República del Paraguay Tetã Paraguái Republic of Paraguay
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Paz y justicia  (Spanish) "Peace and justice"
Anthem: Paraguayos, República o Muerte  (Spanish)
Capital (and largest city)		Asunción 25°16′S, 57°40′W
Official languages		Spanish, Guaraní[1]
Demonym		Paraguayan
Government		Constitutional presidential republic
-	President	Nicanor Duarte
-	President-elect	Fernando Lugo
Independence		from Spain
-	Declared	May 14, 1811
Area
-	Total	406,752 km² (59th) 157,048 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2. The flag of Paraguay (bandera de Paraguay was adopted in 1842. The national coat of arms of Paraguay ("Escudo de Armas" has the following construction Round white background red border with the inscription "República A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Paraguayos República o Muerte is the National anthem of Paraguay. Paraguay 's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Guaraní /gwaraˈni/ (local name avañe'ẽ) is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily of the A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. A constitutional Republic is a State where the Head of state and other officials are elected as representatives of the people and A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Óscar Nicanor Duarte Frutos (born 11 October 1956 is a Paraguayan politician who served as President of Paraguay from 2003 to 2008 Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez (born May 30, 1951) is the current President of Paraguay and the former Roman Catholic Bishop of the Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here Surface areas between 100000 km² and 1000000 km² This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 3
Population
-	July 2005 estimate	6,158,000 (101st)
-	Density	15/km² (192nd) 39/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$28. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 342 billion (96th)
-	Per capita	$4,555 (107th)
GDP (nominal)		2007 (IMF) estimate
-	Total	$10. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita 9 billion (111th)
-	Per capita	$1,802 (116th)
Gini (2002)		57. PLEASE NO RANDOM FIGURES THERE ARE NO FIGURES BASED ON NATIONAL STATISTICS IN THIS ARTICLE Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product Per capita at Nominal values, the The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth 8 (high)
HDI (2007)		▼ 0. The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 755 (medium) (95th)
Currency		Guaraní (PYG)
Time zone		(UTC-4)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC-3)
Internet TLD		.py
Calling code		+595

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay Spanish pronunciation: [reˈpuβlika ðel paɾaˈɣwai]; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái), is one of the only two landlocked countries in South America (along with Bolivia). This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The guaraní (plural guaraníes ( sign: ₲; code: PYG) is the national Currency unit of Paraguay. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Daylight saving time ( DST A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E Guaraní /gwaraˈni/ (local name avañe'ẽ) is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily of the A landlocked country is commonly defined as one enclosed or nearly enclosed by land South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. It lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, bordering Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest, and is located in the center of South America, the country is sometimes referred to as Corazón de América - Heart of (South) America^[2][3][4][5] along with Bolivia^[6][7] and Brazil^[8][9]

Etymology

The country is named for a river that runs almost right through the middle of it, from north to south. The Paraguay River ( Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major River in south central South America For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The Paraguay River ( Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major River in south central South America There are at least four versions for the origin of the river's name:

The literal translation from Guaraní is Para=great river or sea; Gua=from or belonging to or place; Y=water or river or lake. Guaraní /gwaraˈni/ (local name avañe'ẽ) is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily of the This could lead to:

• "Water or river belonging to the sea" (the Atlantic Ocean).

• "Water or river that belongs to a great river" (the Paraná River). This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River

• "Water or river that comes from a sea" or "water or river from the place where the sea is" (the Pantanal wetland). The Pantanal is a tropical Wetland in South America, mostly within the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul,

The fourth version states that it could be a corruption from Payaguá-y, "river of the Payaguás", a tribe that inhabited the banks and navigated its course.

History

Main article: History of Paraguay

Pre-Columbian civilization in the wooded, fertile region which is now present-day Paraguay consisted of seminomadic, Guarani-speaking tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. This is the history of Paraguay. See also the History of South America and the History of present-day nations and states. Europeans first arrived in the area in the early sixteenth century and the settlement of Asunción was founded on August 15, 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar y Espinoza. The European peoples are the various Nations and Ethnic groups of Europe. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Juan de Salazar y Espinoza, (1508 - 1560 was a Spanish explorer founder of the Paraguayan city of Asuncion. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province, as well as a primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the eighteenth century. The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spain 's conquest settlement and rule over much of the Western hemisphere. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Jesuit Reductions were founded and flourished in eastern Paraguay for about 150 years until their destruction by the Spanish crown in 1767. Related article Indian Reductions The Jesuit Reductions were a particular version of the general Catholic strategy used in the 17th Paraguay declared its independence after overthrowing the local Spanish people on May 14, 1811. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the Year 1811 ( MDCCCXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year

Francisco Solano López

Rendition of Paraguayan soldier grieving the loss of his son by José Ignacio Garmendia

Paraguay's history has been characterized by long periods of authoritarian governments, political instability and infighting, and devastating wars with its neighbors. Francisco Solano López Carrillo ( 24 July 1826 &ndash 1 March 1870) was president of Paraguay from 1862 until his Its post-colonial history can be divided into several distinct periods:

Asunción, the capital of Paraguay

In addition to the Declaration of Independence, the War of the Triple Alliance and the Chaco War are milestones in Paraguay's history. Dr José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia y Velasco ( January 6, 1766 &ndash September 20, 1840) was the first leader of Paraguay Carlos Antonio López Ynsfrán ( November 4, 1790 &ndash September 10, 1862) was a Paraguayan Political figure. Francisco Solano López Carrillo ( 24 July 1826 &ndash 1 March 1870) was president of Paraguay from 1862 until his The War of the Triple Alliance, also known as the Paraguayan War, and the Great War in Paraguay itself was fought from 1864 to 1870 and caused more deaths than any The National Republican Association – Colorado Party ( Asociación Nacional Republicana – Partido Colorado, ANR-PC is a Political party in Paraguay, The Paraguayan Liberal Party was a Liberal party in Paraguay. The Chaco War (1932&ndash1935 was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of a great part of the Gran Chaco region of South America The Chaco War (1932&ndash1935 was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of a great part of the Gran Chaco region of South America Marshal José Félix Estigarribia Insaurralde (born February 21, 1888; Caraguatay – died September 7, 1940; Altos) was General Higinio Moríñigo Martínez ( 11 January 1897 – 1985 was a Paraguayan dictator General and Political figure. The Paraguayan Civil War was a conflict in Paraguay that lasted from March to August 1947. Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner (November 3 1912 Encarnación - August 16 2006 Brasília Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. The War of the Triple Alliance, also known as the Paraguayan War, and the Great War in Paraguay itself was fought from 1864 to 1870 and caused more deaths than any The Chaco War (1932&ndash1935 was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of a great part of the Gran Chaco region of South America Paraguay fought the War of the Triple Alliance against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and was defeated in 1870 after five years of the bloodiest war in South America. Paraguay suffered extensive territorial losses to Brazil and Argentina. The Chaco War was fought with Bolivia in the 1930s and Bolivia was defeated. The Chaco War (1932&ndash1935 was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over control of a great part of the Gran Chaco region of South America Paraguay re-established sovereignty over the region called the Chaco, and forfeited additional territorial gains as a price of peace.

The history of Paraguay is fraught with disputes among historians, educators and politicians. The official version of historical events, wars in particular, varies depending on whether you read a history book written in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil or Bolivia, and even European and North American authors have been unable to avoid bias. Paraguay's history also has been a matter of dispute among Paraguay's main political parties, and there is a Colorado Party and Liberal Party official version of Paraguayan history. The National Republican Association – Colorado Party ( Asociación Nacional Republicana – Partido Colorado, ANR-PC is a Political party in Paraguay, The Paraguayan Liberal Party was a Liberal party in Paraguay. Certain historical events from the Colonial and early national era have been difficult to investigate due to the fact that during the pillaging of Asuncion Saqueo de Asunción, the Brazilian Imperial army ransacked and relocated the Paraguayan National archives to Rio de Janeiro. The majority of the archives have been mostly under secret seal since then, in effect, precluding any historical investigation.

Leftist former bishop Fernando Lugo achieved a historic victory in Paraguay's presidential election in April 2008, defeating the ruling party candidate and ending 61 years of conservative rule. Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez (born May 30, 1951) is the current President of Paraguay and the former Roman Catholic Bishop of the Lugo won with nearly 41 percent of the vote compared to almost 31 percent for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado party. Blanca Margarita Ovelar de Duarte (born) is a Paraguayan politician and former Minister of Education ^[10]

Politics

Main article: Politics of Paraguay

Paraguay's politics takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Politics of Paraguay takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, whereby the President of Paraguay is both A presidential system is a System of government where an executive branch exists and presides (hence the term separately from the Legislature Representative democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people's representatives A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State A multi-party system is a system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition Executive power is exercised by the government. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of the National Congress. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. Paraguay 's bicameral Congress (Congreso consists of a 45-member Senate and an 80-member Chamber of Deputies. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State

Politics in 1980s

After World War II, politics became particularly unstable with several political parties fighting for power in the late 1940s, which most notably led to the Paraguayan civil war of 1947. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including ^[11] A series of unstable governments ensued until the establishment in 1954 of the stable regime of Alfredo Stroessner, who remained in office for more than three decades. Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner (November 3 1912 Encarnación - August 16 2006 Brasília Alfredo Stroessner's human rights track record was one of the best in the continent, and he slowly modernized Paraguay, even though his government was hampered by interference from drug traffickers. Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner (November 3 1912 Encarnación - August 16 2006 Brasília ^[12]

The splits in the Colorado Party in the 1980s and the conditions that led to this — Stroessner's age, the character of the regime, the economic downturn, and international isolation — provided an opportunity for demonstrations and statements by the opposition prior to the 1988 general elections. The National Republican Association – Colorado Party ( Asociación Nacional Republicana – Partido Colorado, ANR-PC is a Political party in Paraguay,

A gathering in Caacupe

The PLRA leader Domingo Laíno served as the focal point of the opposition in the second half of the 1980s. Caacupé is a city in Paraguay, founded in 1770. It is the capital of the department of Cordillera. The Authentic Radical Liberal Party ( Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico or PLRA) is a liberal party in Paraguay. The government's effort to isolate Laíno by exiling him in 1982 had backfired. On his fifth attempt, in 1986, Laíno returned with three television crews from the U. S. , a former United States ambassador to Paraguay, and a group of Uruguayan and Argentine congressmen. An ambassador is the highest ranking Diplomat who represents their country Despite the international contingent, the police violently barred Laíno's return. However, the Stroessner regime relented in April 1987 and permitted Laíno to arrive in Asunción. Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. Laíno took the lead in organizing demonstrations and diminishing somewhat the normal opposition party infighting. The opposition was unable to reach agreement on a common strategy regarding the elections, with some parties advocating abstention and others calling for blank voting. Nonetheless, the parties did cooperate in holding numerous lightning demonstrations (mítines relámpagos), especially in rural areas. Such demonstrations were held and disbanded quickly before the arrival of the police.

Obviously stung by the upsurge in opposition activities, Stroessner condemned the Accord for advocating "sabotage of the general elections and disrespect of the law" and used the national police and civilian vigilantes of the Colorado Party to break up demonstrations. A number of opposition leaders were imprisoned or otherwise harassed. Hermes Rafael Saguier, another key leader of the PRLA, was imprisoned for four months in 1987 on charges of sedition. In early February 1988, police arrested 200 people attending a National Coordinating Committee meeting in Coronel Oviedo. Coronel Oviedo is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the Caaguazú Department, about 150 kilometers east of Asunción. Forty-eight hours before the elections, Laíno and several other National Accord members were placed under house arrest.

Despite limited campaign activities, the government reported that 88. 7% of the vote went to Stroessner, 7. 1% to PLR candidate Luis María Vega, and 3. 2% to PL candidate Carlos Ferreira Ibarra. The remaining 1% of ballots were blank or annulled. The government also reported that 92. 6% of all eligible voters cast their ballots. The National Coordinating Committee rejected the government's figures, contending that abstention was as high as 50% in some areas. In addition, election monitors from twelve countries, including the United States, France, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina, reported extensive irregularities.

Shortly after the elections, researchers from the Catholic University of Our Lady of Asunción and the West German Friedrich Naumann Foundation released the findings of a public opinion poll that they had conducted several weeks earlier. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation (Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNF is a German foundation for liberal politics related to the Free Democratic Party The poll, which measured political attitudes of urban Paraguayans - defined as those living in towns with at least 2,500 residents - suggested that the Colorado Party had considerable support, although nowhere near the level of official election statistics. Asked for whom they would vote in an election involving the free participation of all parties and political movements, 43% named the Colorado Party; the PLRA, which finished second in the poll, was mentioned by only 13% of all respondents. Stroessner's name also topped the list of those political leaders considered most capable of leading the country.

Although contending that these results reflected the Colorados' virtual monopoly of the mass media, opposition politicians also saw several encouraging developments. Some 53% of those polled indicated that there was an "uneasiness" in Paraguayan society. Furthermore, 74% believed that the political situation needed changes, including 45% who wanted a substantial or total change. Finally, 31% stated that they planned to abstain from voting in the February elections.

Relations between militants and traditionalists deteriorated seriously in the months following the elections. Although Chaves and his followers had not opposed Stroessner's re-election bid, Montanaro denounced them as "legionnaires" (a reference to those Paraguayan expatriates who fought against Francisco Solano López and who were regarded as traitors by the original Colorados). Montanaro is a Comune (municipality in the Province of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 20 km northeast of Francisco Solano López Carrillo ( 24 July 1826 &ndash 1 March 1870) was president of Paraguay from 1862 until his By late 1988 the only major agencies still headed by traditionalists were the IBR and the National Cement Industry (Industria Nacional de Cemento). In September 1988, traditionalists responded to these attacks by accusing the militants of pursuing "a deceitful populism in order to distract attention from their inability to resolve the serious problems that afflict the nation. " Traditionalists also called for an end to personalism and corruption. ^[13]

Law

Paraguay's legal system is based on Roman law, Argentine codes, and French codes. In recent years, Paraguay has made important progress toward greater fiscal transparency. The fairly comprehensive financial administration law (1999) has been complemented by recent legal reforms that eliminated most tax exemptions, revamped revenue administration procedures and introduced standardized transparency requirements for public procurement, all of which reduce the scope for corruption. In addition, efforts are ongoing to clarify the relations between the government and the nonfinancial public enterprises (NFPEs), including through tariff adjustments that have reduced quasi-fiscal activities (QFAs) and the launching of external audits of the enterprises’ financial health carried out by international firms. However, Paraguay fails to meet several requirements (at times even basic ones) of the code: (i) the transparency and credibility of the budget as an expression of the government’s fiscal objectives and a guide to fiscal policy implementation are severely limited by the lack of an underlying consistent macroeconomic framework, the limited accountability imposed on the amendments introduced either by congress or the executive at both the approval and execution stages, and the lack of a modern framework for civil service; (ii) relations across different branches of government and between the latter and the rest of the public sector are not always clear and little information is provided on QFAs; (iii) few assurances of data quality are provided, as data reconciliation and assessments by the relevant national body are weak; and (iv) disclosure of fiscal information is sparse and its coverage not comprehensive. ^[14]

Departments

Main article: Departments of Paraguay

Paraguay consists of seventeen departments and one capital district (distrito capital): These are, with their capitals indicated:

Name Capital 1 Alto Paraguay Fuerte Olimpo 2 Alto Paraná Ciudad del Este 3 Amambay Pedro Juan Caballero    4 Distrito Capital    Asunción 5 Boquerón Filadelfia 6 Caaguazú Coronel Oviedo 7 Caazapá Caazapá 8 Canindeyú Salto del Guairá 9 Central Areguá

Name Capital 10 Concepción Concepción 11 Cordillera Caacupé 12 Guairá Villarrica 13 Itapúa Encarnación 14 Misiones San Juan Bautista    15 Ñeembucú Pilar 16 Paraguarí Paraguarí 17 Presidente Hayes    Villa Hayes 18 San Pedro San Pedro

Downtown Ciudad del Este

Asuncion Cathedral

Largest cities 2002 (from www.citypopulation.de)

• Asunción 512,000
• Ciudad del Este 222,000
• San Lorenzo 204,000
• Luque 171,000
• Capiatá 154,000
• Lambaré 120,000
• Fernando de la Mora 114,000
• Limpio 73,000
• Ñémby 72,000
• Encarnación 67,000

Projected, estimate 2027

• Ciudad del Este 1,100,000
• San Lorenzo 725,000
• Luque 684,000
• Capiatá 616,000
• Asunción 538,000
• Limpio 292,000
• Ñémby 288,000
• Mariano Roque Alonso 261,000
• Lambaré 193,000
• Fernando de la Mora 184,000

Geography

Map of Paraguay

Main article: Geography of Paraguay

Paraguay is divided by the Rio Paraguay into the eastern region —officially called Eastern Paraguay (Paraguay Oriental) and known as the Paraneña region — and the western region — officially Western Paraguay (Paraguay Occidental) and also known as the Chaco. |||} Paraguay consists of 17 departments (Spanish departamentos singular – departamento and one capital district ( distrito capital) Districts The department is divided in 5 districts Bahia Negra Fuerte Olimpo La Victoria (Puerto Casado Fuerte Olimpo is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of Alto Paraguay. History times of the colony there were many establishments in this area Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. Districts The department is divided in 3 districts Bella Vista Capitán Bado Pedro Juan Caballero Pedro Juan Caballero is a city in Paraguay, located in Amambay Department of which it is the capital Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. Geography It is located to the north in the Occidental Region of Paraguay between parallels 20º 06’ and 23º 50’ of latitude South and meridians 50º 20’ and 62º 40’ Filadelfia is the capital of Boquerón Department in the Gran Chaco of western Paraguay. Districts The department is divided in 20 districts Caaguazú Carayaó Coronel Oviedo Doctor Cecilio Báez Coronel Oviedo is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the Caaguazú Department, about 150 kilometers east of Asunción. Districts The department is divided in 10 districts Abaí Buena Vista Caazapá Doctor Moisés S Caazapá is a city in Paraguay, founded in 1607, by Friar Luis de Bolaños, a Franciscan monk Districts The department is divided in 10 districts Corpus Christi General Francisco Caballero Alvarez (Puente Kyhá Salto del Guairá is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of Canindeyú. Boundaries North the departments of Cordillera and Presidente Hayes. Areguá is a city in Paraguay only 28 km away from the country's capital of Asunción. Concepción Department may refer to Concepción Department (Paraguay Concepción Department (Argentina Concepción is a city in northern Paraguay and capital of the Concepción Department. Districts The department is divided in 20 districts Altos Arroyos y Esteros Atyrá Caacupé Caacupé is a city in Paraguay, founded in 1770. It is the capital of the department of Cordillera. Districts The department is divided in 17 districts Borja Capitán Mauricio José Troche Coronel Martínez Villarrica is a city located in the middle of the Oriental Region of the Paraguayan territory is capital of the Guairá Department. Districts The department is divided in 30 districts Alto Verá Bella Vista Cambyretá Capitán Meza Encarnación is a city in southeastern Paraguay. It is situated 235 miles south-east of the capital Asunción on the Paraná River, opposite the Argentine Districts Misiones department is divided into ten districts: Ayolas San Ignacio San Juan San Juan Bautista, capital of the Department of Misiones, Paraguay, is considered the cradle of the religious mission culture Districts The department is divided in 16 districts Alberdi Cerrito Desmochados General José Eduvigis Pilar is the capital city of the Paraguayan department of Ñeembucú, located along the Paraguay River in the southwestern part of the country Districts The department is divided in 17 districts Acahay Caapucú Carapeguá Escobar General City of Paraguay, capital of the Paraguarí Department (homonymous 66 km away from the country’s capital city (Asunción Districts The department is divided in 6 districts Benjamín Aceval Jose Falcon Nanawa (Puerto Elsa Villa Hayes is a city of Paraguay, capital of the department of Presidente Hayes until 1988, when it was moved to Pozo Colorado. Districts The department is divided in 17 districts Antequera Capiibary Choré General Elizardo Aquino San Pedro de Ycuamandiyú is a city in Paraguay. It is the capital of the department of San Pedro. Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. San Lorenzo is a city located in the Central Department in Paraguay, some 10 kilometers away from the capital Asunción. Luque is a city in Central Department, Paraguay, part of the Gran Asunción metropolitan area Capiatá is a city in Central Department, Paraguay. It is the only city in Central that has limits with seven cities Aregua, Itaugua Lambaré is a city in Central Department, Paraguay, part of the Gran Asunción metropolitan area The city of Limpio is located in the Central Department, Paraguay. Encarnación is a city in southeastern Paraguay. It is situated 235 miles south-east of the capital Asunción on the Paraná River, opposite the Argentine Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. San Lorenzo is a city located in the Central Department in Paraguay, some 10 kilometers away from the capital Asunción. Luque is a city in Central Department, Paraguay, part of the Gran Asunción metropolitan area Capiatá is a city in Central Department, Paraguay. It is the only city in Central that has limits with seven cities Aregua, Itaugua Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. The city of Limpio is located in the Central Department, Paraguay. Mariano Roque Alonso is a district and city located in the Central Department, in Paraguay in the Gran Asunción metropolitan area Lambaré is a city in Central Department, Paraguay, part of the Gran Asunción metropolitan area Paraguay is a landlocked country situated in South America between Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. The Paraguay River ( Río Paraguay in Spanish, Rio Paraguai in Portuguese) is a major River in south central South America

The southeastern border is formed by the Paraná River, containing the Itaipu dam shared with Brazil. This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River Itaipu ( Guarani: Itaipu, Portuguese: Itaipu, Spanish: Itaipú; itaiˈpu is a hydroelectric dam on |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld It is currently the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, generating all the electricity required by Paraguay. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water Because Paraguay co-owns Itaipu Dam, they have the right to use 50% of electricity generated. Because they use less than 10% of that electricity produced, they sell the rest back to Brazil. Another large hydroelectric power plant on the Paraná River is Yacyretá, shared by Paraguay and Argentina. The Hydroelectric Power Station Jasyretâ-Apipé (from Guaraní language jasy retâ that means “country of the Moon ” is the Hydroelectric central built over the waterfalls For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Paraguay is currently the world's largest exporter of hydroelectric power.

The terrain is made up of grassy plains and wooded hills to the east. To the west, there are mostly low, marshy plains.

The local climate ranges from subtropical to temperate, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, though becoming semi-arid in the far west. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of The subtropics are the zones of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropic zone which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of

Economy

Main article: Economy of Paraguay

Center of Encarnación. The economy of Paraguay is marked by the dominance of the farming commercial and service sectors Encarnación is a city in southeastern Paraguay. It is situated 235 miles south-east of the capital Asunción on the Paraná River, opposite the Argentine

Paraguay is a developing country with a 2005 Human Development Index score of 0. Developing countries are countries that haven't reached Western-style standards of democratic government free market economy industrialization social programs and human rights guaranties The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 755. ^[15] It ranks as the second poorest country in South America with a 2007 GDP per capita of US$4,000. Approximately 2. 1 million, or 35%, of its total population is poor and approximately 1 million, or 15. 9%, are unemployed. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. ^[16]

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector that features both re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, and thousands of small business enterprises. A market economy is a realized Social system based on the Division of labour in which the prices of Goods and Services are determined in a In Economics, the term informal economy (or second economy in the South African context refers to all economic activities that fall outside the formal Paraguay's largest economic activity is based on agriculture, agribusiness and cattle ranching. Paraguay is ranked as the world's third largest exporter of soybeans, and its beef exports are substantial for a country of its size. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Despite difficulties arising from political instability, corruption and slow structural reforms, Paraguay has been a member of the free trade bloc Mercosur, participating since 1991 as one of the founding members. Role and potential Some South Americans see Mercosur as giving the capability to combine resources to balance the activities of other global economic powers especially the North

Paraguay's economic potential has been historically constrained by its landlocked geography, but it does enjoy access to the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraná River. This article is about the second-longest river in South America For the shorter river in Goiás, central Brazil see Paranã River The Paraná River Because it is landlocked, Paraguay's economy is very dependent on Brazil and Argentina, its neighbors and major trade partners. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Roughly 38% of the GDP derives from trade and exports to Brazil and Argentina. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. ^[17]

Through various treaties, Paraguay has been granted free ports in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil through which it sends its exports. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Uruguay.(official full name in República Oriental del Uruguay;, Oriental Republic of Uruguay) is a country located in the southeastern part of South America |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld The most important of these free ports is on the Brazilian Atlantic coast at Paranaguá. Paranaguá is a city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. Founded in 1648 it is Paraná's oldest city The Friendship Bridge that now spans the Paraná River between Ciudad del Este and the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu permits about forty thousand travelers to commute daily between both cities, and allows Paraguay land access to Paranaguá. The Friendship Bridge ( Portuguese: Ponte da Amizade, Spanish: Puente de la Amistad) is an arch Bridge connecting the Brazilian Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. Foz do Iguaçu (fɔs do igwa'su is the 4th largest city of Paraná state Brazil and the 11th largest of the Brazil's Southern region, with a population Paranaguá is a city in the state of Paraná in Brazil. Founded in 1648 it is Paraná's oldest city A vibrant economy has developed in Ciudad del Este and Foz do Iguaçu mostly based on international commerce and shopping trips by Brazilian buyers colloquially called sacoleiros. Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. Foz do Iguaçu (fɔs do igwa'su is the 4th largest city of Paraná state Brazil and the 11th largest of the Brazil's Southern region, with a population ^[18]

Bilateral EU-Paraguay trade in goods amounts to €437 million in 2005; the EU importing around €269 million and exporting roughly €168 million. In 2005, trade with EU represented 8. 9% of total Paraguay’s trade. The EU market represents 13. 7% of Paraguay exports and 6. 1% of its imports. ^[19]

While the country’s external debt remains satisfactory (40% of GDP), Paraguay’s economy is still driven by agricultural production (27% of GDP and 84% of exports). It is a structure which is very vulnerable to climatic factors and price volatility. In 2004 its main exports were soybeans (35%) and meat (10%). Because of the regional crisis, very limited economic growth (2. 7% in 2005) and a population increase, GDP per capita has fallen considerably in the long term, standing at USD 1 155 in 2005. Combined with inequality, the aforementioned factors explain why poverty currently affects 40% of the population. ^[20]

Although only ranked 112th out of 175 countries in the 2006 World Bank Doing Business ranking, Paraguay has ranked particularly well in the "Protecting Investors" sub-category within that index. The indexes vary between 0 and 10, with higher values indicating greater disclosure, greater liability of directors, greater powers of shareholders to challenge the transaction, and better investor protection, respectively.

The "Disclosure Index" for Paraguay is 6, whereas the Latin American region ranked only 4. 3 (OECD countries ranked 6. 3 on average). The country ranked 5 in "Director Liability Index", the same as OECD countries and better than the 5. 1 attributed to its neighbors. In the "Shareholder Suits Index" category, Paraguay obtained 6 points, in contrast with 5. 8 for its neighbors and 6. 6 for OECD countries. The comprehensive "Investor Protection Index" attributed 5. 7 to Paraguay, 5. 1 to its neighbors and 6. 0 to OECD countries on average. ^[21]

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Paraguay

A young Guaraní girl. Paraguay 's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country

According to the CIA World Factbook, Paraguay has a population of 6,669,086; 95% of which are mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) and 5% are "other". The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin ^[16] Ethnically, culturally, and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in Latin America with 95% of the people mestizos of mixed Spanish and Amerindian, mostly Guaraní Indian, descent. Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin Guaraní are a group of culturally related indigenous peoples of South America, distinguished from the related Tupi by their use of the Guaraní language One trace of the original Guaraní culture that still endures nowadays is the Guaraní language, spoken by up to 90% of the population in the country. Guaraní /gwaraˈni/ (local name avañe'ẽ) is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí-Guaraní subfamily of the ^[22] Small groups of ethnic Italians, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Arabs, Ukrainians, Brazilians, and Argentines settled in Paraguay and they have to an extent retained their respective languages and culture, particularly the Brazilians who represent the largest number. The' Italian people' are a Southern European Ethnic group located primarily in Italy, Switzerland, France and by virtue of a wide-ranging The German people (Deutsche are an Ethnic group, in the sense of sharing a common German culture, descent and speaking the German language as For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding Ukrainians (Українці Ukrayintsi,) are an East Slavic Ethnic group primarily living in Ukraine, or more broadly— Citizens |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics.

About 75% of all Paraguayans can speak Spanish. Guaraní and Spanish are both official languages. ^[1]

Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. About 56% of Paraguayans live in urban areas. The vast majority of the people live in the eastern region near the capital and largest city, Asuncion, that accounts for 10% of the country's population. Asunción (full name Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) population 1212112 (2002 is the Capital and largest city of Paraguay. The Gran Chaco region, which includes the Alto Paraguay, Boquerón and Presidente Hayes Department, and which accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population. The Gran Chaco ( Quechua chaqu, "hunting land" dubbed by some as "the last South American frontier" is a sparsely populated hot and Districts The department is divided in 5 districts Bahia Negra Fuerte Olimpo La Victoria (Puerto Casado Geography It is located to the north in the Occidental Region of Paraguay between parallels 20º 06’ and 23º 50’ of latitude South and meridians 50º 20’ and 62º 40’ Districts The department is divided in 6 districts Benjamín Aceval Jose Falcon Nanawa (Puerto Elsa

Main article' Religion in Paraguay

According to the 2002 census, 89. Current Situation According to article 24 of the Paraguayan Constitution of 1992 freedom of religion is recognised and there is no official religion 6% of the population is Roman Catholic, 6. 2% is evangelical Christian, 1. 1% is other Christian, 0. 6% practise indigenous religions and 0. 3 profess non-Christian religions. ^[23]

A US State Department report on Religious Freedom names Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Jewish (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), and Baha'i as prominent religious groups and also mentions a large Muslim community in Alto Paraná as a result of middle-eastern immigration, especially from Lebanon and also the Mennonite community in Boquerón. ^[24]

The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS, Mormon), claims more than 66,000 members in Paraguay and that its membership has doubled in the past five years. TalkMormon#Latter Day Saint vs Latter-day Saint --> Mormon ^[25]

Immigration

European and Middle Eastern immigrants began making their way to Paraguay in the decades following the War of the Triple Alliance. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The War of the Triple Alliance, also known as the Paraguayan War, and the Great War in Paraguay itself was fought from 1864 to 1870 and caused more deaths than any The government pursued a pro-immigration policy in an effort to increase population. Government records indicated that approximately 12,000 immigrants entered the port of Asunción between 1882 and 1907, of that total, almost 9,000 came from Italy, Germany, France, and Spain. Migrants also arrived from neighboring Latin American countries, especially Argentina. ^[26]

In addition, official records gave an imprecise sense of the number of Brazilians who had come to the country. According to the 1982 census, there were 99,000 Brazilians residing in Paraguay. Most analysts discounted this figure, however, and contended that between 300,000 and 350,000 Brazilians lived in the eastern border region. Analysts also rejected government figures on the number of immigrants from South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders Taiwan ( Taiwanese: Tâi-oân/Tāi-oân (historically 大灣/台員/大員/台圓/大圓/台窩灣 is an Island in East Asia. The 1982 census reported that there were 2,700 Koreans in Paraguay, along with another 1,100 non-Japanese or non-Korean Asian immigrants. Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular The actual number of Koreans and ethnic Chinese, however, was believed to be between 30,000 and 50,000. Virtually all Koreans and ethnic Chinese lived in Ciudad del Este or Asunción and played a major role in the importation and sale of electronic goods manufactured in Asia. Ciudad del Este (Spanish for City of the East is the capital of Alto Paraná department of Paraguay, located at the Rio Paraná at. ^[26]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Paraguay

See also: Music of Paraguay and Cinema of Paraguay

With one of the most homogeneous populations in Latin America, Paraguayans' cultural ancestry can be traced to the extensive intermarriage among the original male Spanish settlers and female indigenous, Guaraní, brides. Paraguayans cultural ancestry can be traced to the extensive Intermarriage among the original male Spanish settlers and female indigenous Guaraní, brides In contrast to most of its neighbors the national music of Paraguay is overwhelmingly European in character The Cinema of Paraguay is small compared to that of neighbouring Argentina & Brazil. Paraguayan culture therefore is a fusion of two cultures and traditions: one European, the other Guaraní. More than 80% of Paraguayans are mestizos, and this makes Paraguay one of the most homogeneous countries in Latin America. A characteristic of this cultural fusion is the extensive bilingualism present to this day: more than 80% of Paraguayans speak both Spanish and the indigenous language, Guaraní. Jopará, the mixture of Guaraní and Spanish, is also widely spoken, although it is prevalent in the urban areas. Jopará /dʒopaˈɾa/ is a Mixed language spoken in Paraguay which combines Spanish and Guaraní.

Landscape in the Gran Chaco, Paraguay

This cultural fusion is expressed in arts such as embroidery (ao po'í) and lace making (ñandutí). The music, which consists of lilting polkas, bouncy galopas, and languid guaranías is played on the native harp. In contrast to most of its neighbors the national music of Paraguay is overwhelmingly European in character Paraguay's culinary heritage is also deeply influenced by this cultural fusion. Several popular dishes contain mandioca, a local staple crop similar to the yuca root found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, and other indigenous ingredients. A popular dish is sopa paraguaya, similar to a thick corn bread. Another notable food is chipa, a bagel-like bread made from cornmeal, mandioca and cheese. Many other dishes consists of different kinds of cheeses, onions, bell peppers, cottage cheese, yellow cornmeal, milk, seasonings, butter, eggs and fresh corn kernels.

Social life revolves largely around an extended family of parents, children and blood relations as well as godparents. The Paraguayans' chief loyalty is to their family, and it, in turn, is their haven and support. Family interests determine to a large extent which political party they will join, to whom they will marry, what sort of job they will get, whether they will win a lawsuit, and—in some cases—whether they would be wise to emigrate for a time. Even so, they are very heart warming and open to tourists and foreigners.

Inside the family, conservative values predominate. In lower classes, godparents have a special relationship to the family, since usually they are chosen because of their favorable social position, in order to provide extra security for the children. Particular respect is owed them, in return for which the family can expect protection and patronage. In higher classes, however, godparents are usually family members or family friends, thus being chosen is more of an honor than a serious commitment.

The 1950s and 1960s saw the flowering of a new generation of Paraguayan novelists and poets such as José Ricardo Mazó, Roque Vallejos, and Nobel Prize nominee Augusto Roa Bastos. José Ricardo Mazó (Pilar 1927- Asunción 1987 the Paraguayan poet was born in Pilar, in the department of Ñeembucú. Roque Vallejos ( Asunción 1943 - Asunción, 2 April 2006) was a Poet, Psychiatrist and Essayist from Paraguay Augusto Roa Bastos, (June 13 1917 &ndash April 26 2005 was a noted Paraguayan novelist and one of the most important Latin American writers of the 20th century Several Paraguayan films have been made. The Cinema of Paraguay is small compared to that of neighbouring Argentina & Brazil.

Social issues

Paraguay is still a poor and unequal society. Various poverty estimates suggest that between one in every three Paraguayans (World Bank Poverty Assessment) to half of the population is poor (2003 Census Bureau Household Survey). In rural areas, 41. 20% of the people lack a monthly income to cover basic necessities, whereas in urban centers this figure is 27. 6%. The top 10% of the population holds 43. 8% of the national income, while the lowest 10% has only 0. 5%. The economic recession has worsened income inequality, notably in the rural areas, where the Gini Index has risen from 0. 56 in 1995 to 0. 66 in 1999. Similarly, land concentration in the Paraguayan countryside is one of the highest in the globe: 10% of the population controls 66% of the land, while 30% of the rural people are landless. ^[27] This inequality has cause a great deal of tensions between the landless and elites. ^[28]

The World Bank has helped the Paraguayan government in tackling overall reduction of Paraguay's maternal and infant mortality. The Mother and Child Basic Health Insurance Project aimed at contributing to reducing mortality by increasing the use of selected life-saving services included in the country's Mother and Child Basic Health Insurance Program (MCBI) by women of child-bearing age, and children under age six in selected areas. To this end, the project also targeted at improving the quality and efficiency of the health service network within certain areas, in addition to increasing the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare's (MSPBS) management. ^[29]

See also

Further reading

• Sandra Bao, Ben Greensfelder and Carolyn Hubbard, Lonely Planet Guide: Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay

International rankings

References

External links

• (Spanish) National Department of Tourism
• (Spanish) Tourism in Paraguay
• (Spanish) Ministry of Finance with economic and Government information, available also in English
• Encyclopaedia Britannica Paraguay Complete guide to Paraguay's history and culture
• CIA - The World Factbook: Paraguay
• Paraguay Convention & Visitor's Bureau

Newspapers

• (Spanish) ABC Color
• (Spanish) Última Hora
• (Spanish) La Nación
• This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia. Rundschau

Online media

• (Spanish) Jakueke News Portal -- Independent Media.
• (Spanish) Neike Online Newspaper.
• (Spanish) Portal Paraguayo de Noticias (Paraguayan News Portal).

Other

• Paraguay main cities satellite views
• Paraguay.com Paraguay Resource Site. Culture, History, Arts, Geography and more.
• (Spanish) The history of Paraguay Paraguay's history