Paraguay

Background:	In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.
Location:	Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:	23 00 S, 58 00 W
Area:	total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:	slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:	total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline:	0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:	none (landlocked)
Climate:	subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the 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
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:	hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:	arable land: 7.6% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 92.17% (2001)
Irrigated land:	670 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:	deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:	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
Geography - note:	landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

People

Population:	6,347,884 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,223,479/female 1,184,134) 15-64 years: 57.3% (male 1,825,473/female 1,809,810) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 140,935/female 164,053) (2005 est.)
Median age:	total: 21.2 years male: 20.94 years female: 21.46 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:	2.48% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:	29.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:	4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:	-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 74.89 years male: 72.35 years female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:	3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Nationality:	noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:	mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:	Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
Languages:	Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)

Government

Country name:	conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay
Government type:	constitutional republic
Capital:	Asuncion
Administrative divisions:	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:	14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:	Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)
Constitution:	promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:	based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75 Source: CIA World Factbook