Paraguay

Paraguay 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime Claims

None; landlocked

International Disputes

Short section of the boundary with Brazil, just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has not been determined

Climate

Varies from temperate in east to semiarid in 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
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

670 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Note: Landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

PEOPLE

Population

5,504,146 (July 1996 est.)
5,358,198 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

41% (male 1,144,644; female 1,096,430) (July 1996 est.)
41% (male 1,123,776; female 1,077,284) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

55% (male 1,518,661; female 1,513,577) (July 1996 est.)
55% (male 1,468,642; female 1,465,147) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

4% (male 106,121; female 124,713) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 102,573; female 120,776) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.67% (1996 est.)
2.71% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

30.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
31.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

4.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
4.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

23.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
24.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

4.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)
4.22 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani

Literacy

Age 15 and over that can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

1.692 million (1993 est.)

By occupation:

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

PA

Type

Republic

Capital

Asuncion

Administrative Divisions

19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Days, 14-15 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; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Congress (Congreso)

Chamber of Senators (Camara De Senadores)

Elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8

Chamber of Deputies (Camara De Diputados)

Elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9

Judicial Branch

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

Political Parties and Leaders

Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church

Member of

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

National Anthem

Flag

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 formal economy is largely oriented toward services, but 45% of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. Population has increased at 3% a year over the same period leaving per capita income nearly stagnant. The informal sector is marked by both reexport of imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. The Paraguayan Government has stated publicly that it will continue its economic reform agenda in close coordination with its Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market) partners. In 1995, the government also promised to undertake efforts to formalize the financial sector, after a financial shock forced the bail-out of the second and third largest banks. Paraguay's continued integration into Mercosur also offers potential for growth; it is closely linked with the success of foreign investment promotion. Non-traditional exports, such as finished agricultural products, light manufactures, and small consumer items, are growing rapidly. Government reform efforts, including privatization, have continued, but with little success in 1995.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $17 billion (1995 est.); $15.4 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

4.2% (1995 est.)
3.5% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$3,200 (1995 est.)
$2,950 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

10.5% (1995)
18% (1994 est.)

Unemployment Rate

12% (1995)
11.2% (1994 est.)

Budget

Exports

$819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
$728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
$1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$1.38 billion (yearend 1995)
$1.4 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 1.3% (1995 est.); 3.6% (1993 est.); accounts for 25.8% of GDP

Electricity

Note: Much of the electricity produced in Paraguay is exported to Brazil and domestic consumption cannot be determined

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 25.7% of GDP; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane, soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava, fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods

Illicit Drugs

Illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the U.S. and Europe

Economic Aid

Currency

1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Exchange Rates

Guaranies (G) per US$ - 2,003.8 (January 1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990)

Fiscal Year

Calendar year

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Inland Waterways

3,100 km

Ports

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Merchant Marine

Note: In addition, 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

88,730 telephones (1985 est.); meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 1,334,638; males fit for military service 968,297; males reach military age (17) annually 58,398 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $94 million, 0.6% of GDP (1994 est.)

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 25 december 1997