Population: 5,213,772 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.76% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 32.03 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 4.48 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.28 years male: 71.74 years female: 74.9 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.29 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan Ethnic divisions: mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 90% male: 92% female: 88% Labor force: 1.692 million (1993 est.) by occupation: agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)
@Paraguay, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form:
Paraguay
local long form:
Republica del Paraguay
local short form:
Paraguay
Digraph:
PA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto
Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa,
Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San
Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution:
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review
of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993); Vice President
Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); election last held 9 May
1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%,
Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; nominated by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores):
elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20,
PLRA 17, EN 8
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):
elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado
Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA CANTERO, president; Authentic Radical
Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN),
Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN party includes the following minor
parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular
Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)
Other political or pressure groups:
Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juan Esteban AGUIRRE Martinez
chancery:
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX:
(202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general:
New Orleans and New York
consulate(s):
Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge D'Affaires Gerald McCOLLOCH
embassy:
1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
mailing address:
C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001
telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715
FAX:
[595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
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
Overview: Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports, led by soybeans and cotton. Paraguay lacks substantial mineral or petroleum resources but possesses a large hydropower potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared with the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for crops, and weak export prices for agricultural commodities. In 1987 the economy experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather conditions and stronger international prices for key agricultural exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the strength of bumper crops in 1988-89. In a major step to increase its economic activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach, reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid 100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France, and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the long run, the government must press forward with general, market-oriented economic reforms. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international commodity prices. Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993 because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates. National product: GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.2 billion (1993 est.) National product real growth rate: 3.5% (1993 est.) National product per capita: $3,000 (1993 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20.4% (1993 ) Unemployment rate: 11% (1993 est.) Budget: revenues: $1.2 billion expenditures: $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1992 est.) Exports: $728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung oil partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6% Imports: $1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels partners: Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7% External debt: $1.2 billion (1993 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 2.2% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 5,257,000 kW production: 16.2 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,280 kWh (1992) Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction Agriculture: accounts for 26% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane, soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava, fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,861.3 (January 1994), 1,744.3 (1993), 1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989) Fiscal year: calendar year
@Paraguay, Communications
Railroads:
970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter
gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
total:
28,300 km
paved:
2,600 km
unpaved:
gravel 500 km; earth 25,200 km
Inland waterways:
3,100 km
Ports:
Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,513 DWT, cargo 11,
oil tanker 2
note:
1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
Airports:
total:
969
usable:
827
with permanent-surface runways:
7
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
93
Telecommunications:
meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion; fair
intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; telephone density - 16
telephones per 1,000 persons; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV,
7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Paraguay, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,249,470; fit for military service 907,533; reach
military age (17) annually 53,126 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Peru, Geography