Paraguay

§1. Paraguay Introduction

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.

§2. Paraguay Geography

Location:
  Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:
  23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:
  South_America

Area:
  total: 406,750 km²
  land: 397,300 km²
  water: 9,450 km²

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: 7.47%
  permanent crops: 0.24%
  other: 92.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:
  670 km² (1998 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; 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

§3. Paraguay People

Population:
  6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
  15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
  65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)

Median age:
  total: 21.3 years
  male: 21.1 years
  female: 21.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:
  2.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
  29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
  4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.1 years
  male: 72.56 years
  female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  3.89 children born/woman (2006 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 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

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.)

§4. Paraguay Government

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:
  Asuncion

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 annually)

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); 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 27 April 2003 (next
    to be held 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
    April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be
    held 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
  note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led to the
    composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators - seats by
    party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies
    - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, 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 [Herminio CACERES,
  interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE
  [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; 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:
  CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
  IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES,
  LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL,
  OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU,
  WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, 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)

§5. Paraguay Economy

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. The formal economy grew by an
  average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in
  1998-2001 and contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional
  contagion and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease. 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
  administration, the economy rebounded between 2003 and 2005, posting modest
  growth each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $31.79 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):
  $7.408 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  3.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $4,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 27.5%
  industry: 24%
  services: 48.5% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
  2.68 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 45%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:
  16% (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):
  7.5% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):
  20.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $1.334 billion
  expenditures: $1.37 billion; including capital expenditures of $700 million
    (2005 est.)

Public debt:
  36.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

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:
  0% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
  51.29 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - consumption:
  3.528 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
  44.17 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
  25,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:
  NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
  NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
  0 m³ (2003 est.)

Current account balance:
  $-170 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
  $3.13 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
  soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather

Exports - partners:
  Uruguay 27.8%, Brazil 19.2%, Argentina 6.3%, Switzerland 4.1% (2004)

Imports:
  $3.832 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
  road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical
  machinery

Imports - partners:
  Brazil 30.9%, Argentina 23.3%, China 16.6%, US 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $1.293 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
  $3.535 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $NA

Currency (code):
  guarani (PYG)

Exchange rates:
  guarani per US dollar - 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003),
  5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Paraguay Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  280,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  1,770,300 (2003)

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 (three inactive) (1998)

Television broadcast stations:
  5 (2003)

Internet country code:
  .py

Internet hosts:
  10,206 (2005)

Internet users:
  150,000 (2005)

§7. Paraguay Transportation

Airports:
  880 (2005)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 12
  over 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
  914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2005)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 868
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
  914 to 1,523 m: 324
  under 914 m: 518 (2005)

Railways:
  total: 441 km
  standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Roadways:
  total: 29,500 km
  paved: 14,986 km
  unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)

Waterways:
  3,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
  total: 20 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,504 GRT/32,915 DWT
  by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2,
    roll on/roll off 1
  foreign-owned: 2 (Argentina 2)
  registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2005)

Ports and terminals:
  Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

§8. Paraguay Military

Military branches:
  Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation, River Defense Corps, Coast Guard), Air
  Force

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 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:
  males age 18-49: 1,345,022 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 18-49: 1,109,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:
  males: 63,058 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $53.1 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.9% (2003 est.)

§9. Paraguay Transnational Issues

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


<Factbook 2006>
