Paraguay

   Introduction

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 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.

Paraguay

   Geography

Location:

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total:  406,750 sq km

land:  397,300 sq km

water:  9,450 sq km

Area – comparative:

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 (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 9.59%

permanent crops:  0.22

other:  90.19% (2011)

Irrigated land:

670 sq km (2003 est.)

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

Geography – note:

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

Paraguay

   People

Population:

6,703,860 (July 2014 est.)

Age structure:

Population growth rate:

1.19% (2014 est.)

Birth rate:

16.66 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate:

4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Sex ratio:

Infant mortality rate:

20.75 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:

total population:  78.8 years

male:  74.16 years

female:  79.56 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.96 children born/woman (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,100 (2012 est.)

HIV/AIDS – deaths:

300 (2012 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:

Paraguay

   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:

Asuncion

Administrative divisions:

17 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and one capital city; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion (city), 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)

Constitution:

several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992; amended 2011 (2011)

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 up to age 75

Executive branch:

Legislative branch:

Judicial branch:

Political parties and leaders:

Political pressure groups and leaders:

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:

Diplomatic representation from the US:

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)

Paraguay

   Economy

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.

GDP:

purchasing power parity – $45.9 billion (2013 est.)

GDP – real growth rate:

12% (2013 est.)

GDP – per capita:

purchasing power parity – $6,800 (2013 est.)

GDP – composition by sector:

agriculture:  20.4%

industry:  17.7%

services:: 61.9% (2013 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.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force:

3.19 million (2013 est.)

Labor force – by occupation:

agriculture: 26.5%

Unemployment rate:

6.6% (2013 est.)

Budget:

Industries:

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power

Industrial production growth rate:

5.6% (2013 est.)

Currency code:

PYG 

Currency:

guarani (PYG)

Exchange rates:

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Iguazu

Paraguay

   Communications

Paraguay

   Transportation

country comparison to the world: 132

Roadways:

Waterways:

3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná river systems) (2012)

Ports and harbors:

river port(s): Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)

Airports – with paved runways:

Airports:

799 (2013)

Airports – with unpaved runways:

Paraguay

   Transnational Issues

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

Paraguay

                                             Introducción