1996 Edition

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)

Location

23 00 S, 58 00 W -- Central South America, northeast of Argentina Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly smaller than California

land area

397,300 sq km

total area

406,750 sq km

Climate

subtropical; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Environment

current issues

deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents

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

natural hazards

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

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geographic note

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil

International disputes

short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined

Irrigated land

670 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

total

3,920 km

Land use

arable land

20%

forest and woodland

35%

meadows and pastures

39%

other

5%

permanent crops

1%

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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

highest point

Cerro San Rafael 850 m

lowest point

junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 41% (male 1,144,644; female 1,096,430) 15-64 years: 55% (male 1,518,661; female 1,513,577) 65 years and over: 4% (male 106,121; female 124,713) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

30.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, whites plus Amerindians 5%

Infant mortality rate

23.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani

Life expectancy at birth

female

75.43 years (1996 est.)

male

72.33 years

total population

73.84 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

90.6%

male

93.5%

total population

92.1%

Nationality

adjective

Paraguayan

noun

Paraguayan(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

5,504,146 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.67% (1996 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Sex ratio

all ages

1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

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

Total fertility rate

4.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Capital

Asuncion

Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

elections last held 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

Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)

elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8

Constitution

promulgated 20 June 1992

Data code

PA

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jorge PRIETO CONTI

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was nominated by the president

chief of state and head of government

President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote; election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998); results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

[595] (21) 213-728

consulate(s) general

Miami and New York

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)

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura)

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)

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Paraguay

conventional short form

Paraguay

local long form

Republica del Paraguay

local short form

Paraguay

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, Luis Maria ARGANA, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60

Type of government

republic

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Robert E. SERVICE

embassy

1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion

mailing address

Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001

telephone

[595] (21) 213-715

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)

revenues

$1.25 billion (1995 est.)

Currency

1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $38 million (1993)

Economic 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. Population 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.

Electricity

capacity

6,530,000 kW

consumption per capita

NA

note

much of the electricity produced in Paraguay is exported to Brazil and domestic consumption cannot be determined

production

26.5 billion kWh (1992)

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)

Exports

$819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)

commodities

cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil

partners

EU 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

External debt

$1.38 billion (yearend 1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

25.7%

industry

25.8%

services

48.5% (1994)

GDP per capita

$3,200 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4.2% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe and the US

Imports

$2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995)

commodities

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels

partners

Brazil 30%, EU 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

Industrial production growth rate

1.3% (1995 est.)

Industries

meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (1995)

Labor force

1.692 million (1993 est.)

by occupation

agriculture 45%

Unemployment rate

12% (1995)

Branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $94 million, 0.6% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

1,334,638

males fit for military service

968,297

males reach military age (17) annually

58,398 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios

775,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion

domestic

fair microwave radio relay network

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

88,730 (1985 est.)

Television broadcast stations

5

Televisions

370,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Airports

total

739

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

2

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

4

with paved runways over 3 047 m

3

with paved runways under 914 m

438

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

25

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

266 (1995 est.)

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

1

Highways

paved

1,778 km

total

21,834 km

unpaved

20,056 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 13, oil tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1995 est.)

total

16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,323 GRT/23,907 DWT

Ports

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Railways

narrow gauge

60 km 1.000-m gauge

other

470 km various gauges (privately owned)

standard gauge

441 km 1.435-m gauge

total

971 km

Waterways

3,100 km