Paraguay

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.

Paraguay Information

• Population: 6,191,368 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
• Location:: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
• Religions:: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant
• Ethnic Groups:: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
• Land Boundaries:: total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
• Area: total: 406,750 sq km water: 9,450 sq km land: 397,300 sq km
• Coast Line: 0 km (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
• Maritime Claims: none (landlocked)
• Land Use: arable land: 7.6% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 92.17% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
• Natural Resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
• Highways: total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)
• Railways: total: 441 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
• Airports: 880 (2003 est.)