Compare Paracel Islands (2003) - Paraguay (2005)

Compare Paracel Islands (2003) z Paraguay (2005)

	Paracel Islands (2003)	Paraguay (2005)

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
Age structure	-	0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,223,479/female 1,184,134) 15-64 years: 57.3% (male 1,825,473/female 1,809,810) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 140,935/female 164,053) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	-	cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber
Airports	1 (2002)	878 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)	total: 12 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	-	total: 866 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 323 under 914 m: 517 (2004 est.)
Area	total: NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 406,750 sq km land: 397,300 sq km water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative	NA	slightly smaller than California
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. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.	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.
Birth rate	-	29.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	-	revenues: $1.123 billion expenditures: $1.129 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)
Capital	-	Asuncion
Climate	tropical	subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Coastline	518 km	0 km (landlocked)
Constitution	-	promulgated 20 June 1992
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Paracel Islands	conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Republica del Paraguay local short form: Paraguay
Death rate	-	4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	-	$3.239 billion (2004 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US	-	chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE 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
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: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Disputes - international	occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam	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
Economic aid - recipient	-	NA
Economy - overview	China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.	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 derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth desease. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by a firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the economic policy of the Duarte FRUTOS administration, the economy rebounded in 2003 and 2004, posting modest growth each year.
Electricity - consumption	-	2.469 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports	-	42.51 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports	-	0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production	-	48.36 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m	lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m
Environment - current issues	NA	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
Ethnic groups	-	mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%
Exchange rates	-	guarani per US dollar - 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001), 3,486.4 (2000)
Executive branch	-	chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); 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 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008) election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%
Exports	-	NA
Exports - commodities	-	soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather
Exports - partners	-	Uruguay 27.8%, Brazil 19.2%, Argentina 6.3%, Switzerland 4.1% (2004)
Fiscal year	-	calendar year
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)
GDP - composition by sector	-	agriculture: 25.3% industry: 24.9% services: 49.8% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	-	2.8% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates	16 30 N, 112 00 E	23 00 S, 58 00 W
Geography - note	composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group	landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country
Highways	-	total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	-	lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
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, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area
Imports	-	NA
Imports - commodities	-	road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery
Imports - partners	-	Brazil 30.9%, Argentina 23.3%, China 16.6%, US 4% (2004)
Independence	-	14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate	-	0% (2000 est.)
Industries	-	sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power
Infant mortality rate	-	total: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births male: 30.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	-	5.1% (2004 est.)
International organization participation	-	CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Irrigated land	0 sq km (1998 est.)	670 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	-	Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)
Labor force	-	2.66 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation	-	agriculture 45%
Land boundaries	0 km	total: 3,920 km border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)	arable land: 7.6% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 92.17% (2001)
Languages	-	Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Legal system	-	based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
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 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2
Life expectancy at birth	-	total population: 74.89 years male: 72.35 years female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)
Literacy	-	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.)
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	Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Map references	Southeast Asia	South America
Maritime claims	NA	none (landlocked)
Merchant marine	-	total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWT by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2 foreign-owned: 2 (Argentina 2) registered in other countries: 1 (2005)
Military - note	occupied by China	-
Military branches	-	Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation, River Defense Corps, Coast Guard), Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$53.1 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	0.9% (2003)
National holiday	-	Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)
Nationality	-	noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan
Natural hazards	typhoons	local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Natural resources	none	hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Net migration rate	-	-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders	-	Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Herminio CACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kenney]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares] note: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year prison term
Political pressure groups and leaders	-	Ahorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of National Campesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT
Population	no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.)	6,347,884 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	-	36% (2001 est.)
Population growth rate	-	2.48% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded	Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion
Radio broadcast stations	-	AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)
Railways	-	total: 441 km standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)
Religions	-	Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
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 (2005 est.)
Suffrage	-	18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Telephone system	-	general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion domestic: fair microwave radio relay network international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use	-	273,200 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	-	1,770,300 (2003)
Television broadcast stations	-	5 (2003)
Terrain	mostly low and flat	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
Total fertility rate	-	3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	-	15.1% (2004 est.)
Waterways	none	3,100 km (2004)

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