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South America and South Atlantic Islands
Paraguay |
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Last updated: 23 December 2011 |
Country information
PARAGUAY TODAY
Country Facts
Full country name: Republic of Paraguay
Area: 406,752 sq km; 14 people per sq km; 157,042 sq miles
Population: 6.34 million
Capital City: Asunción
People: 95 percent of Paraguayans are Mestizos (people of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry). Minority groups include individuals of pure Spanish ancestry, unassimilated Guaraní people of the eastern forest region, and many small colonies of immigrants from Canada, Japan, Korea, Italy, Germany, Russia and others.
Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 72 and 77
Infant mortality m/f (per 1000): 23 (World Health Organization (2009)
Language(s): Spanish and Guaraní are the official languages.
Religion(s): 90% of Paraguayans are Roman Catholics. The remaining 10% are mainly Protestant (of which the Mennonite group is the largest), Mormons, Jewish, and Russian Orthodox.
Currency: Guarani (G) 1GBP = 6,811 PYG or 10,000 PYG = 1.47 GBP (Nov. 2011).
Terrorism
There have long been accusations that the tri-border area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay has been a haven for Middle Eastern terrorists and press allegations have magnified this impression. These accusations emanate from the fact that there is a large Middle Eastern community, mainly Lebanese, in the region. There is no evidence to support these allegations. A principal concern with the tri-border area is the lack of proper financial controls and growing evidence that the region is a centre for money laundering, counterfeiting and smuggling.
Drugs
Paraguay's geographical position and lack of radar cover make it a transit country for cocaine, principally from Bolivia. There is a problem with the cultivation of marijuana in Paraguay, but this is descreasing. As part of efforts to combat narcotics trafficking, the National Anti-Drugs Secretariat (SENAD) and the Paraguayan Narcotics Police (DINAR) were established in 1991.
