2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.4% (male 1,179,084; female 1,141,420) 15-64 years: 56.8% (male 1,721,867; female 1,707,918) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 132,145; female 154,466) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

879 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)

total

11

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

868 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 323

under 914 m

518 (2002) Military Paraguay

Area

land

397,300 sq km

total

406,750 sq km

water

9,450 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California

Background

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, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then. Geography Paraguay

Birth rate

30.14 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (1999 est.)

revenues

$1.3 billion

Capital

Asuncion

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

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

Currency

guarani (PYG)

Currency code

PYG

Death rate

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$3.2 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John F. KEANE

embassy

1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion

mailing address

Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001

telephone

[595] (21) 213-715

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Leila Teresa RACHID COWLES

consulate(s) general

Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York

Disputes - international

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and harbors Islamist militants

Distribution of family income - Gini index

57.7 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97; but GDP declined slightly in 1998, 1999, and 2000, rose slightly in 2001, only to fall again in 2002. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure.

Electricity - consumption

2.637 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

39.11 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

44.89 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0%

hydro

99.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0.1% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

lowest point

junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%

Exchange rates

guarani per US dollar - 5,720.44 (2002), 4,105.92 (2001), 3,486.35 (2000), 3,119.07 (1999), 2,726.49 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers nominated by the president

chief of state

President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS elected president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008)

head of government

President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity

Exports - partners

Brazil 25.1%, Argentina 23%, Chile 5.5%, Bermuda 4% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

[595] (21) 213-728

chancery

2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Paraguay

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) Economy Paraguay

GDP

purchasing power parity - $25.19 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

27%

industry

27%

services

46% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-2.7% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geography - note

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country People Paraguay

Government type

constitutional republic

Highways

paved

14,986 km

total

29,500 km

unpaved

14,514 km (1999 est)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.11% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

220 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

43.8% (1998)

lowest 10%

0.5%

Illicit drugs

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$2.4 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery

Imports - partners

Brazil 32.7%, Argentina 22.7%, US 18.1%, Hong Kong 4.7% (2002)

Independence

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2000 est.)

Industries

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products

Infant mortality rate

female

22.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

32.63 deaths/1,000 live births

total

27.71 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.py

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2000)

Internet users

20,000 (2000) Transportation Paraguay

Irrigated land

670 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 45%

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

3,920 km

Land use

arable land

5.54%

other

94.25% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.21%

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Legal system

based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

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)

election results

Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, MPQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, MPQ 10, PPS 2

elections

Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA May 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA May 2008)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.03 years (2003 est.)

male

71.89 years

total population

74.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (2003 est.) Government Paraguay

male

94.9%

total population

94%

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Median age

female

21.2 years (2002)

male

20.7 years

total

20.9 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Argentina 2, Japan 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3

total

21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 32,475 GRT/36,101 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$125 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY98) Transnational Issues Paraguay

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,465,781 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,056,437 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

61,706 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May (1811)

Nationality

adjective

Paraguayan

noun

Paraguayan(s)

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

Net migration rate

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

25,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS]; Movimiento Patria Querida or MPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Colorados Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Diego ABENTE Brun]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT

Population

6,036,900 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

36% (2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.54% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Radio broadcast stations

AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Radios

925,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

441 km 1.435-m gauge (2002)

total

441 km

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

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

Suffrage

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

Telephone system

domestic

fair microwave radio relay network

general assessment

meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

290,475 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

510,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2001)

Televisions

990,000 (2001)

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

Total fertility rate

4.02 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

18.2% (2002 est.)

Waterways

3,100 km