World Facts Index
 In
the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and
Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - 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, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from
Bolivia. 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 then.
Geography of Paraguay
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Location:
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Central South America,
northeast of Argentina |
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Coordinates:
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23 00 S, 58 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 406,750 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than
California |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil
1,290 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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subtropical to temperate;
substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the
far west |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, timber, iron
ore, manganese, limestone |
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Natural hazards:
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local flooding in southeast
(early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early
October to June) |
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Environment current issues:
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deforestation; water
pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for
many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; lies between
Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part
of country
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Population of Paraguay
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Population:
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6,831,306 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) |
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Median age:
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21.3 years |
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Growth rate:
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2.45% |
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Infant mortality:
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24.78 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.1 years
male: 72.56 years
female: 77.78 years |
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Fertility rate:
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3.89 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other
Protestant |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), Guarani (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of
Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay |
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Government type:
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constitutional republic |
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Capital:
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Asuncion |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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14 May 1811 (from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 14 May (1811) (observed
15 May annually) |
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Constitution:
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promulgated 20 June 1992 |
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Legal system:
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based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and
French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal and compulsory
up to age 75 |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO
Mendez (since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August
2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15 August
2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular
vote for a single five-year term. |
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Legislative branch:
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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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema
de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates or Consejo de
la Magistratura) |
Economy
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector.
This 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, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural
activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita basis, real income has
stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic
performance to political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on
structural reform, and deficient infrastructure. The economy rebounded between
2003 and 2007, posting modest growth each year, as growing world demand for
commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support
Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.
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GDP:
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$26.7 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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2.7% |
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GDP per capita:
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$4,000 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 20.7%
services: 56.9% |
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Inflation rate:
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6.8% |
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Labor force:
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2.68 million |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 45% |
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Unemployment:
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16% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.334 billion
expenditures: $1.37 billion |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
other: 0.1%
nuclear: 0% |
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Industries:
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sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood
products, steel, metallurgic, electric power |
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Agriculture:
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cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat,
tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber |
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Exports:
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soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils,
electricity, wood, leather |
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Export partners:
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Uruguay 27.3%, Brazil 15.7%, Argentina 4.9%, Chile 4.6% |
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Imports:
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road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco,
petroleum products, electrical machinery |
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Import partners:
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Brazil 27%, Argentina 21.3%, US 20.2%, China 9.3% |
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Currency:
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guarani (PYG) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |