Paraguay

Republic of ParaguayRepublica del Paraguay

republicIndependence 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Paraguay as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 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

5.65 million July 1997 est. · 4.66m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.62% 1997 est. · 2.8% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.9 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

74.1 years 1997 est. · 72.98 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.08 children per woman 1997 est. · 4.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

22.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 48 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,200 1996 est. · $1,500 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

1.5% 1996 est. · 1.7% in 1993

Geography

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

18 fields

Land useshare of 406,750 sq km

arable land 6%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 55%forests and woodland 32%other 7% (1993 est.)irrigated 670 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

406,750sq km

land: 397,300 sq kmwater: 9,450 sq kmslightly smaller than California

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

850m

Cerro San Rafaellowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

Land boundaries

3,920km

border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

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

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Natural hazards

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban

Geography - note

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil

People

15 fields

Population

5,651,634

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.62% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

30.47Death

4.24Net migration

Literacy

92.1%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 93.5%female : 90.6% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40% (male 1,163,416; female 1,113,654)
15-64 years:: 56% (male 1,571,685; female 1,564,757)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 109,547; female 128,575) (July 1997 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
total population :: 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

22.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 74.1 years
male:: 72.6 years
female:: 75.68 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Paraguayan(s)
adjective:: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white plus Amerindian 5%

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Government

Republic; President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

40.09%

Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%Domingo LAINO 32.06%Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%election last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)

Country name

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

Data code

Government type

republic

National capital

Asuncion

Administrative divisions

18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
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 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

chief of state:: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
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 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)
election results:: Juan Carlos WASMOSY elected president; percent of vote - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%

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 9 May 1993 (next to be held 10 May 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held NA May 1998)
election results :: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - 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), Carlos FILIZZOLA;
Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Miguel MONTANER;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor SANCHEZ Villagra;
Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo Richer

Political pressure groups and leaders

Unitary Workers Central (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church;
National Workers Central (CNT);
Paraguayan Workers Confederation (CPT)

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, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission :: Ambassador Jorge G. 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 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)

Economy

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

22 fields

Real growth rate

1.5%

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 1.3% (1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.2%

(December 1996)

Unemployment rate

5.3%

(urban) (1995)

Labor force

1.8million

(1995 est.)by occupation: agriculture 45%

GDP - composition by sector(1995)

agriculture 26.3%industry 20.7%services 53% (1995)

Budget(1995 est.)

Revenues

$1.25 billionExpenditures

$1.66 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Economy - overview

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features 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 formal sector is largely oriented toward services, but a large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. However, population has increased at 3% a year over the same period, leaving per capita income nearly stagnant.

The WASMOSY government has continued to pursue its economic reform agenda - with mixed success - in close coordination with its partners in Mercosur (Southern Cone Common Market). Paraguay's ongoing integration into Mercosur offers potential for investment and growth. Although GDP grew by only about 1.5% in 1996, it is expected to grow at a higher rate in 1997.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $17.7 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

6,927,500 kW (1995)

Electricity - production

41.625 billion kWh (1995) note: exported about 37.9 million kW of electricity

Electricity - consumption per capita

616 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $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

total value:: $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%

Debt - external

$1.3 billion (1996)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)

Currency

1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

guaranies (G) per US$ - 2,139.1 (January 1997), 2,063.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

88,730

(1985 est.)

Telephone system

meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion

domestic:: fair microwave radio relay network
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7

Radios

775,000 (1992 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

370,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

427

over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m : 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

Networkskm

Railways

971Waterways

3,100

Railways: standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge : 60 km 1.000-m gauge · other gauge: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)

Railways

total:: 971 km
standard gauge:: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge :: 60 km 1.000-m gauge
other gauge:: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)

Highways

total :: 28,900 km
paved:: 2,717 km
unpaved:: 26,183 km (1995 est.)

Ports and harbors

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Merchant marine

total :: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,379 GRT/32,510 DWT
ships by type:: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3, roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)