World Country Guide

General Information

Area
406,752 sq km (157,048 sq miles).

Population
5,206,101 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density
12.8 per sq km.

Capital
Asuncin. Population: 513,399 (2000).

Geography
Paraguay is a landlocked country surrounded by Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil, lying some 1440km (900 miles) up the River Paran from the Atlantic. The River Paraguay, a tributary of the Paran, divides the country into two sharply contrasting regions. The Oriental zone, which covers 159,800 sq km (61,700 sq miles), consists of undulating country intersected by chains of hills rising to about 600m (2000ft), merging into the Mato Grosso Plateau in the north; the Paran crosses the area in the east and south. East and southeast of Asuncin lie the oldest centres of settlement inhabited by the greater part of the population. This area is bordered to the west by rolling pastures, and to the south by thick primeval forests. The Occidental zone, or Paraguayan Chaco, covers 246,827 sq km (95,300 sq miles). It is a flat alluvial plain, composed mainly of grey clay, which is marked by large areas of permanent swamp in the southern and eastern regions. Apart from a few small settlements, it is sparsely populated.

Government
Republic since 1967. Gained independence from Spain in 1811. Head of State and Government: President scar Nicanor Duarte Frutos since 2003.

Language
The official languages are Spanish and Guaran; Guaran is spoken by most of the rural population. Most Paraguayans are bilingual, but prefer to speak Guaran outside Asuncin.

Religion
Mostly Roman Catholic.

Time
GMT - 4 (GMT - 3 from October to March).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 595. Outgoing international code: 002. Moderate internal network apart from the main cities.

Mobile Telephone
GSM 1900 network coverage is limited to main urban areas. The local network providers are Hutchison Telecommunications Paraguay SA (website: www.porthable.com.py), Nucleo SA (website: www.personal.com.py), Telefonica Celular Del Paraguay (website: www.telecel.com.py) and VOX (website: www.vox.com.py).

Fax
Some hotels provide facilities.

Internet
ISPs include Planet (website: www.pla.net.py). Internet cafes are available in main urban areas.

Telegram
Many hotels have facilities. Services are also available at COPACO (Compaa Paraguaya de Comunicaciones).

Post
Airmail to Europe takes five days.

Press
The main newspapers are ABC Color, La Nacin, Noticias and Ultima Hora. American newspapers are available.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.