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 all 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 then.

Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S 58 00 W

Map reference: South America

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

Land boundaries
Total: 3,995 km
Border countries: (3) Argentina 1880 km; Bolivia 750 km; Brazil 1365 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
Arable land: 7.47%
Permanent crops: 0.24%
Other: 92.29% (2005)

Irrigated land: 670 km² (2008)

Total renewable water resources: 336 km³ (2000)

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

Population: 6,459,058 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 105
Growth rate: 1.284% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 92
Below poverty line: 18.8% (2009 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)

Age structure
0-14 years: 28.5%
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 2,121,632/female 2,100,740)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 183,440/female 211,663) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 25.4 years
Male: 25.1 years
Female: 25.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.284% (2011 est.)
Rank: 92

Birth rate: 17.48 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 113

Death rate: 4.57 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 198

Net migration rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 119

Urbanization
Urban population: 61% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 23.02 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 86
Male: 26.94 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 18.91 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.19 years
Rank: 74
Male: 73.59 years
Female: 78.93 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.11 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 116

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 1.11 physicians/1000 population (2002)
Rank: 98

Hospital bed density: 1.3 beds/1000 population (2009)
Rank: 133

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 91
People living with hivaids: 13,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 90
Deaths: fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 95

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: intermediate
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)

Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2008)
Rank: 105

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 94%
Male: 94.9%
Female: 93% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2007)

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 (1 hour ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr begins first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in April

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

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

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

Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez ; Vice President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 15 August 2008)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
Election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8% Blanca OVELAR 30.6% Lino OVIEDO 21.9% Pedro FADUL 2.4% other 4.3%

Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
Election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15 PLRA 14 UNACE 9 PPQ 4 other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30 PLRA 27 UNACE 15 PPQ 3 APC 2 other 3; note - as of 1 January 2010 the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is ANR 30 PLRA 29 UNACE 15 PPQ 4 other 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura and approved by the Senate and president)

Political parties and leaders: Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Movimiento Popolar Tekojoja or Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]; Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Rafael Augusto FILIZZOLA Serra]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Amanda NUNEZ]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Rigoberto GAUTO Vielman
In the us chancery: 2,400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 483-6,960 through 6,962
In the us fax: [1] (202) 234-4,508
In the us consulate general: Kansas City (Kansas) Los Angeles Miami New York
From the us: Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
From the us embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez Casilla Postal 402 Asuncion
From the us mailing address: Unit 4,711 APO AA 34,036-0001
From the us telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
From the us fax: [595] (21) 228-603

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

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 14.5% level in 2010 the highest in South America. Political uncertainty corruption limited progress on structural reform and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to growth.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 105
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 2

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 145
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 24.9%
Industry: 21.2%
Services: 53.9% (2010 est.)

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

Industries: sugar cement textiles beverages wood products steel metallurgic electric power

Industrial production growth rate: 6.5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 64

Labor force: 3.033 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 102
By occupation agriculture: 26.5%
By occupation industry: 18.5%
By occupation services: 55% (2008)

Unemployment rate: 7.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 70

Population below poverty line: 18.8% (2009 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.4%
Highest 10: 41% (2008)

Distribution of family income gini index: 57.7 (1998)
Rank: 16

Budget
Revenues: $3.386 billion
Expenditures: $3.22 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 0.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 32

Taxes and other revenues: 18.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 168

Public debt: 22.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 112

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.6% (2009 est.)
Rank: 145

Central bank discount rate: 20% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 9

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 28.26% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 7

Stock of narrow money: $2.774 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 109

Stock of broad money: $6.377 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 110

Stock of domestic credit: $3.909 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 111

Market value of publicly traded shares:
Rank: 111

Current account balance: $42.9 million (2009 est.)
Rank: 117

Exports: $5.805 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 96
Commodities: soybeans feed cotton meat edible oils electricity wood leather
Partners: Uruguay 16.2% Brazil 12.8% Chile 10% Argentina 8.1% Italy 5% Netherlands 4.4% Spain 4.3% Turkey 4.2% Germany 4.2% (2010)

Imports: $6.837 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 91
Commodities: road vehicles consumer goods tobacco petroleum products electrical machinery tractors chemicals vehicle parts
Partners: Brazil 27.7% China 17.6% US 16.6% Argentina 15.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $3.862 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 92

Debt external: $4.323 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 116

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $3.053 million (31 December 2009)
Rank: 91

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $NA

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 54.91 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 45
Consumption: 8.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 90
Exports: 45.13 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 45.13 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 112
Consumption: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 118
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 158
Imports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 168
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 179

Telephones
Main lines in use: 405,000 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 104
Mobile cellular: 5.915 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 97

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 (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

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

Internet
Country code: .py
Hosts: 167,281 (2010)
Hosts rank: 69
Users: 1.105 million (2009)
Users rank: 94

Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Rank: 129

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 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 (2010)

Airports: 800 (2010)
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 (2010)
With unpaved runways total: 785
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 25
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 290
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 470 (2010)

Railways
Total: 36 km
Rank: 132
Standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2010)

Roadways
Total: 29,500 km
Rank: 98
Paved: 14,986 km
Unpaved: 14,514 km (2001)

Waterways: 3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paran? river systems) (2010)
Rank: 32

Merchant marine
Total: 23
Rank: 97
By type: cargo 15 carrier 1 container 2 passenger 1 petroleum tanker 3 roll on/roll off 1
Foreign owned: 6 (Argentina 5 Netherlands 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Asuncion Villeta San Antonio Encarnacion

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

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