The World Factbook (1982)/Paraguay

by the Central Intelligence Agency

PARAGUAY

(See reference map IV)

LAND

406,630 km²; 2% under crops, 24% meadow and pasture, 52% forested, 22% urban, waste, and other

Land boundaries: 3,444 km

PEOPLE

Population: 3,347,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.4%

Nationality: noun—Paraguayan(s); adjective—Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions: 95% mestizo, 5% white and Indian

Religion: 97% Roman Catholic

Language: Spanish and Guarani

Literacy: officially estimated at 74% above age 10, but probably much lower (40%)

Labor force: 1,003,000 (1980); 52.6% agriculture, forestry, fishing; 28.2% services; 19.2% manufacturing and mining (1970); unemployment rate 3.3% (1980)

Organized labor: about 5% of labor force

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Paraguay

Type: republic; under authoritarian rule

Capital: Asunción

Political subdivisions: 19 departments and the national capital

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; constitution promulgated 1967; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; legal education at National University of Asunción and Catholic University of Our Lady of the Assumption; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Independence Day, 14 May

Branches: President heads executive; bicameral legislature; judiciary headed by Supreme Court

Government leader: President Gen. Alfredo STROESSNER

Suffrage: universal; compulsory between ages of 18-60

Elections: President and Congress elected together every five years; last election held in February 1978

Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Juan Ramón Chávez; Liberal Party, Fulvio Hugo Celauro; Febrerista Party, Alarico Quinones Cabral; Radical Liberal Party, Germán Acosta Caballero; Christian Democratic Party, Rómulo Perina

Voting strength (February 1978 general election): 90% Colorado Party, 5% Radical Liberal Party, 3% Liberal Party, Febrerista Party boycotted elections

Communists: Oscar Creydt faction and Miguel Angel Soler faction (both illegal); est. 3,000 to 4,000 party members and sympathizers in Paraguay, very few are hard core; party in exile is small and deeply divided

Other political or pressure groups: Popular Colorado Movement (MoPoCo) led by Epifanio Méndez, in exile; National Accord includes MoPoCo and Febrerista, Radical Liberal, and Christian Democratic Parties

Member of: FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IPU, ITU, LAFTA, OAS, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WSG

ECONOMY

GDP: $4.4 billion (1980, at current prices), $1,375 per capita; 6% public consumption; 82% private consumption, 30% gross domestic investment, −18% net foreign balance (1980); real growth rate 1980, 11.4%

Agriculture: main crops—oilseeds, cotton, wheat, manioc, sweet potatoes, tobacco, corn, rice, sugarcane; self-sufficient in most foods; caloric intake, 2,824 calories per day per capita (1977)

Major industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, light consumer goods, cement

Electric power: 400,000 kW capacity (1981); 825 million kWh produced (1981), 258 kWh per capita

Exports: $310 million (f.o.b., 1980); cotton, oilseeds, meat products, tobacco, timber, coffee, essential oils, tung oil

Imports: $517 million (f.o.b., 1980); fuels and lubricants, machinery and motors, motor vehicles, beverages and tobacco, foodstuffs

Major trade partners: exports—15% Netherlands, 6% US, 17% Argentina, 15% West Germany, 5% Japan, 7% Switzerland, 9% Brazil; imports—22% Brazil, 17% Argentina, 12% US, 7% West Germany, 8% Japan, 6% UK (1979)

Aid: economic bilateral commitments, US (FY70-80) $74 million, other Western countries, ODA and OOF (1970-79) $176 million; military commitments (FY70-80), US $18 million

Budget: (1980 est.) $405 million in revenues, $432 million in expenditures

Monetary conversion rate: 126 guaranies=US$1 (official rate, October 1979)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 970 km total; 440 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 60 km meter gauge (1.00 m), 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)

Highways: 13,460 km total; 1,370 km paved, 12,090 km gravel or earth

Inland waterways: 3,100 km

Ports: 1 major (Asunción), 9 minor (all river)

Civil air: 14 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 955 total, 818 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 21 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: principal center in Asuncion, fair intercity microwave net; 51,600 telephones (1.5 per 100 popl.); 33 AM, 14 FM, and 3 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 775,000; 615,000 fit for military service; 40,000 reach military age (17) annually

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $87.6 million; 16.2% of central government budget