|
Paraguay
South America :: Paraguay |
|
|
| page last updated on
June 24, 2010 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
Location: |
Central South America, northeast of
Argentina |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
23 00 S, 58 00 W |
|
Map references: |
South America |
|
Area: |
total: 406,752
sq km
country comparison to the world: 59
land: 397,302 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: |
| Current Weather
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) |
|
Total
renewable water resources: |
336 cu km (2000) |
|
Freshwater
withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 0.49
cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000) |
|
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: |
6,375,830 (July 2010 est.)
country
comparison to the world: 103 |
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 29.5%
(male 955,532/female 924,165)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 2,068,545/female 2,048,207)
65 years and over: 6% (male 175,865/female 203,516) (2010 est.) |
|
Median age: |
total: 24.9
years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.1 years (2010 est.) |
|
Population growth rate: |
1.31% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95 |
|
Birth rate: |
17.73 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114 |
|
Death rate: |
4.55 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198 |
|
Net migration rate: |
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92 |
|
Urbanization: |
urban population: 60%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate: |
total: 23.83
deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 89
male: 27.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.) |
|
Life expectancy
at birth: |
total population: 75.99
years
country comparison to the world: 72
male: 73.39 years
female: 78.71 years (2010 est.) |
|
Total fertility rate: |
2.16 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118 |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.6% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
21,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78 |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
fewer than 1,000 (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 |
|
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) |
|
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.) |
|
School life expectancy (primary to
tertiary education): |
total: 12
years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005) |
|
Education expenditures: |
4% of GDP (2004)
country comparison to the world: 103 |
|
|
|
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)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends second
Sunday in April |
|
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
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
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
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)
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% |
|
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)
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)
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 |
|
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) |
|
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 Progressista
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] |
|
International organization participation: |
CAN (associate), 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, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union
Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador
Rigoberto GAUTO Vielman
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 (Kansas), Los Angeles, Miami, New York |
|
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
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) 228-603 |
|
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)) |
|
|
|
Economy - overview: |
Landlocked Paraguay has a market
economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring reexport 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
3.5% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports
to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary
stimulus packages. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress
on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main
obstacles to growth. |
|
GDP
(purchasing power parity): |
$28.27 billion (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
$29.29
billion (2008 est.)
$27.69
billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
|
GDP
(official exchange rate): |
$13.77 billion (2009
est.) |
|
GDP - real growth rate: |
-3.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
5.8%
(2008 est.)
6.8%
(2007 est.) |
|
GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$4,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
$4,700
(2008 est.)
$4,500
(2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars |
|
GDP -
composition by sector: |
agriculture: 20.2%
industry: 18.7%
services: 61.2% (2009 est.) |
|
Labor force: |
2.983 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105 |
|
Labor force -
by occupation: |
agriculture: 26.5%
industry: 18.5%
services: 55% (2008) |
|
Unemployment rate: |
7.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
5.4%
(2008 est.) |
|
Population
below poverty line: |
19.4% (2008 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by
percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 42.3% (2007) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
53.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 17
57.7
(1998) |
|
Investment
(gross fixed): |
16.6% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127 |
|
Budget: |
revenues: $2.728
billion
expenditures: $2.713 billion (2009 est.) |
|
Public debt: |
24% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
19%
of GDP (2008 est.) |
|
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
1.9% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
7.5%
(2008) |
|
Central bank
discount rate: |
20% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 9
20%
(31 December 2007) |
|
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |
28.26% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 9
25.81%
(31 December 2008) |
|
Stock of money: |
$2.062 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 90
$1.943
billion (31 December 2007) |
|
Stock of quasi money: |
$1.599 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
$1.368
billion (31 December 2007) |
|
Stock of
domestic credit: |
$3.098 billion (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 95
$2.457
billion (31 December 2007) |
|
Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA
(31 December 2007)
$409.1
million (31 December 2006) |
|
Agriculture - products: |
cotton, sugarcane,
soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables;
beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber |
|
Industries: |
sugar, cement, textiles,
beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power |
|
Industrial production growth rate: |
-1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 |
|
Electricity -
production: |
53.19 billion kWh (2007
est.)
country comparison to the world: 47 |
|
Electricity -
consumption: |
8.5 billion kWh (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 91 |
|
Electricity - exports: |
45.14 billion kWh (2007
est.) |
|
Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2008 est.) |
|
Oil - production: |
27 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112 |
|
Oil - consumption: |
28,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 |
|
Oil - exports: |
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 |
|
Oil - imports: |
25,100 bbl/day (2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 106 |
|
Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 145 |
|
Natural gas -
production: |
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152 |
|
Natural gas -
consumption: |
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153 |
|
Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144 |
|
Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 |
|
Natural
gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
country comparison to the world: 146 |
|
Current account balance: |
-$122 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
-$501
million (2008) |
|
Exports: |
$3.167 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 121
$4.436
billion (2008) |
|
Exports - commodities: |
soybeans, feed, cotton,
meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather |
|
Exports - partners: |
Brazil 21%, Uruguay 17%,
Chile 12%, Argentina 11%, Russia 4% (2009 est.) |
|
Imports: |
$6.886 billion (2009)
country comparison to the world: 101
$8.945
billion (2008) |
|
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 est.) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$3.857 billion (31
December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$2.863
billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
|
Debt - external: |
$3.22 billion (31
December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 117
$2.99
billion (31 December 2008) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$2.153 million (31
December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 87
$2.057
million (2007) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$NA |
|
Exchange rates: |
guarani (PYG) per US
dollar - 4,967 (2009), 4,337.7 (2008), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006),
6,178 (2005) |
|
|
|
| Communications ::Paraguay |
Telephones - main lines in use: |
491,000 (2008)
country
comparison to the world: 99 |
|
Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
5.954 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80 |
|
Telephone system: |
general assessment: the
fixed-line market is a state monopoly and fixed-line telephone service
is meager; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service
have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered
by competition among multiple providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008) |
|
Radio broadcast
stations: |
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6
(2006) |
|
Television
broadcast stations: |
6 (2009) |
|
Internet country code: |
.py |
|
Internet hosts: |
71,487 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 78 |
|
Internet users: |
894,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 93 |
|
|
|
| Transportation ::Paraguay |
Airports: |
798 (2009)
country
comparison to the world: 9 |
|
Airports -
with paved runways: |
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2009) |
|
Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 784
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 289
under 914 m: 470 (2009) |
|
Railways: |
total: 36
km
country comparison to the world: 132
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008) |
|
Roadways: |
total: 29,500
km
country comparison to the world: 98
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000) |
|
Waterways: |
3,100 km (2008)
country comparison to the world: 33 |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 23
country comparison to the world: 94
by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker
2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008) |
|
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) (2008) |
|
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 (2007) |
|
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: |
male: 72,455
female: 70,910 (2010 est.) |
|
Military expenditures: |
1% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130 |
|
|
|
| Transnational Issues ::Paraguay |
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
