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, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: has increased at 3% a year over the same period leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The informal sector is marked by both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The Paraguayan Government has stated publicly that it will continue its economic reform agenda in close coordination with its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners. In 1995, the government also promised to undertake efforts to formalize the financial sector, after a financial shock forced the bail-out of the second and third largest banks. Paraguay's continued integration into Mercosur also offers potential for growth; it is closely linked with the success of foreign investment promotion. Non-traditional exports, such as finished agricultural products, light manufactures, and small consumer items, are growing rapidly. Government reform efforts, including privatization, have continued, but with little success in 1995.
Land: 397,300 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than California

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
Extremes lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
Extremes highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

Natural resources:

Land use
Arable land: 20%
Permanent crops: 1%
Permanent pastures: 39%
Forests 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

Geography


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Population:
Growth rate:

Nationality
Noun: Paraguayan(s)
Adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups:

Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani

Religions:

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years:
15-64 years:
65 years and over:

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

Birth rate:

Death rate:

Net migration rate:

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-1985); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents
Current issues Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
International agreements: party to_Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified_Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
International agreements note: Landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
All ages:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.84 years (1996 est.); 73.58 years (1995 est.)
Male: 72.33 years (1996 est.); 72.06 years (1995 est.)
Female: 75.43 years (1996 est.); 75.18 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate:

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
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)
Total population: 92.1%
Male: 93.5%
Female: 90.6%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional 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 areas

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

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

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; 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%
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president

Legislative branch: Bicameral Congress (Congreso) 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), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation

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: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The formal economy is largely oriented toward services, but 45% of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: Accounts for 25.7% of GDP; 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:

Industrial production growth rate: Growth rate 1.3% (1995 est.), 3.6% (1993 est.), accounts for 25.8% of GDP

Labor force: 1.692 million (1993 est.)
By occupation: Agriculture 45%

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.25 billion (1995 est.); $1.2 billion (1992 est.)
Expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.); $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1992 est.)

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:
Commodities:
Partners:

Imports
Total value:
Commodities:
Partners:

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Guaranies (G) per US$ 2,003.8 (January 1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990)


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Electricity
Capacity: 6,530,000 kW
Production: 26.5 billion kWh (1992)
Consumption per capita: NA
Consumption per capita note: Much of the electricity produced in Paraguay is exported to Brazil and domestic consumption cannot be determined

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 88,730 telephones (1985 est.); meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion
Local: NA
Intercity: fair microwave radio relay network
International: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $94 million, 0.6% 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: 739
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 266 (1995 est.)
With paved runways under 914 m: 438
With paved runways With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 3,100 km

Merchant marine
Total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,323 GRT/23,907 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 13, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)
Note: In addition, 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

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 U.S. and Europe