World Atlas 2010 (4th edition)

297

Paraguay

SOUTH AMERICA

FACTFILE

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Paraguay

DATE OF FORMATION: 1811

CAPITAL: Asunción

POPULATION: 6.35 million

TOTAL AREA: 157,046 sq. miles

(406,750 sq. km)

DENSITY: 41 people per sq. mile

LANGUAGES: Guaraní, Spanish,

German

RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 96%,

Protestant (including Mennonite) 4%

ETHNIC MIX: Mestizo 91%, other 7%,

Amerindian 2%

GOVERNMENT: Presidential system

CURRENCY: Guaraní = 100 céntimos

Landlocked in central South America, and once a

Spanish colony, Paraguay’s postindependence history has

included periods of military rule. Free elections were held in 1993.

GEOGRAPHY

The Paraguay River divides the hilly

and forested east from a flat alluvial

plain, with marsh and semidesert scrub

land in the west.

CLIMATE

Subtropical. The Gran Chaco is

generally hotter and drier. All areas

experience floods and droughts.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Population mainly of mixed Spanish

and native Guaraní origin. Most people

are bilingual, though in rural areas Guaraní

is more widely used. Cattle ranchers

populate the Chaco, along with

communities of the German-origin

Mennonite Church. The army is

politically active.

THE ECONOMY

Agriculture: soybeans are the main

export. Electricity exported from massive

hydroelectric dams, including Itaipú

(world’s second-largest, jointly run

with Brazil). Large informal economy.

Corruption and smuggling.

INSIGHT: The War of the Triple

Alliance (1864–1870) killed almost 90%

of Paraguay’s male population

1000m/3281ft

500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

100 km

100 miles

0

0

BRAZIL

BOLIVIA

ARGENTINA

G

r

a

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C

h

a

c

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Represa

de Itaipú

Paran

á

Pa

ra

gu

ay

Lambaré

Pedro Juan Caballero

Pilar

Concepción

VillarricaCiudad

del Este

Coronel Oviedo

Encarnación

ASUNCIÓN