2007 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: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970) 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)

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

29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

25 16 S, 57 40 W

name

Asuncion

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Death rate

4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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 pose 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

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Executive branch

chief of state

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

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

15,000 (1999 est.)

Independence

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

29.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

670 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km

total

3,995 km

Land use

arable land

7.47%

other

92.29% (2005)

permanent crops

0.24%

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.78 years (2006 est.)

male

72.56 years

total population

75.1 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

21.6 years (2006 est.)

male

21.1 years

total

21.3 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)

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 (2006 est.)

Population

6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

2.45% (2006 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2006 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

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

3.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

881 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

total

12

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

869 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 325

under 914 m

518 (2006)

Budget

expenditures

$1.733 billion; including capital expenditures of $700 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$1.773 billion

Currency (code)

guarani (PYG)

Currency code

PYG

Current account balance

$-300 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$3.722 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador James C. CASON

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

chancery

2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index

56.8 (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. This 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 its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. 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. Aided by a firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the economic policy of the DUARTE FRUTOS administration, the economy rebounded between 2003 and 2006, posting modest growth each year.

Electricity - consumption

3.133 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

45.01 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

51.77 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0%

hydro

99.9%

nuclear

0%

other

0.1% (2001)

Exchange rates

guarani per US dollar - 5,680.71 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002)

Exports

$1.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Uruguay 28.4%, Brazil 19.3%, Argentina 6.4%, Russia 6%, China 4.1% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

[595] (21) 213-728

consulate(s) general

Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

22.4%

industry

18.4%

services

59.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$7.696 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$30.64 billion (2006 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 Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$4.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Brazil 27.2%, China 20.5%, Argentina 19.7%, US 5.3%, Switzerland 4.2% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2000 est.)

Industries

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.py

Internet hosts

13,178 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2000)

Internet users

200,000 (2005) Transportation Paraguay

Investment (gross fixed)

19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

2.742 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

45%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

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

elections

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

note

as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led to the composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators - seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, PQ 10, PPS 2

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

1,342,725 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,345,022

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

1,135,046 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,109,166

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

62,217 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

63,058

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

3 (Argentina 3)

registered in other countries

1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)

total

21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWT

Military branches

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$53.1 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.9% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Paraguay

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 (2004)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Jose A. ALDERETE, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kennedy]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

note

Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year prison term

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

Population below poverty line

32% (2005 est.)

Ports and terminals

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion Military Paraguay

Public debt

30.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

925,000 (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

total

36 km

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.543 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

14,986 km

total

29,500 km

unpaved

14,514 km (1999)

Telephone system

domestic

fair microwave radio relay network

general assessment

meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion

international

country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

320,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.887 million (2005)

Television broadcast stations

5 (2003)

Televisions

990,000 (2001)

Unemployment rate

9.4% (2005 est.)

Waterways

3,100 km (2005)