2010 Edition

Background

Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since then.

Area

land

397,302 sq km

total

406,752 sq km

water

9,450 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Cerro Pero 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

80 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geography - note

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

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%

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

Total renewable water resources

336 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

17.73 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

19.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

27.84 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23.83 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.71 years (2010 est.)

male

73.39 years

total population

75.99 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (2003 est.)

male

94.9%

total population

94%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

dengue fever and malaria (2009)

Median age

female

25.1 years (2010 est.)

male

24.7 years

total

24.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Paraguayan

noun

Paraguayan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

6,375,830 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.31% (2010 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2007)

male

12 years

total

12 years

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

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

60% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends second Sunday in April

geographic coordinates

25 16 S, 57 40 W

name

Asuncion

time difference

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Liliana AYALDE

embassy

1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion

FAX

[595] (21) 228-603

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 Rigoberto GAUTO Vielman

consulate(s) general

Kansas City (Kansas), Los Angeles, Miami, New York

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%

elections

president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)

head of government

President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)

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 a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation

CAN (associate), FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, and approved by the Senate and president)

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

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3; note - as of 1 January 2010, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is ANR 30, PLRA 29, UNACE 15, PPQ 4, other 2

elections

Chamber of Senators - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; the anthem was officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934

name

"Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)

Political parties and leaders

Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Movimiento Popolar Tekojoja or Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]; Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Rafael Augusto FILIZZOLA Serra]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Amanda NUNEZ]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]

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]

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2008) 20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

28.26% (31 December 2009 est.) 25.81% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$391 million (2010 est.) -$149.2 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$4.346 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.883 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

53.2 (2009) 57.7 (1998)

Economy - overview

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at a 6.5% level in 2010. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to growth.

Electricity - consumption

8.5 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

45.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

53.19 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,767.6 (2010), 4,965.4 (2009), 4,337.7 (2008), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006)

Exports

$7.606 billion (2010 est.) $5.784 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Brazil 21%, Uruguay 17%, Chile 12%, Argentina 11%, Russia 4% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

21.8%

industry

18.2%

services

60.1% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2010 est.) $4,600 (2009 est.) $4,900 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.) -3.8% (2009 est.) 5.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.17 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$30.94 billion (2010 est.) $29.06 billion (2009 est.) $30.2 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 42.3% (2007)

Imports

$9.242 billion (2010 est.) $6.917 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts

Imports - partners

China 30%, Brazil 23%, Argentina 16%, US 5% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

6.5% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.2% (2010 est.) 2.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.8% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

3.038 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

26.5%

industry

18.5%

services

55% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) $409.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

27,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

25,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

31 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

19.4% (2008 est.)

Public debt

22.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 24% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.082 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.862 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$5.03 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $4.057 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.153 million (31 December 2008) $2.057 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.395 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.607 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.6 billion (31 December 2010 est) $2.107 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2010 est.) 7.9% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

5 privately-owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations broadcasting; 1 state-owned radio network (2007)

Internet country code

.py

Internet hosts

167,281 (2010)

Internet users

1.105 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers

general assessment

the fixed-line market is a state monopoly and fixed-line telephone service is meager; principal switching center is in Asuncion

international

country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

387,300 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.619 million (2009)

Airports

800 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

15 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

785 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 290 under 914 m: 470 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 15, carrier 1, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2010)

total

23

Ports and terminals

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Railways

standard gauge

36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

total

36 km

Roadways

paved

14,986 km

total

29,500 km

unpaved

14,514 km (2000)

Waterways

3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Parana river systems) (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,640,761 females age 16-49: 1,637,460 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,375,610 females age 16-49: 1,400,597 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

70,910 (2010 est.)

male

72,455

Military branches

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marine Corps, Naval Aviation), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2010)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2006 est.)

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; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2010)

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

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; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================