Paraguay

Internet country code

.py

Internet hosts

71,487 (2009) country comparison to the world: 78

Internet users

894,200 (2008) country comparison to the world: 93

Radio broadcast stations

AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (2006)

Telephone system

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; 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) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

363,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 104

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.791 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 81

Television broadcast stations

5 (2007)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $2.856 billion expenditures: $2.826 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

20% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 7 20% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

25.81% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 11 25.03% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$345 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99 $126.1 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$3.507 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 114 $3.096 billion (31 December 2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

56.8 (2008) country comparison to the world: 9 57.7 (1998)

Economy - overview

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector, featuring reexport 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. 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 2008, however, 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.

Electricity - consumption

5.337 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Electricity - exports

45.14 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

53.19 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Exchange rates

guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 4,337.7 (2008 est.), 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004)

Exports

$7.769 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $5.463 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Argentina 31.7%, Brazil 15.9%, Uruguay 11.7%, Chile 6.4%, Russia 5.7% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.01 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$28.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $27.37 billion (2007 est.) $25.62 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 23.4% industry: 18.4% services: 58.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153 $4,100 (2007 est.) $3,900 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 6.8% (2007 est.) 4.3% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.1% highest 10%: 42.3% (2007)

Imports

$8.809 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 $6.008 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts

Imports - partners

Brazil 27.2%, US 22.1%, Argentina 14.9%, China 10.4% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Industries

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

10.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 8.1% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

19.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Labor force

2.839 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 31% industry: 17% services: 52% (2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) $NA (31 December 2007) $409.1 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 136

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - consumption

28,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Oil - imports

25,100 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Oil - production

26.97 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Population below poverty line

32% (2005 est.)

Public debt

19.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 39.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.863 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 $2.462 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$2.057 million (2007) country comparison to the world: 96

Stock of domestic credit

$3.098 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $2.457 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$2.062 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 70 $1.943 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$1.599 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 89 $1.368 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

5.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 5.6% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 406,752 sq km country comparison to the world: 59 land: 397,302 sq km water: 9,450 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 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%) per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)

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 (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 3,995 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km

Land use

arable land: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources

336 cu km (2000)

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

name: Asuncion geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

promulgated 20 June 1992

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Liliana AYALDE 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) 228-603

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Executive branch

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; election last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held 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%

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

CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed on the proposal of the Council 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional 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) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 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

National holiday

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)

Political parties and leaders

Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Lilian SAMANIEGO]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Gustavo CARDOZO]; 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]

Suffrage

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

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 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 then.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,589,873 females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,363,746 females age 16-49: 1,390,799 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 73,660 female: 72,046 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2008)

Military expenditures

1% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

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 (2007)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

28.17 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Death rate

4.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 201

Education expenditures

4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 104

Ethnic groups

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Infant mortality rate

total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 28.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.77 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 73.19 years female: 78.49 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009)

Median age

total: 21.9 years male: 21.6 years female: 22.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Net migration rate

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 89

Population

6,995,655 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Population growth rate

2.364% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Religions

Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005)

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: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Urbanization

urban population: 60% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - 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

Airports

798 (2009) country comparison to the world: 9

Airports - with paved runways

total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 784 1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 289 under 914 m: 470 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 23 country comparison to the world: 94 by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Railways

total: 36 km country comparison to the world: 132 standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 29,500 km country comparison to the world: 98 paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)

Waterways

3,100 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 33