1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 406,750 km2 land area: 397,300 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than California
Climate
varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Environment
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
International disputes
short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined
Irrigated land
670 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Land use
arable land: 20% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 35% other: 5%
Location
Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil
Map references
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
none; landlocked
Natural resources
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Note
landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil
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
People and Society
Birth rate
32.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Infant mortality rate
26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
1.641 million (1992 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)
Languages
Spanish (official), Guarani
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 72.98 years male: 71.42 years female: 74.62 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 90% male: 92% female: 88%
Nationality
noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
5,070,856 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.8% (1993 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Total fertility rate
4.37 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Asuncion
Chamber of Deputies
last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, other 2
Chamber of Senators
last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1
Chief of State and Head of Government
President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989)
Constitution
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was promulgated on 20 June 1992
Digraph
PA
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Esteban Aguirre MARTINEZ chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 483-6960 through 6962 consulates general: New Orleans and New York consulate: Houston
Executive branch
president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State
FAX
[595] (21) 213-728
Flag
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)
Independence
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
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
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)
Member of
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Names
conventional long form:
National holiday
Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Other political or pressure groups
Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Political parties and leaders
Colorado Party, Blas N. RIQUELME, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEUEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo Caballero VARGAS
President
last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held 9 May 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%
Republic of Paraguay conventional short form
Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Type
republic
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon David GLASSMAN embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion mailing address: C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
Budget
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)
Currency
1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion
Electricity
5,257,000 kW capacity; 16,200 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita (1992)
Exchange rates
guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,637.6 (January 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)
Exports
$719 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
External debt
$1.2 billion (1992 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe
Imports
$1.33 billion (c.i.f., 1992) commodities: 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%
Industrial production
growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP
Industries
meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
20% (1992 est.)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion (1992 est.)
National product per capita
$1,500 (1992 est.)
National product real growth rate
1.7% (1992 est.)
Overview
Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay lacks substantial 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. 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.
Unemployment rate
10% (1992 est.)
Communications
Airports
total: 862 usable: 719 with permanent-surface runways: 7 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 64
Highways
21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth
Inland waterways
3,100 km
Merchant marine
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 2 oil tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
Ports
Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Railroads
970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Telecommunications
principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 1,210,171; fit for military service 879,601; reach military age (17) annually 51,361 (1993 est.)