Paraguay

of the Río Paraguay flows through the country from the north to the south and arranges it into two very different parts. While itself in the west the very thinly settled, dry and hot Savannenlandschaft of the Gran Chaco extended, is in the east of the country water-rich grass countries and damp forests. There also the predominant part of the population lives.

Climatic diagram Asunción

climatic diagram Mariscal Estigarriba

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population

scarce 90% of the population are essentially Paraguayer, in the majority Mestizen, from of 16. up to 18. Century took place connection from Guaraní Indianerinnen with Spanish immigrants came out. Sporadically, in particular at the beginning 20. Century, it came to immigration thrusts from Europe, as well as from the neighboring countries Brazil and Argentina. It gives regionally meaning minorities of Europeans and natives to peoples, among whom the Guaraní is the most important group. Its language (Guaraní) has today apart from Spanish official status. As the third language occasionally German is heard: of German emigrants or of Mennoniten, which speak however a down-German dialect. In the northwest and in the Chaco in terms of figures insignificant, but with large resource and certain privileges equipped minority of the German-language Mennoniten, lives which immigrated since 1927 usually from Russia. By further Zuwanderung from the United States, Canada and Mexico their number amounts in the meantime to 45.000-50.000 persons. In the Brazilian border region live in the meantime approx. 500.000 portugiesischsprachige settlers, of it are 150,000 ethnic Germans Brazilians from the Federal States Rio Grande DO Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná. They are called also Brasiguayos.

5% to 7% of the Paraguayan population are Germans or ethnic German immigrant. In the reign of the ethnic German president Alfredo Stroessner 1954-1989 ten thousands from Brazil coming German Brazilian immigrated. However in the years 1973/74 42,000 German Brazilians immigrated to Paraguay, particularly into the Departamente Alto Paraná, Caazapáy, Itapua, Canendiyú, Caaguazú, San Pedro. However in this Departamenten live today far over 100.000 German Brazilians in 9 large and 45 peripheral settlements. A further center of the immigration lies around Hohenau with at least 30-35,000 German Brazilians. Since the fall Stroessners in February/March 1989 immigrated further 150,000 ethnic Germans from south Brazil. At the Argentine border also many Polish and Ukrainischstämmige live.

The predominant part of the population lives east the Río Paraguay and here particularly in the area around Asunción as well as the close border to Brazil. In the north and the west of the country, which are taken by the level of the Gran Chaco, only about 5% of the population live.

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important cities

of Paraguay largest and most important city is the capital Asunción with approximately one million inhabitant in the population centre, the center of administration, industry and trade. Second largest city is Ciudad del Este (239,500 inhabitants) the close border to Brazil and Argentina, a fast growing city, which as purchase and commercial centre, in addition, when metropolis of smuggling admits is. Further important cities are Pedro Juan Caballero (about 65,000 inhabitants) in the northeast and Encarnación at the Río Paraná. One of the most beautiful cities is Concepción with approx. 50,000 inhabitants 200 km north of Asunción at the Rió Paraguay convenient, in itself to today the charm early 19. Century received. Worth mentioning likewise Caacupé is, a small city approx. 50km east of Asunción, in each the 8.12. the celebration of the virgin Maria with more than 2 million humans is celebrated. See also: List of the cities in Paraguay

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history

major item: History of Paraguay

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politics

list of the presidents of Paraguay

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administrative districts

Paraguay consists of 18 administrative regions (departamentos):

Departamento	number of inhabitants (08/2002)	capital
Alto Paraguay	15,008	Fuerte Olimpo
Alto Paraná	563,042	Ciudad del Este
Amambay	64,153	Pedro Juan Caballero
Asunción	513,399	Asunción
Boquerón	45,617	Filadelfia
Caaguazú	448,983	Coronel Oviedo
Caazapá	139,241	Caazapá
Canindeyú	140,551	Salto del Guairá
cent ral	1.363.399	Areguá
Concepción	180,277	Concepción
Cordillera	234,805	Caacupé
Guairá	176,933	Villarrica
Itapúa	463,410	Encarnación
Misiones	103,633	San Juan Bautista
Ñeembucú	76,738	Pilar
Presidente Hayes	81,876	Pozo Colorado
Paraguarí	226,514	Paraguarí
San Pedro	318,787	San Pedro

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economics

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general

Paraguay is a pure agricultural country with all those characteristics, which are typical for Latin American states:

Large-landed property coins/shapes the possession structure, about 80% of the agriculturally usable surfaces belongs to 1% of the population.
39% of the population work in the agrarian sector, which contributes 23% to the GROS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

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agriculture

on the grass corridors of the Gran Chaco almost excluding pastoral industry operated. In the last decades by the Mennoniten the dairy farming was developed here after European standards, which are firm now in their hand. East Paraguay is predominantly operated agriculture. Main cultivation products are soy beans, Maniok, cotton, Zuckerrohr and grain. Forest-economical products (29% Paraguay are covered with forest) are beside wood Tannin and Petitgrain. Petitgrain is an oil, which is used for the perfume production.

Mining industry hardly plays a role in Paraguay, since proven stores are diminished only to small extent. There is oil -, iron ore -, manganese - and rock salt stores.

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industry

for the 1970er years registers the industrial sector considerable growth rates and contributes now 22% to the GROS DOMESTIC PRODUCT . The industrielle production is limited to a large extent to country and forest-economical goods. Prevailing branches are wood - and meat processing, production of vegetable oils as well as production of sweet goods and fruit juices. Beyond that there is textile - and glass factories as well as a cement plant. 22% of the employed persons are busy in the industry.

A Devisenbringer for Paraguay is the momentarily largest power station of the world Itaipú. It was along-built to the half by Brazil. 99.88% of the entire electricity of Paraguay are produced in hydro-electric power plants. Since is not used the current portion of Paraguay, produced by the power station Itaipú, thus the surplus can be sold.

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shadow economy

Paraguay has a free-market economy marked by strong shadow economy. The shadow economy draws by the import of articles of consumption and their re-exportation into neighbouring, wealthy countries from as well as by the activities for rope that Kleinstunternehmer and urban street traders.

Because of the meaning of the shadow economy are difficult economic parameterses to keep. A large percentage of the population works in the agriculture and frequently in form of the Subsistenzwirtschaft.

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was up to to characteristic data

and public expenditures the economy between 1995 and 1997 formally by 3%, however the GROS DOMESTIC PRODUCT is in the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 easily pleases. The Pro-Kopf-Einkommen stagnates on the level of 1980. The majority of the observers attributes the bad development of the Paraguayan economy to unverlässliche policy, corruption, lack to structural reforms, the important internal and external national indebtedness and the unsatisfactory infrastructure .

The basic supply of the population in the material one and within the range of the health is ensured in Paraguay.

Between 1992 and 2000 the portion of the public expenditures for

the health service was appropriate for culture [
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the training system with 22%

the military with

11%

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literature

beyond the national borders became for the literature of Paraguay of the writers Augusto Roa Bastos of lasting importance.

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music

concerning the classical music is to be emphasized the Gitarrenvirtuose Agustin Barrios Mangoré (1885 to 1947), which was born in San Juan Bautista and in completely South America and Europe successfully as Virtuose, teacher and a composer active was.

In addition in Paraguay the folkloristische music is very much maintained, particularly importantly is here the “Polka”. As in many Latin American countries at present the Cumbia is the most important form of the popular music.

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sport

football is the kind of main haven of Paraguay. Paraguay has a football crew, which continued to increase for the 1990er years and itself in the years 1998 and 2002 for the first time in national history twice in consequence qualify for the soccer world championship could. For the soccer world championship in Germany 2006 itself the soccer national team of Paraguay could do to 8. October 2005 with a victory in Venezuela qualify. The most well-known Paraguayan football players are Jose Luis Chilavert, Roque Santa Cruz, Nelson Valdez and José Saturnino Cardozo.

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