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Communications

Airports [time series]

851 total, 738 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 60 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

4 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

3,100 km

Merchant marine [time series]

14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 18,743 GRT/22,954 DWT; includes 12 cargo, 2 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker; note--1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially

Ports [time series]

Asuncion

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; stations--40 AM, no FM, 5 TV, 7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)

Manpower availability [time series]

males 15-49, 1,130,690; 823,136 fit for military service; 51,415 reach military age (17) annually

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops--cotton, sugarcane; other crops--corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, cassava, fruits, and vegetables; animal products--beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods

Budget [time series]

revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

guarani (plural--guaranies); 1 guarani (0) = 100 centimos

Economic aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1.05 billion

Electricity [time series]

5,169,000 kW capacity; 15,144 million kWh produced, 3,250 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

guaranies (0) per US$1--1,204.5 (October 1989), 1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989), 339.17 (1986), 306.67 (1985)

Exports [time series]

$980 million (registered f.o.b., 1990 est.); commodities--cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products; partners--EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$1.7 billion (1989 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$4.6 billion, per capita $1,000; real growth rate 3.5% (1990 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US and Europe

Imports [time series]

$1.4 billion (registered c.i.f., 1990 est.); commodities--capital goods 35%, consumer goods 20%, fuels and lubricants 19%, raw materials 16%, foodstuffs, beverages, and tobacco 10%; partners--Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 16% of GDP

Industries [time series]

meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

44% (1990 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is predominantly agricultural. Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GNP, employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of exports. Paraguay has no known significant mineral or petroleum resources but does have 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 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 international commodity prices for agricultural exports. 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. The government, however, must follow through on promises of reforms needed to deal with escalating inflation, large fiscal deficits, growing debt arrearages, and falling reserves.

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (1989 est.)

Geography

Climate [time series]

varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than California

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

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

Land boundaries [time series]

3,920 km total; Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Land use [time series]

arable land 20%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures 39%; forest and woodland 35%; other 5%; includes irrigated NEGL%

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

iron ore, manganese, limestone, hydropower, timber

Note [time series]

landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

Terrain [time series]

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

Area (Total area) [time series]

406,750 km2; land area: 397,300 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Asuncion

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel SOLER faction (both illegal); 3,000 to 4,000 (est.) party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard core; party beginning to return from exile is small and deeply divided

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Marcos MARTINEZ MENDIETA; Chancery at 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 483-6960 through 6962; there are Paraguayan Consulates General in New Orleans and New York, and a Consulate in Houston; US--Ambassador Jon GLASSMAN; Embassy at 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion (mailing address is C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO Miami 34036-0001); telephone [595] (21) 213-715

Executive branch [time series]

president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State

Flag [time series]

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)

Independence [time series]

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989) Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA, acting president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Juan Manuel BENITEZ Florentin; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jorge Dario CRISTALDO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Congress (Congreso) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Paraguay

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO

National holiday [time series]

Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church

Suffrage [time series]

universal and compulsory at age 18 and up to age 60 President--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held February 1993); results--Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4%; Chamber of Senators--last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by May 1993); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(36 total) Colorado Party 24, PLRA 10, PLR 1, PRF 1; Chamber of Deputies--last held on 1 May 1989 (next to be held by May 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, PL 1, PLR 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

People

Birth rate [time series]

35 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

6 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

47 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

1,300,000; agriculture 44%, industry and commerce 34%, services 18%, government 4% (1986)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Spanish (official) and Guarani

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

67 years male, 72 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

90% (male 92%, female 88%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Paraguayan(s); adjective--Paraguayan

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

about 2% of labor force

Population [time series]

4,798,739 (July 1991), growth rate 2.9% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant denominations

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.7 children born/woman (1991)