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NAVIGATION
Republic of Paraguay
Republica del Paraguay
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Central South America, northeast of Argentina |
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Geographic coordinates:
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23 00 S, 58 00 W |
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Map references:
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South America |
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Area:
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total: 406,750 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km land: 397,300 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than California |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west |
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Terrain:
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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 |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m |
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Natural resources:
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hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone |
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Land use:
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arable land: 5.54%
permanent crops: 0.21% other: 94.25% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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670 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June) |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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: Nuclear Test Ban |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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5,884,491 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 38.7% (male 1,156,366; female 1,119,558)
15-64 years: 56.6% (male 1,671,721; female 1,658,683) 65 years and over: 4.7% (male 128,137; female 150,026) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.57% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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30.5 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-0.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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28.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 74.16 years
female: 76.77 years (2002 est.) male: 71.67 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.07 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.11% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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220 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan |
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Ethnic groups:
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mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, and other Protestant |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), Guarani (official) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1% male: 93.5% female: 90.6% (1995 est.) |