| 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. |
| 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:
3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia
750 km, Brazil 1,290 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:
6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland: 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
670 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
local flooding in
southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains
may become boggy (early October to June) |
| Environment
- current issues: |
deforestation (an
estimated 2 million hectares of forest land were 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban |
| Geography
- note: |
landlocked; lies
between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil |
| Population: |
5,734,139 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
38.9% (male 1,133,306; female 1,097,360)
15-64 years: 56.39% (male 1,622,743; female
1,610,659)
65 years and over: 4.71% (male 124,321; female
145,750) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.6% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
30.88
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
4.75 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| 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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
29.78
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 73.92 years
male: 71.44 years
female: 76.52 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.11 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.11% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
3,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
220 (1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan |
| Ethnic
groups: |
mestizo (mixed
Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
| Religions: |
Roman Catholic
90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant |
| Languages: |
Spanish
(official), Guarani (official) |
| Literacy: |
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6% (1995 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 |
| Administrative
divisions: |
17 departments (departamentos,
singular - departamento) and one capital city; Alto
Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion (city), 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) |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age;
universal and compulsory up to age 75 |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: President Luis GONZALEZ MACCHI (since 28
March 1999); vice president Julio Cesar FRANCO (since NA
August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government: President Luis GONZALEZ
MACCHI (since 28 March 1999); vice president Julio Cesar
FRANCO (since NA August 2000); 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 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected
president; percent of vote - 55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999
note: President Luis GONZALEZ MACCHI, formerly
president of the Chamber of Senators, constitutionally
succeeded President Raul CUBAS Grau, who resigned after
being impeached soon after the assassination of Vice
President Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA was
decided in an election held in August 2000 |
| 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 10
May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies
- last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent
of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 25,
PLRA 13, PEN 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 45, PLRA 26,
PEN 9 |
| 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) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
Authentic Radical
Liberal Party or PLRA [Miguel Abdon SAGUIER]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDC [Adalina GUITERREZ DE GALEANO];
Febrerista Revolutionary Party or PRF [Carlos Maria LJUBETIC];
National Encounter or PEN [Euclides ACEVEDO]; National
Republican Association - Colorado Party [acting president
Bader RACHID LICHI] |
| 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 |
| International
organization participation: |
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, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Leila RACHID
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Detroit (honorary), Los
Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Juan (honorary) |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE
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: |
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 and 1999. 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. Growth
rebounded slightly in 2000. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $26.2 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
1% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $4,750 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
28%
industry: 21%
services: 51% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
36% (2000 est.) |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
0.7%
highest 10%: 46.6% (1995) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
8% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
2 million (2000
est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 45% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
16% (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$1.3 billion
expenditures: $2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $700 million (1999 est.) |
| Industries: |
sugar, cement,
textiles, beverages, wood products |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
0% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
51.554 billion
kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
0.07%
hydro: 99.79%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.15% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
1.915 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
46.03 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
cotton,
sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (yucca),
fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber |
| Exports: |
$3.5 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
electricity,
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils |
| Exports
- partners: |
Brazil,
Argentina, EU |
| Imports: |
$3.3 billion
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
road vehicles,
consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical
machinery |
| Imports
- partners: |
Brazil, US,
Argentina, Uruguay, EU, Hong Kong |
| Debt
- external: |
$3 billion (2000
est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$NA |
| Exchange
rates: |
guarani per US
dollar - 3,570.0 (January 2001), 3,486.4 (2000), 3,119.1
(1999), 2,726.5 (1998), 2,177.9 (1997), 2,056.8 (1996); note
- since early 1998, the exchange rate has operated as a
managed float; prior to that, the exchange rate was
determined freely in the market |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
290,475 (2001) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
510,000 (2001) |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: meager telephone service; principal
switching center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 46, FM 27,
shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
4 (2001) |
| Televisions: |
990,000 (2001) |
| Internet
country code: |
.py |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
4 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
20,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
971 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
note: there are 470 km of various gauges that
are privately owned |
| Highways: |
total:
25,901 km
paved: 3,067 km
unpaved: 22,834 km (2001) |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Asuncion, Villeta,
San Antonio, Encarnacion |
| Merchant
marine: |
total:
20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 31,066 GRT/35,441 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1,
petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
915 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
11
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
904
1,524 to 2,437 m: 29
914 to 1,523 m: 340
under 914 m: 535 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy
(includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
17 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 1,388,436 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 1,001,516 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
58,359 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$125 million
(FY98) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.4% (FY98) |
| Illicit
drugs: |
illicit producer
of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South
America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for
Southern Cone markets and Europe |
|
