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. 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.
Location
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references
South America
Area
total
406,750 sq km
land
397,300 sq km
water
9,450 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries
total
3,995 km
border countries
Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point
junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point
Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use
arable land
7.47%
permanent crops
0.24%
other
92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land
670 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
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
Geography - note
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
Population
6,669,086 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
37.2% (male 1,262,408/female 1,220,809)
15-64 years
57.7% (male 1,933,559/female 1,915,033)
65 years and over
5.1% (male 155,660/female 181,617) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
21.6 years
male
21.3 years
female
21.8 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.416% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
28.77 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
4.54 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.034 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.857 male(s)/female
total population
1.01 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
26.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male
30.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female
21.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
75.34 years
male
72.78 years
female
78.02 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
3.84 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
600 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Paraguayan(s)
adjective
Paraguayan
Ethnic groups
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
94%
male
94.9%
female
93% (2003 est.)
Country name
conventional long form
Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form
Paraguay
local long form
Republica del Paraguay
local short form
Paraguay
Government type
constitutional republic
Capital
name
Asuncion
geographic coordinates
25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Independence
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution
promulgated 20 June 1992
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
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 government
head of government
President Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003)
cabinet
Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2008)
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%
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 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held in April 2008)
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
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)
Political parties and leaders
Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Jose A. ALDERETE]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana]; 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]
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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX
[1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general
Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
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
FAX: [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)
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. 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$31.26 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$7.754 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$4,800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
22.4%
industry
18.4%
services
59.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force
2.742 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
45%
industry
NA%
services
NA%
Unemployment rate
9.4% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line
32% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
0.5%
highest 10%
43.8% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
56.8 (1999)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
12.5% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$1.773 billion
expenditures
$1.733 billion; including capital expenditures of $700 million (2006 est.)
Public debt
31.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products
Industries
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power
China 27%, Brazil 20%, Argentina 13.6%, Japan 8.3%, US 6.4% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.543 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$3.722 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Currency (code)
guarani (PYG)
Currency code
PYG
Exchange rates
guarani per US dollar - 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
320,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
1.887 million (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic
fair microwave radio relay network
international
country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (1998)
Radios
925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
5 (2003)
Televisions
990,000 (2001)
Internet country code
.py
Internet hosts
13,178 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
4 (2000)
Internet users
200,000 (2005)
Airports
881 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
12
over 3,047 m
3
1,524 to 2,437 m
5
914 to 1,523 m
4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
869
1,524 to 2,437 m
26
914 to 1,523 m
325
under 914 m
518 (2006)
Railways
total
36 km
standard gauge
36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways
total
29,500 km
paved
14,986 km
unpaved
14,514 km (1999)
Waterways
3,100 km (2007)
Merchant marine
total
21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWT
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)
Ports and terminals
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military branches
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2006)
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 (2006)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
1,345,022
females age 18-49
1,342,725 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
1,109,166
females age 18-49
1,135,046 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
63,058
females age 18-49
62,217 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1% (2006 est.)
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; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
