PARAGUAY

Official name: REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY

Date of membership: 19 September 1986

Short name: Paraguay

Capital: Asuncion

Government

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.

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

Constitution: Promulgated 20 June 1992

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch: Chief of state: Mario Abdo Benítez (2018-2023). The president is both the chief of state and head of government. Vice President Hugo Velasquez (2018-2023).

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)

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).

Internet country code: .py

Official Portal Web: http://www.presidencia.gov.py

Geography

Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Area: 406,750 sq km

Land boundaries: 3,920 km

Border countries: Argentine 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Natural resources: Hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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.

Economic indicators  

Source: Paraguay: Economic National Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical
Publications. ECLAC.On line. Inquiry: July 07, 2019.

Socio-demographic indicators