Paraguay
Republic of ParaguayRepublica del Paraguay
constitutional republicIndependence 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Paraguay as the 2014 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 166 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
Geography
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
20 fieldsLand useshare of 406,752 sq km
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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
- per capita:
- 88.05 cu m/yr (2000)
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
People and Society
38 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2014 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2014 est.)
Male · female
Religions(2002 census)
Demographic profile
Paraguay falls below the Latin American average in several socioeconomic categories, including immunization rates, potable water, sanitation, and secondary school enrollment, and has greater rates of income inequality and child and maternal mortality. Paraguay's poverty rate has declined in recent years but remains high, especially in rural areas, with more than a third of the population below the poverty line.
However, the well-being of the poor in many regions has improved in terms of housing quality and access to clean water, telephone service, and electricity. The fertility rate continues to drop, declining sharply from an average 4.3 births per woman in the late 1990s to about 2 in 2013, as a result of the greater educational attainment of women, increased use of contraception, and a desire for smaller families among young women.
Paraguay is a country of emigration; it has not attracted large numbers of immigrants because of political instability, civil wars, years of dictatorship, and the greater appeal of neighboring countries. Paraguay first tried to encourage immigration in 1870 in order to rebound from the heavy death toll it suffered during the War of the Triple Alliance, but it received few European and Middle Eastern immigrants.
In the 20th century, limited numbers of immigrants arrived from Lebanon, Japan, South Korea, and China, as well as Mennonites from Canada, Russia, and Mexico. Large flows of Brazilian immigrants have been arriving since the 1960s, mainly to work in agriculture. Paraguayans continue to emigrate to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, the United States, Italy, Spain, and France.
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- intermediate
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne disease:
- dengue fever (2013)
Government
Constitutional republic; President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013); President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Chamber of Senators, 80 seats, elected 21 April 2013one dot, one seat
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Paraguay
- conventional short form:
- Paraguay
- local long form:
- Republica del Paraguay
- local short form:
- Paraguay
Capital
- name:
- Asuncion
- geographic coordinates:
- 25 16 S, 57 40 W
- time difference:
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends fourth Sunday in March
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
Legal system
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013);
- Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013); Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a single five-year term;
- election last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018)
- election results:
- Horacio CARTES elected president; percent of vote - Horacio CARTES 45.8%, Efrain ALEGRE 36.94%, Mario FERREIRO 5.88%, Anibal CARRILLO 3.32%, other 8.06%
Legislative branch
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- Chamber of Senators - last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018);
- Chamber of Deputies - last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018)
- election results:
- Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - ANR 19, PLRA 12, FG 5, PDP 3, Avanza Pais 2, UNACE 2, PEN 1, PPQ 1;
- Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - ANR 44, PLRA 27, Avanza Pais 2, PEN 2, UNACE 2, FG 1, PPQ 1, other 1
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division
- judge selection and term of office:
- justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence;
- judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 75
- subordinate courts:
- appellate courts;
- first instance courts;
- minor courts, including justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders
- Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]
- Avanza Pais coalition [Adolfo FERREIRO]
- Broad Front coalition (Frente Guasu) or FG [Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez]
- Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Jorge OVIEDO MATTO]
- Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Sebastian ACHA]
- Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]
- Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Desiree MASI]
- Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO Paredes]
- Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Miguel ABDON SAGUIER]
- Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
- Partido Popular Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]
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
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Francisco BARREIRO (since 31 October 2013)
- chancery:
- 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 234-4508
- consulate(s) general:
- Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
Ambassador James H. THESSIN (since 8 September 2011)
- embassy:
- 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
- mailing address:
- Unit 4711, DPO 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 a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice));
- red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity
note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
Economy
40 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2013 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis.
Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.
Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract.
The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at a 13% level in 2010, the highest in South America, but slowed in 2011-12 as the stimulus subsided and severe drought and outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease led to a drop in beef and other agricultural exports.
The economy took another leap in 2013, largely due to strong export growth. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth.
Agriculture - products
- cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (manioc, tapioca), fruits, vegetables;
- beef, pork, eggs, milk;
- timber
Distribution of family income - Gini index
53.2 (2009) · 57.7 (1998) country comparison to the world: 13
Central bank discount rate
5.5% (31 December 2012 est.) · 6% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 61
Commercial bank prime lending rate
28.9% (31 December 2013 est.) · 29.1% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Stock of narrow money
$4.364 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.135 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Stock of broad money
$8.215 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $7.637 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 111
Stock of domestic credit
$11 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $9.747 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Current account balance
$1.376 billion (2013 est.) · $115.6 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46
Imports - commodities
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$6.336 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.994 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Debt - external
$7.013 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $5.985 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$4.526 billion (31 December 2013 est.) · $4.145 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 91
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$213.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) · $213.6 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83
Exchange rates
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,315.1 (2013 est.) · 4,424.9 (2012 est.) · 4,735.5 (2010 est.) · 4,965.4 (2009) · 4,337.7 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 8.816 million kW(2010 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- the fixed-line market is a state monopoly and fixed-line telephone service is meager; principal switching center is in Asuncion
- domestic:
- deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers
- international:
- country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
Broadcast media
- 6 privately owned TV stations;
- about 75 commercial and community radio stations;
- 1 state-owned radio network (2010)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine, 19 ships by typeone square, one ship
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Waterways
3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná river systems) (2012) country comparison to the world: 33
Military
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Armed Forces Command (Commando de las Fuerzas Militares): Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marine Corps, Naval Aviation, and Coast Guard), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP), Logistics Command, War Materiel Directorate (2012)
Military service age and obligation
- 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
- conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy;
- volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2012)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 1,678,335
- females age 16-49:
- 1,675,352 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - 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;
- weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area;
- weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Paraguay.” The World Factbook 2014. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/paraguay/2014.