Paraguay Population: 6,623,252
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| Background | |
| 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 all 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. |
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| Geography | |
| Landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country | |
| Location: | Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil |
| Geographic coordinates: | 23 00 S, 58 00 W |
| Area: | total: 406,752 sq km land: 397,302 sq km water: 9,450 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than California |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 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 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 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 6,623,252 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 26.8% (male 903,578/female 873,079) 15-24 years: 20.8% (male 692,006/female 684,297) 25-54 years: 39% (male 1,294,037/female 1,290,376) 55-64 years: 6.9% (male 234,803/female 224,862) 65 years and over: 6.4% (male 198,529/female 227,685) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 25.9 years male: 25.6 years female: 26.1 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.256% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 17.22 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.59 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 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: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 22.24 deaths/1,000 live births male: 26.06 deaths/1,000 live births female: 18.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 76.4 years male: 73.78 years female: 79.14 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.01 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 13,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 500 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan |
| Ethnic groups: | mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5% |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census) |
| 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.) |
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| 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: | 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 second Sunday in April |
| 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) |
| Constitution: | promulgated 20 June 1992 |
| 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 |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75 |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 22 June 2012); Vice President Amancio Oscar DENIS Sanchez (since 28 June 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; President FRANCO assumed office following the impeachment of former President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez head of government: President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez (since 22 June 2012); Vice President Amancio Oscar DENIS Sanchez (since 28 June 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World 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 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013) election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president; percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR 30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%; note - President Luis Federico FRANCO Gomez assumed office following the impeachment of former President LUGO in June 2012 |
| 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 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3; note - as of 20 December 2012, the composition of the Chamber of Deputies is ANR 34, PLRA 29, UNACE 11, PPQ 4, other 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, and approved by the Senate and president) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Avanza Pais coalition [Mario FERREIRO]; Broad Front coalition (Frente Guazu) or FG [Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez]; Movimiento Popolar Tekojoja or Tekojoja [Sixto PEREIRA]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; 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 [Rafael Augusto FILIZZOLA Serra]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas Antonio LLANO Ramos]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares] |
| 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 (suspended), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, 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 Fernando Antonio PFANNL Caballero 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 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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 to 4% in 2011 as the stimulus subsided. In 2012, severe drought and outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease led to a drop in beef and other agricultural exports and the economy contracted about 0.5%. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $41.1 billion (2012 est.) $41.3 billion (2011 est.) $39.59 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $26.09 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -0.5% (2012 est.) 4.3% (2011 est.) 13.1% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,100 (2012 est.) $6,300 (2011 est.) $6,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 19.8% industry: 19.4% services: 60.8% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 3.137 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 26.5% industry: 18.5% services: 55% (2008) |
| Unemployment rate: | 6.9% (2012 est.) 6.6% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 34.7% (2010 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 41.1% (2010 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 53.2 (2009) 57.7 (1998) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.6% (2012 est.) 8.3% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 17.9% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $4.687 billion expenditures: $5.122 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 14.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 13.8% of GDP (2011 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: | 6.5% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 54.41 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 6.237 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 43.38 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.17 billion (2012 est.) -$549.9 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $4.7 billion (2012 est.) $5.52 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, wood, leather |
| Exports - partners: | Uruguay 15%, Brazil 11.4%, Argentina 10.2%, Chile 8.3%, Russia 6.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, Germany 4.3% (2011) |
| Imports: | $9.7 billion (2012 est.) $11.5 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts |
| Imports - partners: | Brazil 27.5%, China 16.9%, US 15%, Argentina 14.8%, Chile 4.4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $4.92 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.984 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.245 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.222 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $4.425 million (31 December 2012) $3.86 million (31 December 2011) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $NA |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $958.1 million (31 December 2011) $42 million (31 December 2010) $409.1 million (31 December 2006) |
| Exchange rates: | guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,449.6 (2012 est.) 4,176.1 (2011 est.) 4,735.5 (2010 est.) 4,965.4 (2009) 4,337.7 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 372,400 (2011) country comparison to the world: 108 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 6.529 million (2011) |
| Telephone 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .py |
| Internet hosts: | 280,658 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 1.105 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 800 (2012) country comparison to the world: 9 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 15 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 785 1,524 to 2,437 m: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 289 under 914 m: 473 (2012) |
| Railways: | total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (2000) |
| Waterways: | 3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná river systems) (2012) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 19 by type: cargo 13, container 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion |
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| Military | |
| Military 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 - 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 (2010) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,678,335 females age 16-49: 1,675,352 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,409,859 females age 16-49: 1,433,037 (2010 est.) |
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