M, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Leila Teresa RACHID COWLES chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: 234-4508 telephone: [1]
(202) 483-6960 through 6962

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
David N. GREENLEE embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal
402, Asuncion mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001 telephone:
[595] (21) 213-715 FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and
blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the
emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left)
bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a
green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two
circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the
treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y
Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY,
all within two circles)

Economy Paraguay

Economy - overview: Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large
informal sector. The informal sector features both reexport of imported
consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of
thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of
the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are
difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives their
living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The
formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but
GDP declined slightly in 1998, 1999, and 2000. On a per capita basis, real
income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's
poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of
progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt,
and deficient infrastructure.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $26.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 0% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29% industry: 26% services:
45% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line: