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This article is about the country. For other uses, see Paraguay (disambiguation).

Republic of Paraguay
Template:Vlist
Motto: "Paz y justicia" (Spanish)
"Peace and justice"
Anthem: 
Paraguayos, República o Muerte (Spanish)
Paraguayans, Republic or Death
Flag (reverse)
Location of Paraguay
Capital
and largest city
Asunción
Official languagesTemplate:Vlist
Ethnic groups
(2000)
Template:Vlist
Demonym(s)Paraguayan
GovernmentUnitary constitutional representative participatory pluralist democracy
• President
Federico Franco
Óscar Denis
LegislatureCongress
• Upper house
Chamber of Senators
• Lower house
Chamber of Deputies
Independence from Spain
• Declared
14 May 1811
• Recognized
15 May 1811
Area
• Total
406,752 km2 (157,048 sq mi) (60th)
• Water (%)
2.3
Population
• 2009 estimate
6,454,548[1] (103rd)
• Density
14.2/km2 (36.8/sq mi) (204th)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
• Total
$35.346 billion[2]
• Per capita
$5,412[2]
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
• Total
$21.236 billion[2]
• Per capita
$3,252[2]
Gini (2008)50.8
high inequality
HDI (2011)Increase 0.665[3]
medium (107th)
CurrencyGuaraní (PYG)
Time zoneUTC-4
• Summer (DST)
UTC-3
Driving sideright
Calling code+595
ISO 3166 codePY
Internet TLD.py
  1. Mixed European and Amerindian.

Paraguay (US /pɛərəɡwaɪ/, UK /pærəɡwaɪ/), officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay [reˈpuβlika ðel paɾaˈɣwaj], Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái [teˈtã paɾaˈɣwaj]), is a landlocked country in South America bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the country from north to south. Due to its central location in South America, it is sometimes referred to as Corazón de América ("Heart of America").[6]

The Guaraní have been living in Paraguay since before the arrival of Europeans in the 16th century, when Paraguay became part of the Spanish colonial empire. Following independence from Spain in 1811, Paraguay was ruled by a series of dictators who followed isolationist and protectionist policies. This development was truncated by the disastrous Paraguayan War (1864–1870) in which the country lost 60% to 70% of its population and large amounts of territory. During a large part of the 20th century, Paraguay was ruled by Alfredo Stroessner, who led one of South America's longest lived military dictatorships. In 1989 Stroessner was toppled and free elections were celebrated in 1993. A year later, Paraguay joined Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to found Mercosur.

As of 2009, Paraguay's population was estimated to be at around 6.5 million, most of whom are concentrated in the southeast of the country. The capital and largest city is Asunción, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly a third of the population. In contrast to most Latin American countries, the indigenous language and culture remain widespread, and the majority of Paraguayans are mestizo. The official languages are Spanish and Guaraní, both of which are widely spoken in the country, with around 92% of the general population speaking Spanish and 98% speaking Guaraní.

Paraguay has long been one of the region's poorest, least-developed, and most isolated countries. In 2010, the economy grew by 14.5%, the largest economic expansion in Latin America, and the third fastest in the world (after Qatar and Singapore).[7] By 2011, economic growth had slowed to 6.4%, still far higher than the global average.[8]

Etymology

The name of the river, Paraguay, is thought to come from Guaraní para, "of many varieties", and gua, "riverine".

There is no conclusive explanation for the origin of the name Paraguay, however. The most common interpretations that have been suggested include:

  1. "River which originates a sea"
  2. The Spanish officer and scientist Félix de Azara suggests two versions: water from the Payaguas (Payaguá-and Payagua-i), referring to natural Payaguas living on the coasts of the river, and the other was due to the name of a great chief called "Paraguaio."
  3. The French-Argentine historian and writer Paul Groussac argued that it meant "river that flows through the sea (Pantanal)."
  4. The ex-president and Paraguayan politician, Juan Natalicio González said it meant "river of the habitants of the sea."
  5. fray Antonio Ruiz de Montoya said that it meant "river crowned."

Geography

Main article: Geography of Paraguay

Paraguay is divided by the Río Paraguay into the eastern region, called Eastern Paraguay (Paraguay Oriental) and known as the Paraná region; and the western region, officially called Western Paraguay (Paraguay Occidental) and also known as the Chaco. The country lies between latitudes 19° and 28°S, and longitudes 54° and 63°W. The terrain consists of grassy plains and wooded hills in the east. To the west, there are mostly low, marshy plains.

Climate

Main article: Climate of Paraguay

The overall climate ranges from subtropical to temperate, and like most lands in the region, Paraguay has only a wet and dry period. Winds play a major role in influencing Paraguay's weather: between October and March, warm winds blow from the Amazon Basin in the North, while the period between May and August brings cold winds from the Andes.

The lack of mountain ranges to provide a natural wind barrier allows winds to develop speeds as high as 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). This also leads to significant changes in temperature within a short span of time; between April and September, temperatures will sometimes drop below freezing. January is the hottest summer month, with an average daily temperature of 84 degrees.

Rainfall varies dramatically across the country, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, and semi-arid conditions in the far west. The far eastern forest belt receives an average of 67 inches (170 cm) of rain annually, while the western Chaco region typically averages no more than 20 inches (50 cm) a year. Furthermore, the rains in the west tend to be irregular and evaporate more quickly, contributing to the aridity of the area.

History

Main article: History of Paraguay
Francisco Solano López

Precolumbian Paraguay

Pre-Columbian society in the wooded, fertile region which is now Paraguay consisted of semi-nomadic tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. These indigenous tribes were members of five distinct language families, and 17 separate ethnolinguistic groups remain today.

First European contact (1516)

Europeans first arrived in the area in 1516.[9] The settlement of Asunción was founded on 15 August 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province, as well as the primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the eighteenth century. Jesuit Reductions were founded, and flourished in Eastern Paraguay for about 150 years, until the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown in 1767.

Independence from Spain (1811)

José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, Paraguay's first president.

Paraguay overthrew the local Spanish administration on 15 May 1811. Paraguay's first ruler was the dictator José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. He ruled Paraguay from 1814, until his death in 1840, with very little outside contact or influence, creating a utopian society based on Rousseau's Social Contract.[10] He established new laws that more or less completely removed the powers of the church and the cabinet, forbade colonial citizens from marrying one other, being allowed to marry only blacks, mulattoes or natives, and cut off Paraguay from the rest of South America.[citation needed] Because of de Francia's restrictions on personal freedom, Fulgencio Yegros and several other military leaders and former politicians, planned a coup d'état against him. This was discovered by de Francia, and its leaders either executed or imprisoned for life.

After his death, Paraguay went through the very brief ownership of various military officers under a new junta, until the secretary Carlos Antonio López, Francia's nephew, declared himself dictator. Lopez modernized Paraguay, and opened it up to foreign commerce. The relationship with Buenos Aires was limited to a non-aggression pact; Paraguayan independence from Argentina was declared in 1842. After Lopez's death, power was transferred to his eldest son, Francisco Solano López in 1862.

The Paraguayan War commenced in 1864. Paraguay fought against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and was defeated in 1870 after five years of the bloodiest war in South America. William D. Rubinstein wrote: "The normal estimate is that of a Paraguayan population of somewhere between 450,000 and 900,000, only 220,000 survived the war, of whom only 28,000 were adult males."[11] Paraguay also suffered extensive territorial losses to Brazil and Argentina.

The Battle of Tuyutí, May 1866.

The Chaco War was fought with Bolivia in the 1930s, and Bolivia was defeated. Paraguay re-established sovereignty over the region called the Chaco, but forfeited additional territorial gains as a price of peace.

The official narrative of Paraguay's history is fraught with disputes among historians, educators and politicians. The "authentic" version of historical events, wars in particular, varies depending on whether it was written in Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Europe, or North America.

Both the Colorado Party and Liberal Party maintain distinct official versions of Paraguayan history[citation needed]. During the pillaging of Asunción (Saqueo de Asunción) in 1869, the Brazilian Imperial Army ransacked and relocated the Paraguayan National Archives to Rio de Janeiro where they have been kept in secrecy,[12] making Paraguayan history in the Colonial and early National periods difficult to study.

20th century

Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay had thirty-one presidents, most of whom were removed from office by force.[13]

After World War II, politics became particularly unstable, with several political parties fighting for power in the late 1940s, which most notably brought about the Paraguayan civil war of 1947.[14] A series of unstable governments ensued until the establishment, in 1954, of the stable regime of dictator Alfredo Stroessner, who remained in office for more than three decades, until 1989. Paraguay was modernized to some extent under Stroessner's regime, although his rule was marked by extensive abuses.[15]

Stroessner and the Colorado party ruled the country from 1954 to 1989. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but also had a poor human rights and environmental record (see "Political History"). Torture and death for political opponents was routine. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until 2008.

Post-1979

The splits in the Colorado Party in the 1980s, and the conditions that led to this — Stroessner's advanced 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.[citation needed]

PLRA leader Domingo Laino served as the focal point of the opposition in the second half of the 1980s. The government's effort to isolate Laino by exiling him in 1982 had backfired. On his sixth attempt, in 1986, Laino returned with three television crews from the U.S., a former United States ambassador to Paraguay, and a group of Uruguayan and Argentine congressmen. Despite the international contingent, the police violently barred Laino's return.[citation needed]

However, the Stroessner regime relented in April 1987, and permitted Laino to arrive in Asunción. Laino 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.

In response to 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 PLRA, 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. Laino and several other opposition figures were arrested before dawn on the day of the election, 14 February, and held for twelve hours. The government declared Stroessner's re-election with 89% of the vote.[16]

While contending that these results reflected the virtual Colorado monopoly on 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. [citation needed]

On 3 February 1989, Stroessner was overthrown in a military coup headed by General Andrés Rodríguez. As president, Rodríguez instituted political, legal, and economic reforms and initiated a rapprochement with the international community.

The June 1992 constitution established a democratic system of government and dramatically improved protection of fundamental rights. In May 1993, Colorado Party candidate Juan Carlos Wasmosy was elected as Paraguay's first civilian president in almost 40 years, in what international observers deemed fair and free elections.

With support from the United States, the Organization of American States, and other countries in the region, the Paraguayan people rejected an April 1996 attempt by then Army Chief General Lino Oviedo to oust President Wasmosy.

Oviedo became the Colorado candidate for president in the 1998 election, but when the Supreme Court upheld in April his conviction on charges related to the 1996 coup attempt, he was not allowed to run and remained in confinement. His former running mate, Raúl Cubas, became the Colorado Party's candidate, and was elected in May in elections deemed by international observers to be free and fair. One of Cubas' first acts after taking office in August was to commute Oviedo's sentence and release him from confinement. In December 1998, Paraguay's Supreme Court declared these actions unconstitutional. In this tense atmosphere, the murder of Vice President and long-time Oviedo rival Luis María Argaña on 23 March 1999, led the Chamber of Deputies to impeach Cubas the next day.[citation needed] The 26 March murder of eight student antigovernment demonstrators, widely believed to have been carried out by Oviedo supporters, made it clear that the Senate would vote to remove Cubas on 29 March, and Cubas resigned on 28 March.[citation needed] Senate President Luis González Macchi, a Cubas opponent, was peacefully sworn in as president the same day.

Former president Fernando Lugo on Independence day, Asunción, Paraguay.

In 2003, Nicanor Duarte Frutos was elected and sworn in as president.

For the 2008 general elections, the Colorado Party was once again a favorite. This time, their candidate was not an internal opponent to the President and self-proclaimed reformer, as in the two previous elections, but Minister of Education Blanca Ovelar, the first woman to appear as a candidate for a major party in Paraguayan history. However after sixty years of Colorado rule, voters chose a non-politician, former Roman Catholic Bishop Fernando Lugo. Although he was a longtime follower of the controversial liberation theology he was backed by the center-right Liberal Party, the Colorado Party's traditional opponents.

Lugo achieved a historic victory in Paraguay's presidential election, defeating the ruling party candidate, and ending 61 years of conservative rule. Lugo won with nearly 41% of the vote, compared to almost 31% for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado party.[17] Outgoing President Nicanor Duarte Frutos hailed the moment as the first time in the history of the nation that a government had handed power to opposition forces in an orderly and peaceful fashion.

Lugo was sworn in on 15 August 2008, but unlike other South American countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia, Lugo's leftist agenda remains largely unimplemented[citation needed] as the Paraguayan Congress continues to be dominated by right-wing elected officials.[citation needed] The Lugo administration has highlighted the reduction of corruption and economic inequality as two major priorities.[8]

Political instability in the past year, fueled by disputes within Fernando Lugo's cabinet, has led the right wing Colorado Party to regain popularity. Reports suggest that the businessman Horacio Cartes is the new political figure amid disputes. Despite the DEA's strong accusations against Cartes involving him in drug trafficking, he continues to amass followers in the political arena.

On 14 January 2011, the Colorado Party convention enabled Horacio Cartes to run as the presidential candidate for the party, even though, as reports suggest, the party's constitution didn't allow it.[clarification needed]

On 21 June 2012, impeachment proceedings against President Lugo began in the country's lower house, controlled by his opponents. Lugo was given less than twenty-four hours to prepare for the proceedings and only two hours in which to mount a defense.[18] Impeachment was quickly approved and the resulting trial in Paraguay's Senate, also controlled by the opposition, ended with the removal of Lugo from office and Vice President Federico Franco assuming the duties of president.[19] Lugo's rivals blame him for the deaths of 17 people - eight police officers and nine farmers - in armed clashes after police were ambushed by armed peasants when enforcing an eviction order against trespassers.[20]

Lugo's supporters quickly gathered outside Congress to protest the decision as a "politically motivated coup d'état".[19] Lugo's removal from office on June 22, 2012 is considered by UNASUR and other neighboring countries, especially those currently governed by leftist leaders, as a coup d'état.[21] However, the Organization of American States, which sent a mission to Paraguay to gather information on the impeachment process, concluded that no coup d'état had occurred and that the impeachment process had been carried out in accordance with the Constitution of Paraguay.

On 17 October 2012, Venezuela's government expelled Paraguay's remaining diplomats from Venezuela. Chargé d'affaires Victor Casartelli said that he and three other Paraguayan diplomats in Caracas were told leave within three days. This follows a dispute between the countries that began in June 2012 with the congressional impeachment and ouster of Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.

Government and politics

Border of Paraguay and Brazil near Ciudad Del Este.
Main articles: Politics of Paraguay and Human rights in Paraguay
Main article: Foreign relations of Paraguay

Paraguay is a representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system and separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President, who is head of state and head of government. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the National Congress. The judiciary is vested on tribunals and Courts of Civil Law and a nine-member Supreme Court of Justice, all of them independent of the executive and the legislature.

Administrative subdivisions

Main articles: Departments of Paraguay and Districts of Paraguay

Paraguay consists of seventeen departments and one capital district (distrito capital).

It is also divided into 2 regions: The "Occidental Region" or Chaco (Boquerón, Alto Paraguay and Presidente Hayes), and the "Oriental Region" (the other departments and the capital district).

These are the departments, with their capitals, population, area and the number of districts:

ISO 3166-2:PY Departament Capital Population (2002 census) Area (km²) Districts
ASU Distrito Capital Asunción 512,112 117 6
1 Concepción Concepción 179,450 18,051 8
2 San Pedro San Pedro 318,698 20,002 20
3 Cordillera Caacupé 233,854 4,948 20
4 Guairá Villarrica 178,650 3,846 18
5 Caaguazú Coronel Oviedo 435,357 11,474 21
6 Caazapá Caazapá 139,517 9,496 10
7 Itapúa Encarnación 453,692 16,525 30
8 Misiones San Juan Bautista 101,783 9,556 10
9 Paraguarí Paraguarí 221,932 8,705 17
10 Alto Paraná Ciudad del Este 558,672 14,895 21
11 Central Areguá 1,362,893 2,465 19
12 Ñeembucú Pilar 76,348 12,147 16
13 Amambay Pedro Juan Caballero 114,917 12,933 4
14 Canindeyú Salto del Guairá 140.137 14.667 12
15 Presidente Hayes Villa Hayes 82,493 72,907 8
16 Alto Paraguay Fuerte Olimpo 11,587 82,349 4
17 Boquerón Filadelfia 41,106 91,669 3
- Paraguay Asunción 5,163,198 406,752 245

The departments are further divided into districts (distritos).

Demographics

Main articles: Demographics of Paraguay and Languages of Paraguay
See also: List of most common surnames in Paraguay
Paraguay population density (people per km2)
National Routes

There is no official data on the ethnic composition of the Paraguayan population, because the Department of Statistics, Surveys and Censuses[22] of Paraguay does not include the concepts of race and ethnicity in census surveys, although it does inquire about the indigenous population. According to the census of 2002, the indigenous population was 1.7% of Paraguay's total population.[23]

Traditionally, the majority of the Paraguayan population is considered mixed (mestizo in Spanish), because of the widespread offspring of Guaraní women and Spanish settlers during Spain's domination of the country.[24] Other demographers contend the total "mostly white" percentage has grown in the last century as a result of European immigration and "whites" are now estimated at 20% or one-fifth of the country's population. [citation needed]

According to the CIA World Factbook, Paraguay has a population of 6,669,086, 95% of which are mestizo (mixed European and Amerindian) and 5% are labelled as "other" [25] and are members of indigenous tribal groups. They are divided into 17 distinct ethnolinguistic groupings, many of which are poorly documented.

One remarkable trace of the indigenous Guaraní culture that has endured in Paraguay is the Guaraní language, generally understoood by about 90% of the population. However, nearly all Paraguayans speak Spanish, which alongside Guaraní is an official language.[26] Small groups of ethnic Italians, Germans, Russians, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Arabs, Ukrainians, Brazilians, and Argentines have also settled in Paraguay, and they have to an extent retained their languages and culture, particularly the Brazilians, who represent the largest number at around 400,000.[27] Many of the Brazilians are descendants of German, Italian and Polish immigrants.[28] There are an estimated 63,000 Afro-Paraguayans, or 1% of the population.[29] Some 25,000 German-speaking Mennonites live in the Paraguayan Chaco.[30]

Paraguay has one of the more important German communities in South America. German settlers founded several towns as Hohenau, Filadelfia, Neuland, Obligado, Nueva Germania, etc. Some specialized German sites that promote German immigration to Paraguay refers to 5–7% of German-descent Paraguayan population and 150,000 German-Brazilian-descent population.[31][32][33][34][35]

Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly through 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, Asunción, accounting for 10% of the country's population. The Gran Chaco region, which includes the Alto Paraguay, Boquerón and Presidente Hayes Department, and accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population.

Largest cities

Template:Largest cities of Paraguay

Asunción, the capital of Paraguay.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Paraguay
A gathering in Caacupé

Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the dominant religion in Paraguay. According to the 2002 census, 89.9% of the population is Catholic, 6.2% is evangelical Christian, 1.1% identify with other Christian sects, and 0.6% practice indigenous religions. A U.S. State Department report on Religious Freedom names Roman Catholicism, Evangelical Christianity, mainline Protestantism, Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform), Mormonism, and the Baha'i Faith as prominent religious groups. It also mentions a large Muslim community in Alto Paraná (as a result of Middle-Eastern immigration, especially from Lebanon) and a prominent Mennonite community in Boquerón.[36]

Social issues

Various poverty estimates suggest that 30–50% of the population is poor.[37] 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 0.5%. The economic recession has worsened income inequality, notably in the rural areas, where the Gini coefficient has risen from 0.56 in 1995 to 0.66 in 1999.

More recent data (2009)[38] show that 35% of the Paraguayan population is poor, 19% of which live in extreme poverty. Moreover, 71% of the latter live in rural areas of the country.

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.[39] This inequality has caused a great deal of tensions between the landless and land owners.[40]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Paraguay
Residential towers in Asunción
BBVA Paraguay

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Between 1970 and 2009 the country had the highest economic growth of South America, with an average rate of 7.2% per year and the prospect of 9% annual growth from 2010, being the highest in South America.

The country also boasts the third most important free commercial zone in the world: Ciudad del Este, trailing behind Miami and Hong Kong. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2008 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the sixth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession.

In 2010, Paraguay experienced the greatest economic expansion of the zone and the highest of South America, with a GDP growth rate of 14.5% by the end of the year.[41] The following year, Paraguay's growth rate remained a relatively high 6.4%;

Industry and Manufacturing

The industrial sector produces about 25% of Paraguay's gross domestic product (GDP) and employs about 31% of the labor force. Output grew by 2.9% in 2004, after five years of declining production. Traditionally an agricultural economy, Paraguay is showing some signs of long-term industrial growth.

The pharmaceutical industry is quickly supplanting foreign suppliers in meeting the country's drug needs.[citation needed] Paraguayan companies now meet 70% of domestic consumption and have begun to export drugs. Strong growth also is evident in the production of edible oils, garments, organic sugar, meat processing, and steel.[citation needed]

Nevertheless, capital for further investment in the industrial sector of the economy is scarce. Following the revelation of widespread financial corruption in the 1990s, the government is still working to improve credit options for Paraguayan businesses.[citation needed]

In 2003, manufacturing made up 13.6% of the GDP, and the sector employed about 11% of the working population in 2000. Paraguay's primary manufacturing focus is on food and beverages. Wood products, paper products, hides and furs, and non-metallic mineral products also contribute to manufacturing totals. Steady growth in the manufacturing GDP during the 1990s (1.2% annually) laid the foundation for 2002 and 2003, when the annual growth rate rose to 2.5%.[42]

Education

Main article: Education in Paraguay
See also: List of universities in Paraguay and List of schools in Paraguay

Literacy was about 93.6% and 87.7% of Paraguayans finish the 5th grade according to UNESCO's last Educational Development Index 2008. Literacy does not differ much by gender.[43] A more recent study[38] reveals that attendance at primary school by children between 6 and 12 years old is about 98%. Primary education is free and mandatory and takes nine years. Secondary education takes three years.[43] Paraguay's universities include:

  • National University of Asunción (public and founded in 1889)[44]
  • Autonomous University of Asunción (private and founded in 1979)[45]
  • Catholic University (private and run by the church).[46]
  • American University (private).

The net primary enrollment rate was at 88% in 2005.[43] Public expenditure on education was about 4.3% of GDP in the early 2000s.[43]

Health

Main article: Health in Paraguay

Average life expectancy in Paraguay is rather high given its poverty: as of 2006, it was 75 years,[47] equivalent to far wealthier Argentina, and the 8th highest in the Americas according to World Health Organization. Public expenditure on health is 2.6% of GDP, while private health expenditure is 5.1%.[43] Infant mortality was 20 per 1,000 births in 2005.[43] Maternal mortality was 150 per 100,000 live births in 2000.[43] The World Bank has helped the Paraguayan government reduce the country's maternal and infant mortality. The Mother and Child Basic Health Insurance Project aimed to contribute 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 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.[48]

Culture

Main articles: Culture of Paraguay, Music of Paraguay, and Cinema of Paraguay

Sports

Main article: Sport in Paraguay

See also

References

  1. ^ Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1" (PDF). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved 12 March 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Paraguay". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  3. ^ "Human Development Report 2011" (PDF). United Nations. 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Paraguay – Constitution, Article 140 About Languages" (Document). International Constitutional Law Project. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |accessdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help) (see translator's note)
  5. ^ "8 LIZCANO" (PDF). Convergencia.uaemex.mx. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  6. ^ "Paraguay, corazón de América (1961)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  7. ^ CIA <<GDP - Real Growth Rate>> Accessed on 19 September 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Paraguay". State.gov. 15 March 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  9. ^ Sacks, Richard S. "Early explorers and conquistadors". In Hanratty & Meditz.
  10. ^ War of The Triple Alliance Retrieved 14 November 2010
  11. ^ Rubinsein, W. D. (2004). Genocide: a history. Pearson Education. p. 94. ISBN 0-582-50601-8. {{cite book}}: External link in |title= (help)
  12. ^ Barbara Weinstein (28 January 2008). "Let the Sunshine In: Government Records and National Insecurities". Historians.org. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  13. ^ Hanratty, Dannin M.; Meditz, Sandra W. (1988). "Paraguay: A Country Study" (Document). Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress. {{cite document}}: Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help)
  14. ^ "Paraguay Civil War 1947". Onwar.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  15. ^ Bernstein, Adam (17 August 2006). "Alfredo Stroessner; Paraguayan Dictator". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
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Further reading

See Bibliography of Paraguay

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