5,213,772 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.76% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
32.03 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
4.48 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
25.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
73.28 years
male:
71.74 years
female:
74.9 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Paraguayan(s)
adjective:
Paraguayan
Ethnic divisions:
mestizo (Spanish and Indian) 95%, white and Indian 5%
Religions:
Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant denominations
Languages:
Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
90%
male:
92%
female:
88%
Labor force:
1.692 million (1993 est.)
by occupation:
agriculture, industry and commerce, services, government (1986)
@Paraguay, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form:
Paraguay
local long form:
Republica del Paraguay
local short form:
Paraguay
Digraph:
PA
Type:
republic
Capital:
Asuncion
Administrative divisions:
19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alto
Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa,
Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua,
Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San
Pedro
Independence:
14 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)
Constitution:
25 August 1967; Constituent Assembly rewrote the Constitution that was
promulgated on 20 June 1992
Legal system:
based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review
of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice; does not accept
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993); Vice President
Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); election last held 9 May
1993 (next to be held May 1998); results - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%,
Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; nominated by the president
Legislative branch:
bicameral Congress (Congreso)
Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores):
elections last held 9 May 1993 (next to be held May 1998); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (45 total) Colorado Party 20,
PLRA 17, EN 8
Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados):
elections last held on 9 May 1993 (next to be held by May 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (80 total) Colorado
Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
Colorado Party, Eugenio SANABRIA CANTERO, president; Authentic Radical
Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO; National Encounter (EN),
Guillermo CABALLERO VARGAS (the EN party includes the following minor
parties: Christian Democratic Party (PDC), Jose Angel BURRO;
Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Euclides ACEVEDO; Popular
Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo RICHER)
Other political or pressure groups:
Confederation of Workers (CUT); Roman Catholic Church
Member of:
AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM,
ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, MERCOSUR, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Juan Esteban AGUIRRE Martinez
chancery:
2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX:
(202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general:
New Orleans and New York
consulate(s):
Miami
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
(vacant); Charge D'Affaires Gerald McCOLLOCH
embassy:
1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Asuncion
mailing address:
C. P. 402, Asuncion, or APO AA 34036-0001
telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715
FAX:
[595] (21) 213-728
Flag:
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)
@Paraguay, Economy
Overview:
Agriculture, including forestry, accounts for about 25% of GDP,
employs about 45% of the labor force, and provides the bulk of
exports, led by soybeans and cotton. Paraguay lacks substantial
mineral or petroleum resources but possesses a large hydropower
potential. Since 1981 economic performance has declined compared with
the boom period of 1976-81, when real GDP grew at an average annual
rate of nearly 11%. During the period 1982-86 real GDP fell in three
of five years, inflation jumped to an annual rate of 32%, and foreign
debt rose. Factors responsible for the erratic behavior of the economy
were the completion of the Itaipu hydroelectric dam, bad weather for
crops, and weak export prices for agricultural commodities. In 1987
the economy experienced a minor recovery because of improved weather
conditions and stronger international prices for key agricultural
exports. The recovery continued through 1990, on the strength of
bumper crops in 1988-89. In a major step to increase its economic
activity in the region, Paraguay in March 1991 joined the Southern
Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Brazil, Argentina, and
Uruguay. In 1992, the government, through an unorthodox approach,
reduced external debt with both commercial and official creditors by
purchasing a sizable amount of the delinquent commercial debt in the
secondary market at a substantial discount. The government had paid
100% of remaining official debt arrears to the US, Germany, France,
and Spain. All commercial debt arrears have been rescheduled. For the
long run, the government must press forward with general,
market-oriented economic reforms. Growth of 3.5% in 1993 was spurred
by higher-than-expected agricultural output and rising international
commodity prices. Inflation picked up steam in fourth quarter 1993
because of rises in public sector salaries and utility rates.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $15.2 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
3.5% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.4% (1993 )
Unemployment rate:
11% (1993 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$1.2 billion
expenditures:
$1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $487 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$728 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
cotton, soybean, timber, vegetable oils, meat products, coffee, tung
oil
partners:
EC 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
$1.38 billion (c.i.f., 1993 est.)
commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials, fuels
partners:
Brazil 30%, EC 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
External debt:
$1.2 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 2.2% (1991 est.); accounts for 20% of GDP
Electricity:
capacity:
5,257,000 kW
production:
16.2 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
3,280 kWh (1992)
Industries:
meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, other
light consumer goods, cement, construction
Agriculture:
accounts for 26% of GDP and 44% of labor force; cash crops - cotton,
sugarcane, soybeans; other crops - corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava,
fruits, vegetables; animal products - beef, pork, eggs, milk; surplus
producer of timber; self-sufficient in most foods
Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade;
important transshipment point for Bolivian cocaine headed for the US
and Europe
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $172 million; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.1
billion
Currency:
1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
guaranies (G) per US$ - 1,861.3 (January 1994), 1,744.3 (1993),
1,500.3 (1992), 447.5 (March 1992), 1,325.2 (1991), 1,229.8 (1990),
1,056.2 (1989), 550.00 (fixed rate 1986-February 1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Paraguay, Communications
Railroads:
970 km total; 440 km 1.435-meter standard gauge, 60 km 1.000-meter
gauge, 470 km various narrow gauge (privately owned)
Highways:
total:
28,300 km
paved:
2,600 km
unpaved:
gravel 500 km; earth 25,200 km
Inland waterways:
3,100 km
Ports:
Asuncion, Villeta, Ciudad del Este
Merchant marine:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 16,747 GRT/19,513 DWT, cargo 11,
oil tanker 2
note:
1 naval cargo ship is sometimes used commercially
Airports:
total:
969
usable:
827
with permanent-surface runways:
7
with runways over 3,659 m:
0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
5
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
93
Telecommunications:
meager telephone service; principal switching center in Asuncion; fair
intercity microwave net; 78,300 telephones; telephone density - 16
telephones per 1,000 persons; broadcast stations - 40 AM, no FM, 5 TV,
7 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
@Paraguay, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy (including Naval Air and Marines), Air Force
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 1,249,470; fit for military service 907,533; reach
military age (17) annually 53,126 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $100 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994 est.)
@Peru, Geography
Location:
Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean between Chile
and Ecuador
Map references:
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,285,220 sq km
land area:
1.28 million sq km
comparative area:
slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total 6,940 km, Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline:
2,414 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
200 nm
International disputes:
three sections of the boundary with Ecuador are in dispute
Climate:
varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west
Terrain:
western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center
(sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)
Natural resources:
copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal,
phosphate, potash
Land use:
arable land:
3%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
21%
forest and woodland:
55%
other:
21%
Irrigated land:
12,500 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; air
pollution in Lima
natural hazards:
subject to earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, mild volcanic activity
international agreements:
party to - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Tropical Timber
Note:
shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with
Bolivia
@Peru, People
Population:
23,650,671 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.86% (1994 est.)
Birth rate:
25.55 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Death rate:
7 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
54.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.62 years
male:
63.44 years
female:
67.9 years (1994 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.11 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Peruvian(s)
adjective:
Peruvian
Ethnic divisions:
Indian 45%, mestizo (mixed Indian and European ancestry) 37%, white
15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions:
Roman Catholic
Languages:
Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population:
85%
male:
92%
female:
29%
Labor force:
8 million (1992)
by occupation:
government and other services 44%, agriculture 37%, industry 19% (1988
est.)
@Peru, Government
Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Peru
conventional short form:
Peru
local long form:
Republica del Peru
local short form:
Peru
Digraph:
PE
Type:
republic
Capital:
Lima
Administrative divisions:
24 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
constitutional province* (provincia constitucional); Amazonas, Ancash,
Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao*, Cusco, Huancavelica,
Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Loreto, Madre de
Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali
note:
the 1979 Constitution and legislation enacted from 1987 to 1990
mandate the creation of regions (regiones, singular - region) intended
to function eventually as autonomous economic and administrative
entities; so far, 12 regions have been constituted from 23 existing
departments - Amazonas (from Loreto), Andres Avelino Caceres (from
Huanuco, Pasco, Junin), Arequipa (from Arequipa), Chavin (from
Ancash), Grau (from Tumbes, Piura), Inca (from Cusco, Madre de Dios,
Apurimac), La Libertad (from La Libertad), Los Libertadores-Huari
(from Ica, Ayacucho, Huancavelica), Mariategui (from Moquegua, Tacna,
Puno), Nor Oriental del Maranon (from Lambayeque, Cajamarca,
Amazonas), San Martin (from San Martin), Ucayali (from Ucayali);
formation of another region has been delayed by the reluctance of the
constitutional province of Callao to merge with the department of
Lima. Because of inadequate funding from the central government and
organizational and political difficulties, the regions have yet to
assume major responsibilities. The 1993 Constitution maintains the
regionalization process with some modifications that will limit the
powers of the regional governments. The new constitution also
reaffirms the roles of departmental and municipal governments.
Independence:
28 July 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 28 July (1821)
Constitution:
31 December 1993
Legal system:
based on civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government:
President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28 July 1990);
election last held on 10 June 1990 (next to be held NA April 1995);
results - Alberto FUJIMORI 56.53%, Mario VARGAS Llosa 33.92%, other
9.55%
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
note:
Prime Minister Efrain GOLDENBERG Schreiber (since February 1994) does
not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
Democratic Constituent Congress (CCD):
elections last held 25 November 1992 (next to be held April 1995);
seats - (80 total) New Majority/Change 90 44, Popular Christian Party
8, Independent Moralization Front 7, Renewal 6, Movement of the
Democratic Left 4, Democratic Coordinator 4, others 7; note - several
major parties (American Popular Revolutionary Alliance, Popular
Action) did not participate; with the next election the congress will
be expanded to 100 seats
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
Political parties and leaders:
note:
Peru's political party system has become fragmented in recent years
with independent movements proliferating; key parties are listed
New Majority/Change 90 (Cambio 90), Alberto FUJIMORI; Popular
Christian Party (PPC), Luis BEDOYA Reyes; Popular Action Party (AP),
Raul DIEZ CANSECO; American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA),
Armando VILLANUEVA del CAMPO; Independent Moralizing Front (FIM),
Fernando OLIVERA Vega; National Renewal, Rafael REY Rey; Democratic
Coordinator, Jose BARBA Caballero; Democratic Left Movement, Henry
PEASE; Solidarity and Democracy (SODE), Manuel MOREYRA; National Front
of Workers and Peasants (FRENATRACA), Roger CACARES
Other political or pressure groups:
leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path, Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso
(imprisoned); Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Nestor SERPA and
Victor POLAY (imprisoned)
Member of:
AG, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-11, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, LORCS, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG (suspended), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Ricardo LUNA Mendoza
chancery:
1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
(202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX:
(202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey),
and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Alvin P. ADAMS, Jr.
embassy:
corner of Avenida Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and Avenida Espana, Lima
mailing address:
P. O. Box 1991, Lima 1, Unit 3822, or APO AA 34031
telephone:
[51] (14) 33-8000
FAX:
[51] (14) 31-6682
Flag:
three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with
the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features
a shield bearing a llama, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a
yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green
wreath
@Peru, Economy
Overview:
The Peruvian economy is becoming increasingly market oriented, with
major privatizations scheduled for 1994 in the mining and
telecommunications industries. In the 1980s the economy suffered from
hyperinflation, declining per capita output, and mounting external
debt. Peru was shut off from IMF and World Bank support in the
mid-1980s because of its huge debt arrears. An austerity program
implemented shortly after the FUJIMORI government took office in July
1990 contributed to a third consecutive yearly contraction of economic
activity, but the slide halted late that year, and output rose 2.4% in
1991. After a burst of inflation as the austerity program eliminated
government price subsidies, monthly price increases eased to the
single-digit level and by December 1991 dropped to the lowest increase
since mid-1987. Lima obtained a financial rescue package from
multilateral lenders in September 1991, although it faced $14 billion
in arrears on its external debt. By working with the IMF and World
Bank on new financial conditions and arrangements, the government
succeeded in ending its arrears by March 1993. In 1992, GDP fell by
2.8%, in part because a warmer-than-usual El Nino current resulted in
a 30% drop in the fish catch. In 1993 the economy rebounded as strong
foreign investment helped push growth to 6%.
National product:
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $70 billion (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate:
6% (1993 est.)
National product per capita:
$3,000 (1993 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
39% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)
Budget:
revenues:
$2 billion
expenditures:
$1.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $300 million (1992
est.)
Exports:
$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
copper, zinc, fishmeal, crude petroleum and byproducts, lead, refined
silver, coffee, cotton
partners:
US 25%, Japan 9%, Italy, Germany
Imports:
$4.5 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum, iron and steel,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals
partners:
US 30%, Colombia, Argentina, Japan, Germany, Brazil
External debt:
$22 billion (1993 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate -5% (1992 est.); accounts for 32% of GDP, including
petroleum
Electricity:
capacity:
5,042,000 kW
production:
17.434 billion kWh
consumption per capita:
760 kWh (1992)
Industries:
mining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food
processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal
fabrication
Agriculture:
accounts for 13% of GDP, about 35% of labor force; commercial crops -
coffee, cotton, sugarcane; other crops - rice, wheat, potatoes,
plantains, coca; animal products - poultry, red meats, dairy, wool;
not self-sufficient in grain or vegetable oil; fish catch of 6.9
million metric tons (1990)
Illicit drugs:
world's largest coca leaf producer with about 108,800 hectares under
cultivation in 1993; source of supply for most of the world's coca
paste and cocaine base; at least 85% of coca cultivation is for
illicit production; most of cocaine base is shipped to Colombian drug
dealers for processing into cocaine for the international drug market
Economic aid:
recipient:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $1.7 billion; Western
(non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $4.3
billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $577 million
Currency:
1 nuevo sol (S/.) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates:
nuevo sol (S/.) per US$1 - 2.180 (January 1994), 1.988 (1993), 1.245
(1992), 0.772 (1991), 0.187 (1990), 0.0027 (1989)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
@Peru, Communications
Railroads:
1,801 km total; 1,501 km 1.435-meter gauge, 300 km 0.914-meter gauge
Highways:
total:
69,942 km
paved:
7,459 km
unpaved:
improved earth 13,538 km; unimproved earth 48,945 km
Inland waterways:
8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km Lago
Titicaca
Pipelines:
crude oil 800 km; natural gas and natural gas liquids 64 km
Ports:
Callao, Ilo, Iquitos, Matarani, Talara
Merchant marine:
17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 142,425 GRT/229,746 DWT, bulk 3,
cargo 10, oil tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1
note:
in addition, 6 naval tankers and 1 naval cargo are sometimes used
commercially
Airports:
total:
252
usable:
222
with permanent-surface runways:
37
with runways over 3,659 m:
2
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
24
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
54
Telecommunications:
fairly adequate for most requirements; nationwide microwave system;
544,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 273 AM, no FM, 140 TV, 144
shortwave; satellite earth stations - 2 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 12
domestic
@Peru, Defense Forces
Branches:
Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru), Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea del Peru), National Police
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49 6,199,785; fit for military service 4,188,706; reach
military age (20) annually 246,427 (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $500 million, about 2% of GDP (1991)
@Philippines, Geography