Country Details
| Land Area |
397,300 sq km |
Population |
5356000 |
| Capital City |
Asuncion |
People |
mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95% |
| Language |
Spanish |
Religion |
Roman Catholic, Protestant |
| Government Type |
constitutional republic |
Life Expectancy |
73.92 years |
| HIV/AIDS Rate |
0.11% (1999 est.) |
GNP per Capita |
$4,750 |
| Currency |
guarani (PYG) |
Major Exports |
electricity, soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible |
| National Holiday |
Independence Day, 14 May (1811) |
Dialing Code |
595 |
| Electricity |
220v 50Hz |
Malaria Risk |
Moderate / Low Risk |
| Water Quality |
Unsafe (Safe in Asuncion) |
Inoculations |
Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Malaria |
| Crime |
|
Driving License |
|
| Photography |
|
Entry Regs |
Passport |
| Time Zone |
GMT-4 |
|
|
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), 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, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.
