Statistics Paraguay 
Paraguay in the World
Paraguay - Introduction 1992
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.
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Disputes:
short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira
Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined
Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined
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
Land use: arable land: 20%; permanent crops: 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL%
Paraguay - People 1992
top of pageEnvironment
Current 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
Paraguay - Government 1992
top of pageAdministrative 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
Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Constitution:
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the
Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992
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
Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60
President: last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held NA February 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%
Chamber of Senators:
last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado
Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1
Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1
Chamber of Deputies:
last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by NA May 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado
Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, other 2
Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, other 2
Communists: Oscar CREYDT faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction (both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is small and deeply divided
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)
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
International 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, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO
IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO,
WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ;
Chancery at 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 483-6,960 through 6,962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New
Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston
Chancery at 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20,008; telephone (202) 483-6,960 through 6,962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New
Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston
US:
Ambassador Jon D. GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez,
Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34,036-0001); telephone 595 (21) 213-715; FAX 595 (21) 213-728
Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34,036-0001); 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)
Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Paraguay - Economy 1992
top 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 has no known significant 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. During 1991 the government began to more seriously address its arrearages with international creditors and its domestic fiscal problems. Inflation was cut in third, but the foreign trade deficit widened to more than $1 billion. For the long run, the government must press forward with general market-oriented economic reforms.
GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports.
Paraguay has no known significant 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. During 1991 the government began to more seriously address its arrearages with international creditors and its domestic fiscal problems. Inflation was cut in third, but the foreign trade deficit widened to more than $1 billion. For the long run, the government must press forward with general market-oriented economic reforms.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $7.0 billion, per capita $1,460; real growth rate 3.0% (1991 est.)
Agriculture products: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, and 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
Labor force: 1,418,000 (1991 est.); agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)
Organized labor: about 2% of labor force
Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)
Exports: $642 million (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products
Partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports: $1.85 billion (c.i.f., 1991)
Commodoties: capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%
Partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989),
Paraguay - Energy 1992
top of pageElectricity
Production: 5,578,000 kW capacity; 15,447 million kWh produced, 3,219 kWh per capita (1991)
Paraguay - Communication 1992
top of pageParaguay - Military 1992
top of pageParaguay - Transportation 1992
top of pageAirports:
845 total, 716 usable; 7 with permanent-surface runways; 0
with runways over 3,659 m; 3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 66
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
with runways over 3,659 m; 3
with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 66
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865
DWT; includes 11 cargo, 2 petroleum tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
DWT; includes 11 cargo, 2 petroleum tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
Civil air: 9 major transport aircraft
Paraguay - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageIllicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe
🅶🅷🅴🅾🆂.🅲🅾🅼