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 8^th 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%).