| World Regions |
|
Africa Middle East Europe Asia North America Central America The Caribbean South America Oceania World Map Cities Maps Flags Embassies Consulates |
| |
| Introduction | Paraguay |
| 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. |
| People | Paraguay |
| Population: | 6,191,368 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.2% (male 1,201,459; female 1,162,954) 15-64 years: 57% (male 1,773,151; female 1,758,323) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 136,376; female 159,105) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 21.1 years male: 20.8 years female: 21.3 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.51% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 29.78 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.58 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 26.67 deaths/1,000 live births female: 21.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 31.5 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 74.64 years male: 72.12 years female: 77.29 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 3.98 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.5% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 3,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 220 (2001 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan |
| Ethnic groups: | mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant |
| 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.) |
| Government | Paraguay |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay |
| Government type: | constitutional republic |
| Capital: | Asuncion |
| 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 annually) |
| Constitution: | promulgated 20 June 1992 |
| Legal system: | based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75 |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); 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 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008) election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2% |
| 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) elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2008) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, MPQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, MPQ 10, PPS 2 |
| 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) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [leader NA]; Movimiento Patria Querida or MPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Colorados Eticos or UNACE [Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Diego ABENTE Brun]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]; note - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Ahorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of National Campesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT;; |
| International organization participation: | FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, 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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962 chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
| 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 |
| 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) |
| Communications | Paraguay |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 273,200 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 1,770,300 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998) |
| Radios: | 925,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 5 (2003) |
| Televisions: | 990,000 (2001) |
| Internet country code: | .py |
| Internet hosts: | 9,243 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 4 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 120,000 (2003) |
| Transportation | Paraguay |
| Railways: | total: 441 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2003) |
| Highways: | total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est) |
| Waterways: | 3,100 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion |
| Merchant marine: | total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWT registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.) by type: cargo 14, livestock carrier 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3 foreign-owned: Argentina 2, Japan 1 |
| Airports: | 880 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 12 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 866 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 323 under 914 m: 517 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Paraguay |
| Military branches: | Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air Force |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2004) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 1,504,407 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,084,087 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 63,386 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $52.7 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 0.9% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Paraguay |
| Disputes - international: | unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug 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, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
| Categories | |
|