Paraguay

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2000)

Internet country code

.py

Internet users

20,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Radios

925,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

290,475 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

510,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

4 (2001)

Televisions

990,000 (2001)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.3 billion expenditures: $2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (1999 est.)

Currency

guarani (PYG)

Currency code

PYG

Debt - external

$2.9 billion (2001 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

58 (1998)

Economic aid - recipient

$NA

Economy - overview

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but GDP declined slightly in 1998, 1999, and 2000. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure.

Electricity - consumption

1.95 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

47.392 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

53.056 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 100% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

guarani per US dollar - 4,783.0 (January 2002), 4,107.7 (2001), 3,486.4 (2000), 3,119.1 (1999), 2,726.5 (1998), 2,177.9 (1997); note - since early 1998, the exchange rate has operated as a managed float; prior to that, the exchange rate was determined freely in the market

Exports

$2.2 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities

electricity, soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils

Exports - partners

Brazil 39%, Uruguay 14%, Argentina 11% (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $26.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 29% industry: 26% services: 45% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1% highest 10%: 44% (1998) (1998)

Imports

$2.7 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery

Imports - partners

Argentina 25.4%, Brazil 24.5%, Uruguay 3.8% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2000 est.)

Industries

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.2% (2001 est.)

Labor force

2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 45%

Population below poverty line

36% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

17.8% (2001 est.)

Area

total: 406,750 sq km water: 9,450 sq km land: 397,300 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than California

Climate

subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present 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: Nuclear Test Ban

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

670 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Land use

arable land: 5.54% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 94.25% (1998 est.)

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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

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

Capital

Asuncion

Constitution

promulgated 20 June 1992

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Leila Teresa RACHID COWLES chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962

Executive branch

chief of state: President Luis Angel GONZALEZ MACCHI (since 28 March 1999); Vice President Julio Cesar FRANCO (since NA August 2000) resigned 16 October 2002; position now vacant; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Luis Angel GONZALEZ MACCHI (since 28 March 1999); Vice President Julio Cesar FRANCO (since NA August 2000) resigned 16 October 2002; position now vacant; 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 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003) note: President Luis Angel GONZALEZ MACCHI, formerly president of the Chamber of Senators, constitutionally succeeded President Raul CUBAS Grau, who resigned after being impeached soon after the assassination of Vice President Luis Maria ARGANA; the successor to ARGANA was decided in an election held in August 2000 election results: Raul CUBAS Grau elected president; percent of vote - 55.3%; resigned 28 March 1999

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)

Government type

constitutional republic

Independence

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

International organization participation

CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)

Legal system

based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

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) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 25, PLRA 13, PEN 7; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Colorado Party 45, PLRA 26, PEN 9 elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003); Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2003)

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May (1811)

Political parties and leaders

Authentic Radical Liberal Party or PLRA [Miguel Abdon SAGUIER]; Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Luis Miguel ANDRADA Nogues]; Febrerista Revolutionary Party or PRF [Oscar ACUNA TORRES]; National Encounter Party or PEN [Mario PAZ CASTAING]; National Republican Association - Colorado Party [Nicanor DUARTE FRUTOS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Background

In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$125 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,427,160 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,028,935 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

17 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 58,359 (2002 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,156,366; female 1,119,558) 15-64 years: 56.6% (male 1,671,721; female 1,658,683) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 128,137; female 150,026) (2002 est.)

Birth rate

30.5 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate

4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.11% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

220 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

28.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.16 years female: 76.77 years (2002 est.) male: 71.67 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.1% male: 93.5% female: 90.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Net migration rate

-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population

5,884,491 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate

2.57% (2002 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant

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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.07 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in South America; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area

Airports

899 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 868 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 323 under 914 m: 518 (2002)

Highways

total: 25,901 km paved: 3,067 km unpaved: 22,834 km (2001)

Merchant marine

total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 34,623 GRT/36,821 DWT ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 2, Japan 1 (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Railways

total: 971 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge note: there are 470 km of various gauges that are privately owned narrow gauge: 60 km 1.000-m gauge

Waterways

3,100 km