Map of Paraguay | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina Brazil and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. 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 the country's return to democracy.


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Location: Central South America northeast of Argentina southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S 58 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: 406,752 km²
Land: 397,302 km²
Water: 9,450 km²
Rank: 60
Comparative: slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries
Total: 4,655 km
Border countries: (3) Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1371 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
Extremes highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m

Natural resources: hydropower timber iron ore manganese limestone

Land use
Agricultural land: 53.8%
Forest: 43.8%
Other: 2.4%

Irrigated land: 670 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 336 km³ (2011)

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

Geography
Note: landlocked; lies between Argentina Bolivia and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country


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Population: 6,783,272 (July 2015 est.)
Rank: 105
Growth rate: 1.16% (2015 est.)
Growth rate rank: 104
Below poverty line: 34.7% (2010 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Paraguayan
Adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95% other 5%

Languages: Spanish (official) Guarani (official)

Religions: Roman Catholic 89.6% Protestant 6.2% other Christian 1.1% other or unspecified 1.9% none 1.1% (2002 census)

Demographic profile:

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.59%
15-24 years: 20.14%
25-54 years: 40.04%
55-64 years: 7.48%
65 years and over: 6.75% (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 56.6%
Youth dependency ratio: 47.2%
Elderly dependency ratio: 9.4%
Potential support ratio: 10.6%

Median age
Total: 27.3 years
Male: 27 years
Female: 27.5 years

Population growth rate: 1.16% (2015 est.)
Rank: 104

Birth rate: 16.37 births/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 116

Death rate: 4.68 deaths/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 198

Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1000 population (2015 est.)
Rank: 115

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 59.7% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: ASUNCION (capital) 23.56 million (2015)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
International agreements party to: Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male/female
25-54 years: 1 male/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male/female
Total population: 1.01 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 20.05 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 23.6 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 16.31 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 86

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.99 years
Male: 74.34 years
Female: 79.77 years
Rank: 74

Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)
Rank: 136

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 79.4%
Note: percent of women aged 15-44

Drinking water source:

Current health expenditure

Physicians density: 1.23 physicians/1000 population (2012)

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.41% (2014 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 75
People living with hivaids: 16,800 (2014 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 83
Deaths: 400 (2014 est.)
Deaths rank: 90

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 15.1% (2014)
Rank: 110

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 3.4% (2005)
Rank: 105

Education expenditures: 5% of GDP (2011)
Rank: 84

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.9%
Male: 94.8%
Female: 92.9%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years

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: constitutional republic

Capital
Name: Asuncion
Geographic coordinates: 25 16 S 57 40 W
Time difference: UTC-4
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins first Sunday in October; ends fourth Sunday in March

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)

Constitution: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992; amended 2011 (2011)

Legal system: civil law system with influences from Argentine Spanish Roman and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Horacio CARTES ; Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Horacio CARTES ; Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 21 April 2013
Election results: Horacio CARTES elected president; percent of vote - Horacio CARTES 45.8% Efrain ALEGRE (PLRA) 36.9% Mario FERREIRO (AP) 5.9% Anibal CARRILLO (FG) 3.3% other 8%

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 17 departments and capital city - by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
Elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 21 April 2013 ; Chamber of Deputies - last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018)
Election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 19 PLRA 12 FG 5 PDP 3 Avanza Pais 2 UNACE 2 PEN 1 PPQ 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 44 PLRA 27 Avanza Pais 2 PEN 2 UNACE 2 FG 1 PPQ 1 other 1

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia div>span class=category>highest court: /span>span class=category_data>Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court Civil and Commercial Chamber and Criminal Division
Judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura a 6-member independent body and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 75
Subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts including justices of the peace

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: CAN (associate) CD CELAC FAO G-11 G-77 IADB IAEA IBRD ICAO ICC (national committees) ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC (NGOs) LAES LAIA Mercosur MIGA MINURSO MINUSTAH MONUSCO NAM (observer) OAS OPANAL OPCW Pacific Alliance (observer) PCA UN UNASUR UNCTAD UNESCO UNFICYP UNIDO Union Latina UNISFA UNMIL UNMISS UNOCI UNWTO UPU WCO WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Igor Alberto PANGRAZIO Vera
In the us chancery: 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 483-6,960 through 6,962
In the us FAX: [1] 234-4,508
In the us consulate general: Los Angeles Miami New York
From the us: Ambassador Leslie A. BASSETT (since 15 January 2015)
From the us embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez Casilla Postal 402 Asuncion
From the us mailing address: Unit 4,711 DPO AA 34,036-0001
From the us telephone: [595] 213-715
From the us FAX: [595] 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 a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism white represents integrity and peace and blue denotes liberty and generosity
Note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

National symbols: lion; national colors: red white blue

National anthem
Name: 'Paraguayos Republica o muerte!'
Lyrics and music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed
Note: adopted 1934 in use since 1846; officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934

National heritage


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Economy overview: Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population especially in rural areas derives its living from agricultural activity often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008 reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009 as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at a 13% level in 2010 the highest in South America but slowed in 2011-13 as the stimulus subsided and severe drought and outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease led to a drop in beef and other agricultural exports. The economy took another leap in 2014 largely due to strong export growth. Political uncertainty corruption limited progress on structural reform and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 104

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 69

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2014 US dollars
Rank: 138

Gross national saving:
Rank: 105

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 65.8%
Government consumption: 11.6%
Investment in fixed capital: 15.2%
Investment in inventories: 0.5%
Exports of goods and services: 51%
Imports of goods and services: -44.1%: (2014 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 19.9%
Industry: 17.6%
Services: 62.5%

Agriculture products: cotton sugarcane soybeans corn wheat tobacco cassava (manioc tapioca) fruits vegetables; beef pork eggs milk; timber

Industries: sugar cement textiles beverages wood products steel base metals electric power

Industrial production growth rate: 3.6% (2014 est.)
Rank: 82

Labor force: 3.26 million (2014 est.)
Rank: 101
By occupation agriculture: 26.5%
By occupation industry: 18.5%
By occupation services: 55%

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 80

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 34.7% (2010 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1%
Highest 10: 41.1%

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 13

Budget
Revenues: $5.222 billion
Expenditures: $5.651 billion
Surplus or deficit: -1.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 66

Taxes and other revenues: 16.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 184

Public debt:
Rank: 141

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 170

Central bank discount rate:
Rank: 67

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 17

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 101

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 107

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 101

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 108

Current account balance:
Rank: 48

Exports:
Rank: 81
Commodities: soybeans livestock feed cotton meat edible oils wood leather
Partners: Brazil 30.8% Russia 10.8% Argentina 7.4% Chile 6.9% Netherlands 4.5% (2014)

Imports:
Rank: 93
Commodities: road vehicles consumer goods tobacco petroleum products electrical machinery tractors chemicals vehicle parts
Partners: Brazil 28% China 25.5% Argentina 14.6% US 7.9% (2014)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 84

Debt external:
Rank: 106

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
Rank: 94

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
Rank: 92

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 57.05 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Production rank: 47
Consumption: 7.497 billion kWh (2011 est.)
Consumption rank: 100
Exports: 47.37 billion kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 5
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 186
Installed generating capacity: 8.816 million kW (2011 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 59
Generation sources fossil fuels: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 210
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 160
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 2
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 113

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 2000 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 95
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 167
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 109
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 176

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products production rank: 184
Products consumption: 27,190 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Products consumption rank: 119
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products exports rank: 207
Products imports: 31,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Products imports rank: 89

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Consumption rank: 185
Exports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Exports rank: 160
Imports: 0 m³ (2012 est.)
Imports rank: 115
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 182

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 3.869 million Mt (2012 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 134

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 370,000
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 6
Fixed lines rank: 109
Mobile cellular total: 7.3 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109
Mobile cellular rank: 102

Telephone system
General assessment: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly and fixed-line telephone service is meager; principal switching center is in Asuncion
Domestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers
International: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2010)

Broadcast media: 6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2010)

Internet
Country code: .py
Users total: 1.9 million
Users percent of population: 29.0%
Users rank: 101

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures:
Rank: 54

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army 24 months for Navy; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2012)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 799 (2013)
Rank: 9
With paved runways total: 15
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 5
With unpaved runways total: 784
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 23
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 290
With unpaved runways: 471 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 30 km
Standard gauge: 30 km 1.435-m gauge
Rank: 134

Roadways
Total: 32,059 km
Paved: 4,860 km
Unpaved: 27,199 km
Rank: 95

Waterways: 3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paran� River systems) (2012)
Rank: 32

Merchant marine
Total: 19
By type: cargo 13 container 3 passenger 1 petroleum tanker 1 roll on/roll off 1
Foreign owned: 6 (2010)
Rank: 96

Ports and terminals
River port: Asuncion Villeta San Antonio Encarnacion


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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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

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; weak border controls extensive corruption and money-laundering activity especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement