total value: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
commodities: gold, copper ore, oil, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa,
lobster
partners : Australia, Japan, US, Singapore, New Zealand
Imports:
total value: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
food, fuels, chemicals
partners : Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand, Netherlands
Debt - external: $3.2 billion (1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $291 million (1993); $240 million bilateral aid from
Australia (FY96/97 est.); $4.1 million ODA from NZ (FY95/96)
Currency: 1 kina (K) = 100 toea
Exchange rates: kina (K) per US$1 - 0.7451 (December 1996), 0.7588
(1996), 0.7835 (1995), 0.9950 (1994), 1.0221 (1993), 1.0367 (1992);
note - the government floated the kina on 10 October 1994
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Papua New Guinea:Communications
Telephones: 63,212 (1986 est.)
Telephone system: services are adequate and being improved; facilities
provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical
radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio
communication service
Radio broadcast stations: AM 31, FM 2, shortwave 0
Radios: 298,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 1
Televisions: 10,000 (1992 est.)
@Papua New Guinea:Transportation
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total : 19,400 km
paved: 660 km
unpaved: 18,740 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 10,940 km
Ports and harbors: Kieta, Lae, Madang, Port Moresby, Rabaul
Merchant marine:
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,614 GRT/29,643 DWT
ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, combination ore/oil 5, container 1,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 451 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total : 387
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 370 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m : 12
914 to 1,523 m: 52 (1996 est.)
Heliports: 2 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Ground,
Naval, and Air Forces, and Special Forces Unit)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,174,591 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 653,179 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $63 million (1997); note -
includes $12 million to cover leftover 1996 expenditures
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PARACEL ISLANDS
@Paracel Islands:Geography
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: NA
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%
permanent pastures: 0%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 100%
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1993)
Natural hazards: typhoons
Environment - current issues: NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified : none of the selected agreements
@Paracel Islands:People
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
@Paracel Islands:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
Data code: PF
Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Paracel Islands:Communications
Telephone system:
domestic: NA
international: NA
Radio broadcast stations: AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
Radios: NA
Television broadcast stations: NA
Televisions: NA
@Paracel Islands:Transportation
Ports and harbors: small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and
Duncan Island being expanded
Airports: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total : 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (on Woody Island) (1996 est.)
Military
Military - note: occupied by China
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and
Vietnam
______________________________________________________________________
PARAGUAY
@Paraguay:Geography
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: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical; 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 San Rafael 850 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 6%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 55%
forests and woodland : 32%
other: 7% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 670 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environment - current issues: deforestation (an estimated 2 million
hectares of forest land have been lost from 1958-85); water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many
urban residents
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban
Geography - note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil
@Paraguay:People
Population: 5,651,634 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 1,163,416; female 1,113,654)
15-64 years: 56% (male 1,571,685; female 1,564,757)
65 years and over: 4% (male 109,547; female 128,575) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.62% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 30.47 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 4.24 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population : 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 22.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.1 years
male: 72.6 years
female: 75.68 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.08 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, white plus
Amerindian 5%
Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female : 90.6% (1995 est.)
@Paraguay:Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay
Data code: PA
Government type: republic
National capital: Asuncion
Administrative divisions: 18 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); 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 Days, 14-15 May (1811)
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; does
not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August 1993)
and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Juan Carlos WASMOSY (since 15 August
1993) and Vice President Roberto Angel SEIFART (since 15 August 1993);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet : Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by
popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 9 May 1993 (next
to be held NA May 1998)
election results: Juan Carlos WASMOSY elected president; percent of
vote - Juan Carlos WASMOSY 40.09%, Domingo LAINO 32.06%, Guillermo
CABALLERO VARGAS 23.04%
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 9 May 1993 (next to be held
10 May 1998); Chamber of Deputies - last held 9 May 1993 (next to be
held NA May 1998)
election results : Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - Colorado Party 20, PLRA 17, EN 8; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Colorado
Party 38, PLRA 33, EN 9
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
judges appointed on the proposal of the Counsel of Magistrates
(Consejo de la Magistratura)
Political parties and leaders: Colorado Party, Luis Maria ARGANA,
president; Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Domingo LAINO;
National Encounter (EN), Carlos FILIZZOLA; Christian Democratic Party
(PDC), Miguel MONTANER; Febrerista Revolutionary Party (PRF), Victor
SANCHEZ Villagra; Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Hugo Richer
Political pressure groups and leaders: Unitary Workers Central (CUT);
Roman Catholic Church; National Workers Central (CNT); Paraguayan
Workers Confederation (CPT)
International organization participation: AG (observer), CCC, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission : Ambassador Jorge G. PRIETO CONTI
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general : Miami and New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert E. SERVICE
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) 213-728
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
Economy - overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of
imported consumer goods (electronics, whiskeys, perfumes, cigarettes,
and office equipment) to neighboring countries as well as by the
activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors.
The formal sector is largely oriented toward services, but a large
percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural
activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy has grown
an average of 3% to 4% over the past five years. However, population
has increased at 3% a year over the same period, leaving per capita
income nearly stagnant. The WASMOSY government has continued to pursue
its economic reform agenda - with mixed success - in close
coordination with its partners in Mercosur (Southern Cone Common
Market). Paraguay's ongoing integration into Mercosur offers potential
for investment and growth. Although GDP grew by only about 1.5% in
1996, it is expected to grow at a higher rate in 1997.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $17.7 billion (1996 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 1.5% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,200 (1996 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 26.3%
industry: 20.7%
services: 53% (1995)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 8.2% (December 1996)
Labor force:
total: 1.8 million (1995 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 45%
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (urban) (1995)
Budget:
revenues : $1.25 billion (1995 est.)
expenditures: $1.66 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA
(1995 est.)
Industries: meat packing, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing,
textiles, other light consumer goods, cement, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 1.3% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 6,927,500 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 41.625 billion kWh (1995)
note: exported about 37.9 million kW of electricity
Electricity - consumption per capita: 616 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat,
tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs,
milk; timber
Exports:
total value: $819.5 million (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: cotton, soybeans, timber, vegetable oils, meat products,
coffee, tung oil
partners: EU 37%, Brazil 25%, Argentina 10%, Chile 6%, US 6%
Imports:
total value: $2.871 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, raw materials,
fuels
partners : Brazil 30%, EU 20%, US 18%, Argentina 8%, Japan 7%
Debt - external: $1.3 billion (1996)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $38 million (1993)
Currency: 1 guarani (G) = 100 centimos
Exchange rates: guaranies (G) per US$ - 2,139.1 (January 1997),
2,063.8 (1996), 1,970.4 (1995), 1,911.5 (1994), 1,744.3 (1993),
1,500.3 (1992)
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Paraguay:Communications
Telephones: 88,730 (1985 est.)
Telephone system: meager telephone service; principal switching center
is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 40, FM 0, shortwave 7
Radios: 775,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 5
Televisions: 370,000 (1992 est.)
@Paraguay:Transportation
Railways:
total: 971 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge : 60 km 1.000-m gauge
other gauge: 470 km various gauges (privately owned)
Highways:
total : 28,900 km
paved: 2,717 km
unpaved: 26,183 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 3,100 km
Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Merchant marine:
total : 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,379 GRT/32,510 DWT
ships by type: cargo 14, chemical tanker 1, oil tanker 3,
roll-on/roll-off 1 (1996 est.)
Airports: 725 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 436
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m : 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 427 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 289
1,524 to 2,437 m : 22
914 to 1,523 m: 267 (1996 est.)
Military
Military branches: Army, Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Air
Force
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 1,380,775 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males : 1,001,316 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 61,382 (1997 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $94 million (1994)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.6% (1994)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: short section of the boundary with Brazil,
just west of Salto del Guaira (Guaira Falls) on the Rio Parana, has
not been precisely delimited
Illicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug
trade; transshipment country for Bolivian cocaine headed for Europe
and the US
______________________________________________________________________
PERU
@Peru:Geography
Location: Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean,
between Chile and Ecuador
Geographic coordinates: 10 00 S, 76 00 W
Map references: South America
Area:
total: 1,285,220 sq km
land : 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Alaska
Land boundaries:
total: 6,940 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km,
Colombia 2,900 km, Ecuador 1,420 km
Coastline: 2,414 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf : 200 nm
territorial sea: 200 nm
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)
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m
Natural resources: copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron
ore, coal, phosphate, potash
Land use:
arable land : 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 21%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 10% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 12,800 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild
volcanic activity
Environment - current issues: deforestation; overgrazing of the slopes
of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air
pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from
municipal and mining wastes
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest
navigable lake, with Bolivia
@Peru:People
Population: 25,573,924 (July 1997 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 36% (male 4,693,504; female 4,532,607)
15-64 years : 59% (male 7,658,718; female 7,551,588)
65 years and over: 5% (male 519,294; female 618,213) (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate: 2% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 27.26 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 6.14 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.55 years
male : 67.38 years
female: 71.82 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.4 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian
Ethnic groups: Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white)
37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Religions: Roman Catholic
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 94.5%
female: 83% (1995 est.)
@Peru:Government
Country name:
conventional long form : Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru
Data code: PE
Government type: republic
National 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 mandated the creation of regions
(regiones, singular - region) to function eventually as autonomous
economic and administrative entities; so far, 12 regions have been
constituted from 23 of the 24 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 retains the regions but limits their authority; the 1993
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: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since 28
July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Alberto Kenyo FUJIMORI Fujimori (since
28 July 1990); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
note: Prime Minister Alberto PANDOLFI Arbulu (since 3 April 1996) does
not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results: President FUJIMORI reelected; percent of vote -
Alberto FUJIMORI 64.42%, Javier PEREZ de CUELLAR 21.80%, Mercedes
CABANILLAS 4.11%, other 9.67%
Legislative branch: unicameral Democratic Constituent Congress or
Congresso Constituyente Democratico (120 seats; members are elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party - C90/NM 52.1%, UPP 14%, 11
other parties 33.9%; seats by party, when installed on 28 July 1995 -
C90/NM 67, UPP 17, APRA 8, FIM 6, (CODE)-Pais Posible 5, AP 4, PPC 3,
Renovacion 3, IU 2, OBRAS 2, MIA 1, FRENATRACA 1, FREPAP 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia),
judges are appointed by the National Council of the Judiciary