ion, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test
Ban, Wetlands

Geographic note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and
Brazil

People
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Population: 5,504,146 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 1,144,644; female 1,096,430)
15-64 years: 55% (male 1,518,661; female 1,513,577)
65 years and over: 4% (male 106,121; female 124,713) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.67% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 30.97 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 4.31 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 23.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.84 years
male: 72.33 years
female: 75.43 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.15 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, whites
plus Amerindians 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations

Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 92.1%
male: 93.5%
female: 90.6%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Data code: PA

Type of government: republic

Capital: Asuncion

Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular
- departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron,
Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera,
Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San
Pedro

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French
codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of
Justice; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 60

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Presi