Paraguay

Republic of ParaguayRepublica del Paraguay

republicIndependence 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Paraguay as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalAsuncion

Area406,750 sq km

LocationCentral South America, northeast of Argentina

Populationas each edition published it

5.36 million July 1995 est. · 4.66m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.71% 1995 est. · 2.8% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.58 years 1995 est. · 72.98 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.22 children per woman 1995 est. · 4.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$2,950 1994 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.5% 1994 est. · 1.7% in 1993

Geography

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

14 fields

Land useshare of 406,750 sq km

arable land 20%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 39%forest and woodland 35%other 5%irrigated 670 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

406,750sq km

land area: 397,300 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than California

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

3,920km

total · Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

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

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Environment

current issues:: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-1985);
water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents
natural hazards:: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban

Note

landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

People

15 fields

Population

5,358,198

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.71% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

31.48Death

4.38Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years73.58

72.06 · 75.18

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy90%

92% · 88%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Labor force

1.692million

(1993 est.)by occupation: agriculture 45%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 41% (female 1,077,284; male 1,123,776)
15-64 years:: 55% (female 1,465,147; male 1,468,642)
65 years and over:: 4% (female 120,776; male 102,573) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

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

Nationality

noun:: Paraguayan(s)
adjective:: Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, Caucasians plus Amerindians 5%

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Government

Republic

23 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

40.09%

Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%Domingo LAINO 32.06%Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%

Legislature, 45 seatsone dot, one seat

Colorado Party 20PLRA 17EN 8

Legislature, 80 seatsone dot, one seat

Colorado Party 38PLRA 33EN 9

Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form:: Paraguay
local long form:: Republica del Paraguay
local short form:: Paraguay

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

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

chief of state and head of government:: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993);
Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998);
results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president

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)

Political parties and leaders

Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA CANTERO, president;
Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO;
National Encounter (EN), Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN

party includes the following minor parties:: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)

Other political or pressure groups

Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, 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, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jorge Genaro Andres PRIETO CONTI
chancery:: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508; consulate(s) general: Miami, New Orleans, and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Robert SERVICE
embassy:: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
mailing address:: C. P. 402, Asuncion; Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone:: [595] (21) 213-715

FAX

[595] (21) 213-728

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

Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of | GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of | exports, in which soybeans and cotton are the most important.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$2,950

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

3.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 3.6% (1993 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

18%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

11.2%

(1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$1.2 billionExpenditures

$1.4 billion (1992 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $487 million

Overview

Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports, in which soybeans and cotton are the most important. Paraguay lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but possesses a large hydropower potential.

In a major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach, reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the secondary market at a substantial discount.

The government had paid 100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France, and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the long run, the government must press forward with general, market-oriented economic reforms. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international commodity prices.

Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993 because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates. GDP growth continued in 1994 at 3.5%. Although inflation declined a bit over 1993, increases in food prices, and crop and infrastructure damage from heavy rains at the end of the year, forced inflation to 18%, above the government's target of 15%. Paraguay reaffirmed its commitment to MERCOSUR on 1 January 1995 by implementing the organization's common external tariff.

National product

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

Exports

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

commodities:: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil
partners:: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

Imports

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

commodities:: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels
partners:: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

External debt

$1.4 billion (yearend 1993 est.)

Electricity

capacity:: 6,530,000 kW
production:: 26.5 billion kWh (1992)
consumption per capita:: NA

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

Industries

meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Agriculture

accounts for 26% 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 US and Europe

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion

Currency

1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,949.6 (January 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

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 929 in all

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

314

578

under 914 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,438 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

28,300Railroads

970Inland waterways

3,100

Highways: paved: 2,600 km · unpaved: gravel 500 km; earth 25,200 km · Railroads: standard gauge: 440 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge · other: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)