Dialing code +595
ISO 2 code PY
ISO 3 code PRY
Capital Asuncion
Main Language Spanish
Currency Guarani (PYG)
GDP $28.7 billion 105th
Population 6,375,830 104th

Geography

Continent South America
Location Central South America northeast of Argentina
Land 406,750 km2 60th
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
Climate Subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions becoming semiarid in the far west
Natural Hazards 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
Note: Landlocked; lies between Argentina Bolivia and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

Neighbouring Countries

Argentina Bolivia Brazil

History

Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. 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. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. 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.
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Demographics

Life Expectancy 75.77 years 64th
Median Age 21.9 years 141st
Birth Rate 28.17 births/1,000 population 49th
Death Rate 4.46 births/1,000 population 187th
Sex Ratio 0.86 male(s)/female 58th
Literacy 94.0% 89th
Population

6.4 million

Transportation

Roadways 29500 km 97th
Railways 36 km 128th
Airports 797 9th
Waterways 3100 km 31st
Heliports None
Airports paved 3 45th

Economy

Currency Guarani (PYG)
GDP $28.7 billion 105th
GDP per capita (PPP) $4200 136th