1998 Edition

Area

total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than California

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

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

Environment-international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geography-note

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil

Irrigated land

670 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Land use

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 55% forests and woodland: 32% other: 7% (1993 est.)

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 39% (male 1,061,972; female 1,026,983) 15-64 years: 56% (male 1,483,089; female 1,473,372) 65 years and over: 5% (male 113,298; female 132,306) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

32.21 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

5.29 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white plus Amerindian 5%

Infant mortality rate

37.39 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.23 years male: 70.27 years female: 74.29 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.1% male: 93.5% female: 90.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

5,291,020 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.68% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.26 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

promulgated 20 June 1992

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay

Data code

PA

Executive branch

chief of state: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held 10 May 1998) election results: Juan Carlos WASMOSY elected president; percent of vote-Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Maura A. HARTY embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone: [595] (21) 213-715

[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)

Government type

republic

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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge G. Andres PRIETO CONTI chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia), judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates (Consejo de la Magistratura) Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Carlos FILIZZOLA; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor SANCHEZ Villagra; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo Richer Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central (CUT); Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central (CNT); Paraguayan Workers Confederation (CPT)

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 or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: Chamber of Senators-last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held 10 May 1998); Chamber of Deputies-last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held 10 May 1998) election results: Chamber of Senators-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8; Chamber of Deputies-percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9

National capital

Asuncion

National holiday

Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Suffrage

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

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.25 billion expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $357 million (1995 est.)

Currency

1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Debt-external

$1.3 billion (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)

Economy-overview

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes, and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The formal sector is largely oriented toward services. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown an average of about 3% over the past five years. However, population has increased at about the same rate over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The WASMOSY government has continued to pursue its economic reform agenda, albeit with limited success because of in-fighting in the ruling party and resistance from the opposition. Paraguay's ongoing integration into Mercosur (the Southern Cone Common Market) offers potential for investment and growth.

Electricity-capacity

6.533 million kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

577 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

40.05 billion kWh (1995) note: exported about 36.96 billion kWh of electricity to Brazil

Exchange rates

guaranies (G) per US$-2,528.8 (January 1998), 2,191.0 (1997), 2,062.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993)

Exports

total value: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.) commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil partners: Brazil 48%, Netherlands 22%, Argentina 9%, US 4%, Uruguay 3%, Chile 2% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$21.9 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 26.4% industry: 24.9% services: 48.7% (1995)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$3,900 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

2.6% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.5 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: capital goods, consumer goods, foodstuffs, raw materials, fuels partners: Brazil 29%, US 22%, Argentina 14%, Hong Kong 9% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate

5.1% (1995)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

6.2% (1997)

Labor force

total: 1.8 million (1995 est.) by occupation: agriculture 45%

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.)

Unemployment rate

8.2% (urban) (1996 est.)

Airports

948 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 10 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 938 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 29 914 to 1,523 m: 353 under 914 m: 555 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 29,500 km paved: 2,803 km unpaved: 26,697 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,442 GRT/32,510 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1997 est.)

Railways

total: 971 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge other gauge: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)

Waterways

3,100 km Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$94 million (1994)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.6% (1994)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 1,274,297 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 921,323 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

17 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 53,514 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

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

Illicit drugs

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