$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$4.863 billion (2005)
Currency (code):
kina (PGK)
Currency code:
PGK
Exchange rates:
kina (PGK) per US dollar - 3.03 (2007), 3.0643 (2006), 3.08 (2005),
3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003)
Communications
Papua New Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
60,000 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
300,000 (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: services are minimal; facilities provide
radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and
international radio communication services
domestic: access to telephone services is not widely available;
combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is 6 per 100
persons
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and
Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean);
international radio communication service (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)
Radios:
410,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
3 (all in the Port Moresby area; stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae,
and Rabaul are planned) (2004)
Televisions:
59,841 (1999)
Internet country code:
.pg
Internet hosts:
3,422 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
3 (2000)
Internet users:
110,000 (2006)
Transportation
Papua New Guinea
Airports:
578 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 557
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 489 (2007)
Heliports:
2 (2007)
Pipelines:
oil 264 km (2007)
Roadways:
total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (2000)
Waterways:
11,000 km (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 21
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 6 (UAE 6) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Kimbe, Lae, Madang, Rabaul, Wewak
Military
Papua New Guinea
Military branches:
Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF; includes Maritime Operations
Element, Air Operations Element) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2008)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,481,417
females age 16-49: 1,385,040 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,080,466
females age 16-49: 1,092,040 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 62,865
female: 61,102 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Papua New Guinea
Disputes - international:
relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border
activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling,
illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,177 (Indonesia) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Papua New Guinea is a country of destination for
women and children from Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and
China trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;
internal trafficking of women and children for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude occurs as well
tier rating: Tier 3 - Papua New Guinea does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so; the current legal framework
does not contain elements of crimes that characterize trafficking;
the government lacks victim protection services or a systematic
procedure to identify victims of trafficking; the government did not
prosecute anyone in 2007 for trafficking; Papua New Guinea has not
ratified the 2000 UN TIP Protocol (2008)
Illicit drugs:
major consumer of cannabis
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Paracel Islands
Introduction
Paracel Islands
Background:
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and
by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed
the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island;
maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has
occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a
South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built
a military installation on Mischief Reef in 1999. The islands are
claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.
Geography
Paracel Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South
China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the
northern Philippines
Geographic coordinates:
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
NA
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
518 km
Maritime claims:
NA
Climate:
tropical
Terrain:
mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the
northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
People
Paracel Islands
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
Government
Paracel Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Economy
Paracel Islands
Economy - overview:
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.
Transportation
Paracel Islands
Airports:
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
being expanded
Military
Paracel Islands
Military - note:
occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Paracel Islands
Disputes - international:
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Paraguay
Introduction
Paraguay
Background:
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between
Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost
two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It
stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War
of 1932-35, Paraguay won large, economically important areas from
Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER
ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political
infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and
regular presidential elections since then.
Geography
Paraguay
Location:
Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Geographic coordinates:
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references:
South America
Area:
total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries:
total: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate:
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern
portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain:
grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco
region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river,
and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Natural resources:
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 7.47%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 92.29% (2005)
Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
336 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.49 cu km/yr (20%/8%/71%)
per capita: 80 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly
drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal
pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population
concentrated in southern part of country
People
Paraguay
Population:
6,831,306 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 1,283,311/female 1,240,769)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,988,256/female 1,968,869)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 161,811/female 188,290) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.7 years
male: 21.5 years
female: 22 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.39% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
28.47 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 25.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.56 years
male: 72.99 years
female: 78.26 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.8 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
15,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
600 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups:
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other
or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:
4% of GDP (2004)
Government
Paraguay
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Government type:
constitutional republic
Capital:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*,
Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion,
Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May)
Constitution:
promulgated 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial
review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 20
April 2008 (next to be held April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president;
percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR
30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators
or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara
de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 20 April 2008 (next to be
held in April 2013); Chamber of Deputies - last held 20 April 2008
(next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - ANR 15, PLRA 14, UNACE 9, PPQ 4, other 3;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- ANR 30, PLRA 27, UNACE 15, PPQ 3, APC 2, other 3
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges
appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo
de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders:
Alianza Patriotica por el Cambio (Patriotic Alliance for Change) or
APC [Fernando LUGO]; Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado
Party or ANR [Jose Alberto ALDERETE]; Movimiento Union Nacional de
Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana]; Patria
Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL
Niella]; Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS; Partido
Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Emilio CAMACHO Paredes]; Partido Liberal
Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas LLANO]; Partido Pais Solidario or
PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Ahorristas Estafados or AE; National Coordinating Board of Campesino
Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation of
Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or CNT
[Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers Confederation
or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT [Jorge
Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]
International organization participation:
CAN (associate), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Ambassador Liliana AYALDE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 228-603
Flag description:
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an
emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem
is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within
two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal
of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the
words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words
REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)
Economy
Paraguay
Economy - overview:
Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal
sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer
goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of
thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of
the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures
are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population,
especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural
activity, often on a subsistence basis. On a per capita basis, real
income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute
Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty,
corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient
infrastructure. The economy rebounded between 2003 and 2007, posting
modest growth each year, as growing world demand for commodities
combined with high prices and favorable weather to support
Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$26.7 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.87 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.6% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 17.6%
services: 59.7% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
2.787 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 31%
industry: 17%
services: 52% (2007)
Unemployment rate:
5.6% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line:
32% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 46.1% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
56.8 (2008)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.159 billion
expenditures: $2.042 billion (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Public debt:
27% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
20% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
25.03% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$1.943 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$1.368 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.457 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Industries:
sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel,
metallurgic, electric power
Industrial production growth rate:
-1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
70 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - consumption:
6 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - exports:
64 billion kWh (2007)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.1% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
27,410 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - imports:
25,940 bbl/day (2007)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2007 est.)
Current account balance:
$119 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$5.463 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather
Exports - partners:
Argentina 28.1%, Uruguay 15.2%, Brazil 12.7%, Chile 5.9%, Germany
4.9%, Russia 4.5% (2007)
Imports:
$6.094 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery, tractors, chemicals, vehicle parts
Imports - partners:
Brazil 30.4%, US 22.8%, Argentina 14.4%, China 8.6% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$51.09 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.463 billion (31 December 2007)
Debt - external:
$3.492 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.057 million (2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$NA
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$233.8 million (2005)
Currency (code):
guarani (PYG)
Currency code:
PYG
Exchange rates:
guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178
(2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)
Communications
Paraguay
Telephones - main lines in use:
453,800 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
4.33 million (2007)
Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is in Asuncion
domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in
provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion
of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple
providers
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006)
Radios:
925,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (2007)
Televisions:
990,000 (2001)
Internet country code:
.py
Internet hosts:
19,691 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2000)
Internet users:
280,000 (2007)
Transportation
Paraguay
Airports:
838 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 825
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 267
under 914 m: 532 (2007)
Railways:
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)
Waterways:
3,100 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
total: 23
by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Military
Paraguay
Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,
Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Paraguay, FAP) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for
Navy (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,589,873
females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,327,730
females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 72,109
female: 70,509 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Transnational Issues
Paraguay
Disputes - international:
unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is
locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics
trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations
Illicit drugs:
major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed
in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean
cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe;
weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering
activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak
anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Peru
Introduction
Peru
Background: