*Paraguay, Geography Location: Central South America, between Argentina and Brazil Map references: South America, Standard Time Zones of the World Area: total area: 406,750 km2 land area: 397,300 km2 comparative area: slightly smaller than California Land boundaries: total 3,920 km, Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: short section of the boundary with Brazil (just west of Guaira Falls on the Rio Parana) has not been determined Climate: varies from temperate in east to semiarid in far west 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 Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone Land use: arable land: 20% permanent crops: 1% meadows and pastures: 39% forest and woodland: 35% other: 5% Irrigated land: 670 km2 (1989 est.) Environment: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil *Paraguay, People Population: 5,070,856 (July 1993 est.) Population growth rate: 2.8% (1993 est.) Birth rate: 32.61 births/1,000 population (1993 est.) Death rate: 4.58 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.) Infant mortality rate: 26.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.98 years male: 71.42 years female: 74.62 years (1993 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.37 children born/woman (1993 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) total population: 90% male: 92% female: 88% Labor force: 1.641 million (1992 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) 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 National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811) Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Blas N. RIQUELME, president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEUEDO; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER; National Encounter (EN), Guillermo Caballero VARGAS Other political or pressure groups: Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60 Elections: President: last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held 9 May 1993); results - Gen. RODRIGUEZ 75.8%, Domingo LAINO 19.4% Chamber of Senators: last held 1 May 1989 (next to be held by 9 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 9 May 1993); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (72 total) Colorado Party 48, PLRA 19, PRF 2, PDC 1, other 2 Executive branch: president, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State Legislative branch: 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) *Paraguay, Government Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government: President Gen. Andres RODRIGUEZ Pedotti (since 15 May 1989) Member of: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, 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 consulates general: New Orleans and New York consulate: Houston US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Jon David GLASSMAN 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. Paraguay lacks substantial 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 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 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. 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. National product: GDP - exchange rate conversion - $7.3 billion (1992 est.) National product real growth rate: 1.7% (1992 est.) National product per capita: $1,500 (1992 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (1992 est.) Unemployment rate: 10% (1992 est.) Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1991) Exports: $719 million (f.o.b., 1992) commodities: cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, coffee, tung oil, meat products partners: EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6% Imports: $1.33 billion (c.i.f., 1992) 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% External debt: $1.2 billion (1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 5.9% (1989 est.); accounts for 17% of GDP Electricity: 5,257,000 kW capacity; 16,200 million kWh produced, 3,280 kWh per capita (1992) *Paraguay, Economy Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton, sugarcane; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, soybeans, 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: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1 billion Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,637.6 (January 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: 21,960 km total; 1,788 km paved, 474 km gravel, and 19,698 km earth Inland waterways: 3,100 km Ports: Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este Merchant marine: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,865 DWT; includes 11 cargo, 2 oil tanker; note - 1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially Airports: total: 862 usable: 719 with permanent-surface runways: 7 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 4 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 64 Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion; fair intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; 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 1,210,171; fit for military service 879,601; reach military age (17) annually 51,361 (1993 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $84 million, 1.4% of GDP (1988 est.)