Republic of Paraguay

National name: República del Paraguay

President: Nicanor Duarte Frutos (2003)

Land area: 153,398 sq mi (397,301 sq km); total area: 157,047 sq mi (406,750 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 6,506,464 (growth rate: 2.5%); birth rate: 29.1/1000; infant mortality rate: 24.8/1000; life expectancy: 75.1; density per sq mi: 42

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Asunción, 1,482,200 (metro. area), 525,100

Other large cities: Ciudad del Este, 239,500; San Lorenzo, 210,000

Monetary unit: Guaraní

Languages: Spanish, Guaraní (both official)

Ethnicity/race: mestizo 95%

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, other Protestant 10%

Literacy rate: 94% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $31.79 billion; per capita $4,900. Real growth rate: 3.4%. Inflation: 7.5%. Unemployment: 16%. Arable land: 8%. Agriculture: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber. Labor force: 2.68 million; agriculture 45%. Industries: sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power. Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone. Exports: $3.13 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather. Imports: $3.832 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery. Major trading partners: Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, China, U.S. (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 290,475 (2001); mobile cellular: 510,000 (2001). Radio broadcast stations: AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998). Radios: 925,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 4 (2001). Televisions: 990,000 (2001). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 4 (2000). Internet users: 20,000 (2000).

Transportation: Railways: total: 441 km (2002). Highways: total: 29,500 km; paved: 14,986 km; unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 3,100 km. Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion. Airports: 879 (2002).

International conflicts: unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and harbors Islamist militants.


 

Go to Country details page