Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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 its 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 the country's return to democracy.
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
total: 406,752 sq km
country comparison to the world: 60
land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
slightly smaller than California
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
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
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
arable land: 9.59%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 90.19% (2011)
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 88.05 cu m/yr (2000)
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
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
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Paraguay falls below the Latin American average in several socioeconomic categories, including immunization rates, potable water, sanitation, and secondary school enrollment, and has greater rates of income inequality and child and maternal mortality. Paraguay's poverty rate has declined in recent years but remains high, especially in rural areas, with more than a third of the population below the poverty line. However, the well-being of the poor in many regions has improved in terms of housing quality and access to clean water, telephone service, and electricity. The fertility rate continues to drop, declining sharply from an average 4.3 births per woman in the late 1990s to about 2 in 2013, as a result of the greater educational attainment of women, increased use of contraception, and a desire for smaller families among young women.
6,623,252 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
0-14 years: 26.8% (male 903,578/female 873,079)
15-24 years: 20.8% (male 692,006/female 684,297)
25-54 years: 39% (male 1,294,037/female 1,290,376)
55-64 years: 6.9% (male 234,803/female 224,862)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 198,529/female 227,685) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 61 %
youth dependency ratio: 52.2 %
elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 %
potential support ratio: 11.4 (2013)
total: 26.3 years
male: 26.1 years
female: 26.5 years (2013 est.)
1.23% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
16.95 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
urban population: 61% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 2.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
ASUNCION (capital) 1.977 million (2009)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
22.9
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)
99 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 74
total: 21.48 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 86
male: 25.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 76.6 years
country comparison to the world: 74
male: 73.97 years
female: 79.35 years (2013 est.)
2.01 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
79.4%
note: percent of women aged 15-44 (2008)
9.7% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 29
1.11 physicians/1,000 population (2002)
1.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
13,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever (2013)
17.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 110
3.4% (2005)
country comparison to the world: 102
4.1% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 108
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 94.8%
female: 92.9% (2010 est.)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2010)
total number: 205,297
percentage: 15 % (2004 est.)
total: 11.2%
country comparison to the world: 104
male: 9%
female: 14.6% (2012)
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends fourth Sunday in March
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 Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992; amended 2011 (2011)
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
chief of state: President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013); Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Horacio CARTES (since 15 August 2013); Vice President Juan AFARA Maciel (since 15 August 2013)
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 on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018)
election results: Horacio CARTES elected president; percent of vote - Horacio CARTES 45.8%, Efrain ALEGRE 36.94%, Mario FERREIRO 5.88%, Anibal CARRILLO 3.32%, other 8.06%
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018); Chamber of Deputies - last held on 21 April 2013 (next to be held in April 2018)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 19, PLRA 12, FG 5, PDP 3, Avanza Pais 2, UNACE 2, PEN 1, PPQ 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - ANR 44, PLRA 27, Avanza Pais 2, PEN 2, UNACE 2, FG 1, PPQ 1, other 1
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division
judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges appointed until mandatory retirement at age 75
subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or APC
Ahorristas Estafados or AE
CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (suspended), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Fernando Antonio PFANNL Caballero (since 9 January 2013)
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Ambassador James H. THESSIN (since 8 September 2011)
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, DPO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728
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 a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity
note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
name: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)
lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed
note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; the anthem was officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export 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. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 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. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. The government reacted by introducing fiscal and monetary stimulus packages. Growth resumed at a 13% level in 2010, the highest in South America, but slowed to about 4% in 2011 as the stimulus subsided. In 2012, severe drought and outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease led to a drop in beef and other agricultural exports and the economy contracted about 0.5%. Political uncertainty, corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth.
$40.43 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$25.72 billion (2012 est.)
-1.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
$6,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 69.1%
government consumption: 12.7%
investment in fixed capital: 15.1%
investment in inventories: 0.4%
exports of goods and services: 51.3%
imports of goods and services: -48.6%
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 18.2%
services: 65.5% (2012 est.)
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power
3.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
3.137 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
agriculture: 26.5%
industry: 18.5%
services: 55% (2008)
6.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2010 est.)
53.2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 13
revenues: $4.664 billion
expenditures: $5.109 billion (2012 est.)
18.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
-1.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
14.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
3.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
5.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
29.1% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
$4.135 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$10.11 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
$9.747 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$958.1 million (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 116
$115.6 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
$11.9 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, wood, leather
Uruguay 17.7%, Brazil 16.4%, Argentina 15.6%, Russia 12% (2012)
$11.06 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Brazil 24.2%, China 19.5%, Argentina 18.3%, US 11.5% (2012)
$4.994 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$5.985 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$4.145 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
$213.6 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
53.53 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
6.778 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
46.12 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
8.816 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
0.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
99.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
2,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 174
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
26,820 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
31,290 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 182
3.987 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
376,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 107
6.79 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 95
general assessment: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly and fixed-line telephone service is meager; principal switching center is in Asuncion
domestic: 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) (2010)
6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2010)
280,658 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 65
1.105 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 94
799 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 9
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2013)
total: 784
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 290
under 914 m:
total: 36 km
country comparison to the world: 132
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
total: 32,059 km
country comparison to the world: 95
paved: 4,860 km
unpaved: 27,199 km (2010)
3,100 km (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná river systems) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 33
total: 19
country comparison to the world: 96
by type: cargo 13, container 3, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2010)
river port(s): Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)
Armed Forces Command (Commando de las Fuerzas Militares): Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Marine Corps, Naval Aviation, and Coast Guard), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP), Logistics Command, War Materiel Directorate (2012)
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2012)
males age 16-49: 1,678,335
females age 16-49: 1,675,352 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,409,859
females age 16-49: 1,433,037 (2010 est.)
male: 73,367
female: 71,801 (2010 est.)
1.66% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 168
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
