Paraguay

Republic of ParaguayRepublica del Paraguay

republicIndependence 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Paraguay as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 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

Position23 00 S, 58 00 W

Area406,750 sq km

LocationCentral South America, northeast of Argentina

Populationas each edition published it

5.5 million July 1996 est. · 4.66m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.67% 1996 est. · 2.8% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.84 years 1996 est. · 72.98 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.15 children per woman 1996 est. · 4.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

23.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,200 1995 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.2% 1995 est. · 1.7% in 1993

Geography

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

15 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

border countries: 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

subtropical; 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

lowest point:: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point:: Cerro San Rafael 850 m

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Environment

current issues:: deforestation (an estimated 2 million hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85);
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 - Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands

Geographic note

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil

People

15 fields

Population

5,504,146

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.67% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

30.97Death

4.31Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years73.84

72.33 · 75.43

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy92.1%

93.5% · 90.6%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 41% (male 1,144,644; female 1,096,430)
15-64 years:: 55% (male 1,518,661; female 1,513,577)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 106,121; female 124,713) (July 1996 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.)

Nationality

noun:: Paraguayan(s)
adjective:: Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, whites 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

Name of country

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

Administrative divisions

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, 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) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993) were elected for five-year terms by popular vote;
election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998);
results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
cabinet:: Council of Ministers was nominated by the president

Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores)

elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA 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 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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jorge 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 and New York

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Robert E. SERVICE
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

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

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large | informal sector.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$3,200

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

4.2%

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 1.3% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

10.5%

(1995)

Unemployment rate

12%

(1995)

GDP composition by sector(1994)

agriculture 25.7%industry 25.8%services 48.5% (1994)

Budget(1995 est.)

Revenues

$1.25 billionExpenditures

$1.66 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economic 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

1.692 million (1993 est.); by occupation: agriculture 45%

Industries

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

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

Agriculture

cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables;
beef, pork, eggs, milk;
timber

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe and the US

Exports

$819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)

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

Imports

$2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995)

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

External debt

$1.38 billion (yearend 1995)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 739 in all

over 3 047 m

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

266

438

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

21,834Railways

971Waterways

3,100

Highways: paved: 1,778 km · unpaved: 20,056 km (1987 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge · other: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)