692 million (1993 est.)
Bnote: agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)

Unemployment rate: 11% (1993 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:$1.2 billion

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodities: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil
Partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
Commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels
Partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $1.2 billion (1993 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,861.3 (January 1994), 1,744.3 (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)


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Electricity
Capacity: 5,257,000 kW
Production: 16.2 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 3,280 kWh (1992)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994 est.)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 969
Usable: 827
With permanentsurface runways: 7
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 5
With runways 1220-2439 m: 93

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 3,100 km

Merchant marine: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,513 DWT, cargo 11, oil tanker 2
Note: 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe