|
Background Note: Paraguay
PROFILE
OFFICIAL NAME:
Republic of
Paraguay
Geography
Area: 406,752 sq. km. (157,047 sq. mi.); about the size
of California.
Cities: Capital--Asuncion (pop. 539,000). Other cities--Ciudad
del Este, Concepción, Encarnación, Pedro Juan Caballero, Coronel
Oviedo.
Terrain: East of the Paraguay River--grassy plains, wooded
hills, tropical forests; west of the Paraguay River (Chaco
region)--low, flat, marshy plain.
Climate: Temperate east of the Paraguay River, semiarid to the
west.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Paraguayan(s).
Population (2006 est.): 6,506,464.
Annual population growth rate: 2.45% (2006 est.).
Ethnic groups: Mixed Spanish and Indian descent (mestizo) 95%.
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%; Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations.
Languages: Spanish (language of business and government),
Guarani (spoken and understood by 90% of the population).
Education: Years compulsory--9. Attendance--92%.
Literacy--94%. (UNICEF)
Health: Infant mortality rate--29/1,000. Life
expectancy--69 years male; 73 years female. (Population
Reference Bureau)
Work force (2002, 2.5 million): Agriculture--45%;
industry and commerce--31%; services--19%;
government--4%.
Government
Type: Constitutional Republic.
Independence: May 1811.
Constitution: June 1992.
Branches: Executive--President. Legislative--Senate
and Chamber of Deputies. Judicial--Supreme Court of
Justice.
Administrative subdivisions: 17 departments, 1 capital city.
Political parties: National Republican Association/Colorado
Party (ANR), Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Beloved
Fatherland (PQ), National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE),
National Encounter Party (PEN), The Country in Solidarity Party
(PPS), and numerous small parties not represented in Congress.
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory by law up to
age 75.
Economy (2005 Central Bank
and IMF data)
GDP: $8.06 billion.
Annual growth rate (2005): 2.9%.
Per capita GDP: $1,288.
Natural resources: Hydroelectric sites, forests.
Agriculture (25.5% of GDP): Products--soybeans, yucca,
cotton, beef, cereals, sugarcane.
Arable land: 9 million hectares, of which 30% is in production.
Manufacturing (14% of GDP): Types--sugar, cement,
textiles, beverages, wood products.
Trade (2005): Exports--$1.68 billion: soybeans, meat,
cotton, soybean oil, wood, animal hides, vegetable oil, tobacco,
and sugar. Major markets--Uruguay (28.23%), Brazil
(19.10%); the United States is 8th place with 3%.
Imports--$3.25 billion: fuels and lubricants, machinery,
electric materials, transportation and accessories, industrial
chemicals, fertilizers, plastics and manufactures, paper and
manufactures. Major suppliers--Brazil (27.6%), Argentina
(20%), China (19.7%), U.S. (5.5%).
PEOPLE
Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly
throughout the country. The vast majority of the people live in
the eastern region, most within 160 kilometers (100 mi.) of
Asuncion, the capital and largest city. The Chaco, which
accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2%
of the population. Ethnically, culturally, and socially,
Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South
America. About 95% of the people are of mixed Spanish and
Guarani Indian descent. Little trace is left of the original
Guarani culture except the language, which is understood by 90%
of the population. About 75% of all Paraguayans speak Spanish.
Guarani and Spanish are official languages. Brazilians,
Argentines, Germans, Arabs, Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese are
among those who have settled in Paraguay with Brazilians
representing the largest number. |