What are shelters made of in urban shantytowns in paraguay

CultureGrams TM

World Edition 2018

Republic of

Paraguay

BACKGROUND

Land and Climate

Paraguay is a landlocked country in central South America

that is slightly smaller than Iraq or the U.S. state of

California. Over one-third of the country is forest or

woodlands, although that amount is dwindling, as

deforestation is a significant problem. About 12 percent of the

land is suitable for cultivation. There are some hilly areas, but

few high elevations.

The Río Paraguay (Paraguay River) divides the country

into two regions. In the northwest lies the sparsely settled arid

region known as the Gran Chaco, or simply Chaco. Near the

river, the Chaco is mostly wetlands. Southeast of the river is

the fertile Paraná Plateau, where the main population and

agricultural centers are located. The plateau is subtropical and

has a hot, humid, and rainy climate.

Because Paraguay is south of the equator, the country's

seasonal changes are opposite those in the Northern

Hemisphere. The warm season is from September through

May, when temperatures usually fall between 75 to 100°F (24

to 38°C). The cooler rainy season is from June through

August, with temperatures ranging between 50 and 75°F (10

to 24°C).

History

Indigenous Peoples and Colonization

What is now Paraguay was occupied by several tribal groups

thousands of years before Europeans arrived. The largest and

most dominant group were the Guaraní, who lived primarily

in the eastern and southern areas of what is today Paraguay

and beyond. The Guaraní inhabited small villages, hunting,

growing crops, and at times waging war with neighboring

groups. Spanish explorers came to Paraguay in 1524 and

established Asunción in 1537. Colonial rule lasted until the

19th century.

Independence and War

Paraguay peacefully gained independence in 1811, and José

Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia established the first in a long

line of dictatorships. He closed the country to the outside

world and ruled until his death in 1840.

The next ruler, Carlos Antonio López, began modernizing

the country. But in 1865, his son and successor Francisco

Solano López took Paraguay into the War of the Triple

Alliance against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Ultimately,

Paraguay lost the war (1870), along with 55,000 square miles

(142,450 square kilometers) of territory and at least half of its

total population, including some two-thirds of its adult male

population. Foreign troops stayed until 1876, and Paraguay

remained politically unstable for another generation.

In 1932, Paraguay waged the three-year Chaco War with

Bolivia over a territorial dispute. Although Paraguay gained

two-thirds of the disputed Chaco territory, even more of the

country's male population died and the war seriously

weakened Paraguay's economy.

Dictatorship and Democracy

Various dictators and one elected president ruled until 1954,

when General Alfredo Stroessner, commander of the army,

took control of the Paraguayan government and established a

long-term dictatorship. Although his tenure brought some

economic development (mainly in the form of three

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hydroelectric dams), his government was responsible for

human-rights violations, corruption, and oppression.

A coup in 1989 ousted Stroessner, and the coup's leader,

General Andrés Rodríguez, was elected president. President

Rodríguez restored civil rights, legalized political parties, and

promised not to serve past 1993. He was the first leader to

successfully implement many democratic reforms. A new

constitution was ratified in June 1992. Rodríguez's

administration helped Paraguay emerge from its isolation

under decades of dictatorship to join in regional and

international organizations.

The nation's commitment to democracy was tested during

an attempted coup in 1996. General Lino Oviedo, who led the

coup, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He ran for the

presidency from his prison cell until a Supreme Court ruling

forced him to withdraw his candidacy. His running mate,

Raúl Cubas, ran in his place and won in 1998. Oviedo later

fled the country, was returned to Paraguay, and served

additional prison time for his involvement in the attempted

coup. His conviction was eventually overturned by the

Supreme Court, which allowed him to run for president in

2008. He lost the election and was killed in a helicopter crash

while running again in 2013.

Lugo's Impeachment

Between 1999 and 2012 there were three more presidents, the

third of which was Fernando Lugo. Lugo's election in 2008

ended 60 years of Colorado Party rule. However, Lugo's term

was cut nine months short when he was rapidly impeached by

Paraguay's senate in June 2012 under the pretext of

misconduct related to a clash between police and squatters

that left 17 people dead. Though the ouster of the unpopular

of Lugo was technically legal, Paraguay faced regional

economic and political isolation as a result of the senate's

move. Fernando Lugo was replaced by his vice president,

Federico Franco, who served until conservative Horacio

Cartes won 2013 elections, bringing the Colorado Party back

to power.

Recent Events and Trends

• Election amendment: In April 2017, Paraguay's lower

house, the Chamber of Deputies, rejected an amendment

passed by the Chamber of Senators the month before that

would have allowed President Cartes to run for reelection in a

country that has had a one-term presidential limit in place

since 1989. The passage of the amendment by the Chamber of

Senators had been met by violent protests in which one

demonstrator was killed by police.

• New president: In April 2018, ruling Colorado Party

candidate Mario Abdo Benítez won the presidency in a close

election. The right-wing politician is the son of a key figure in

former Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner's government.

• Malaria elimination: In July 2018, the World Health

Organization announced that Paraguay has eliminated

malaria, becoming the first country in the Americas to do so

in half a century. The achievement has been attributed to

quick detection and analysis of cases of the disease. The

elimination comes at a time when malaria is on the rise in

several other countries in the Americas.

THE PEOPLE

Population

Paraguay is the most ethnically homogeneous country in

South America, partially due to its many years of virtual

isolation. As much as 95 percent of the population is mestizo,

or of mixed Spanish and indigenous heritage. A small number

of indigenous tribes also live in the country; mostly around

Asunción or in northern Paraguay. These native groups

include the Guaraní, Aché, and Macá. Descendants of

German, Italian, French, and British immigrants have

assimilated into mestizo society. Some Koreans, Japanese,

other Asians, and Arabs also reside in Paraguay, but they

have not assimilated into Paraguayan culture. A small number

of Mennonites, mostly around Filadelfia and in settlements

found in the Chaco region, maintain a distinct lifestyle based

on their European agricultural heritage. Roughly 30 percent

of the population is younger than age 15.

Language

Paraguay has two official languages: Spanish and Guaraní.

Spanish is the language of government, urban commerce, and

most schooling, but Guaraní is the common language. In fact,

Paraguay is the only country in the Americas where the

majority of the population speaks the same indigenous

language. In rural areas, some people speak only Guaraní,

although many adults cannot read or write it. To remedy this,

schools now teach students pure Guaraní as it is expressed in

literature. Most people also speak or understand Spanish.

Paraguayans mix many Guaraní words with Spanish, and

many of their vocabulary words differ from those of other

Spanish-speaking countries. Jopará is a slang dialect that

combines Spanish and Guaraní and is used informally

throughout Paraguay. They generally use the vos rather than

the tú form for informal address.

Portuguese is spoken along the Brazilian border.

Paraguay's Spanish is called Castellano (Castilian), not

Español.

Religion

About 90 percent of Paraguayans are Roman Catholic.

Catholic rituals and holidays play an important role in society.

However, various Protestant and other Christian churches also

have members in Paraguay. Mennonites immigrated to

Paraguay in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th

centuries, founding semi-autonomous colonies (colonias),

which they still inhabit today. Paraguayan women tend to be

more religious than men. Many rural people mix Christian

beliefs and traditional beliefs in their worship. Few rural areas

have a full-time priest. Instead, people in rural areas hire a

priest to come for special occasions such as baptisms,

weddings, and religious holidays.

General Attitudes

Most Paraguayans are proud of being Paraguayan. They

consider their country the heart of South America (el corazón

de Sudamerica). Paraguayans often define themselves by

three aspects of their culture: speaking Guaraní, eating

mandioca (cassava), and drinking yerba (herb) tea.

Paraguayans say that Spanish is the language of the head, but

Guaraní is the language of the heart. Mandioca is served at

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nearly every meal. Yerba tea has been part of the culture for

hundreds of years. Mate (MAH-tay) leaves are made into a

mildly stimulating yerba tea. Served cold, it is called tereré.

Served hot, it is mate.

Paraguay is generally a traditional society. Property,

beauty, virility, money, status, and large families tend to be

valued. Social connections beyond the family are considered

very important as well. Paraguayans often describe

themselves as a "nation of friends," as one's friends are often

relied upon for social, educational, legal, and economic

advancement and favors. Paraguayans also typically value

humor as a trait that cannot be taken from them (during

historical conflicts, for instance) and that is not limited by

their country's small size or economic status.

Most Paraguayans strive for tranquilidad (tranquility).

Deviations from traditional values and loud, disruptive

behavior are not appreciated. Although most people are very

welcoming, generations of isolation and wars with

neighboring countries mean much of the population lacks

experience with diverse groups. For example, the mestizo

population tends to look down on people with darker skin

tones, and there may be negative attitudes toward unfamiliar

religions or cultures. This historic and sometimes

self-imposed isolation has also developed in many

Paraguayans a self-reliant attitude they tend to be very proud

of.

Paraguayans do not appreciate stereotypes about poverty

and inferiority in developing countries; they are proud of their

particular heritage. At the same time, many feel that other

countries take advantage of their nation.

Personal Appearance

North American and European fashions are worn throughout

Paraguay. Cleanliness tends to be emphasized; even the

poorest people usually have clean clothing, and if shoes are

worn, they are clean shoes. In many rural areas, children

especially may go barefoot except in the coldest winter

weather.

During summer months, shorts are common casual wear,

except among older adults. Men generally do not wear

sandals in public, though flip-flops are standard in relaxed

social settings or at home for both men and women. Teenage

girls often wear revealing clothing, while teenage boys

commonly wear athletic gear. Clothing is often lightweight;

cotton is a popular fabric. Paraguayans tend to bundle up

during even relatively minor periods of cold, wearing

sweaters, heavy winter coats, wool hats, and gloves. Urban

men wear slacks and a shirt for working, but suits and ties are

less common because of the hot climate. Rural men wear

work clothes, often secondhand clothing from the United

States or other countries, and a hat when farming. A common

style of clothing is ao po'i, a loosely woven cotton fabric with

handstitched lines.

Women generally pay particular attention to their

appearance, regardless of economic conditions. Styled hair,

manicured nails, jewelry, and makeup are popular in cities but

less common in rural areas. Older rural women nearly always

wear dresses or skirts, while younger women wear more

modern attire. Society generally considers beauty an

important quality in women.

CUSTOMS AND COURTESIES

Greetings

Spanish greetings, such as Mucho gusto (Pleased to meet

you), are often used with strangers or for formal situations.

Acquaintances might use less formal Spanish, such as Hola.

¿Cómo estás? (Hi. How are you?), but friends and relatives

more often use Guaraní greetings. The most common phrase

is ¿Mba'eichapa? (pronounced “m-buy-ay-SHA-pah”), which

means “How are you?” The reply is almost always Iporã (Just

fine).

In the countryside, it is friendly and polite to call out a

greeting to a friend passing one's house. People also greet one

another as they pass on the street, whether walking, riding a

bicycle, or driving a horse-drawn cart. Rather than saying

Hola (Hello) though, in this case people more often say Adiós

(Good-bye), but drop the s and hold out the o.

Except in the workplace, men and women nearly always

shake hands when greeting, even if for the second or third

time in a day. Friends greeting for the first time in a day (if at

least one is a woman) will usually kiss each other on each

cheek as well as shake hands. Rural women are more likely to

pat the other's arm than kiss. When departing, most people

repeat whatever gesture they used in greeting.

Urban, usually middle-aged, men are addressed

respectfully by last name, often accompanied by Don. For

women, Doña customarily accompanies the first name. Using

a person's professional title also shows respect. Young people

refer to each other by first name. In rural areas, campesinos

(farmers) commonly address one another by first name,

preceded by Ña (for women) or Karai (for men).

Paraguayans often greet a respected elder by holding their

hands in prayer position and waiting for the elder to bless

them by making the sign of the cross (a gesture made by

tracing two perpendicular lines in the air, representing a

Christian cross).

Gestures

Perhaps the most common hand gesture is a "thumbs up"

(referred to as al pelo), which expresses anything positive or

encouraging. A person uses the gesture when saying Al pelo

(meaning that everything is good) or Iporã (meaning "Just

fine") or when answering a question. Wagging a vertical

index finger means a strong "no" or "I don't think so." One

beckons by waving all fingers of the hand with the palm

facing out or down.

Paraguayans are soft-spoken; they do not shout to get

someone's attention. If making a "tssst tssst" sound does not

work, a Paraguayan might whistle or run after the person.

Paraguayan men and children usually give up their bus seats

to older men or women, pregnant women, or women with

babies. Seated bus passengers usually offer to hold packages

or children for standing passengers.

Visiting

Paraguayans visit one another often. Unannounced visits are

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common and welcome. To make one's presence known at a

home, one claps at the gate. It is impolite to enter the yard

until invited. When visiting someone, it is common to request

permission to enter a yard, home, or office by saying Permiso

(Permission) and waiting for the response of Adelante (Go

ahead). The large apartment buildings common to urban areas

are equipped with intercoms that allow visitors to announce

their presence.

Paraguayans enjoy hosting friends and new acquaintances.

Guests usually are offered refreshments. If the hosts are

eating a meal or drinking tereré (cold herbal tea), they will

usually invite visitors to join in. Otherwise, guests might be

offered a soft drink (in the city), coffee, juice, or water. Fruit

is commonly offered in rural areas. Hosts only give tereré to

unannounced visitors if they want them to stay a while.

People often drink the tea from a common guampa (container,

usually made of wood, cattle horns, or gourds) through a

bombilla (metal straw). The host passes the guampa to one

person, who drinks and returns the container to the host, who

makes another portion for the next person. Participants enjoy

this important social custom while relaxing and conversing.

People often congregate in plazas to relax, chat, and eat.

Urban residents like to invite friends to their homes for a

meal; rural people generally extend invitations only for

special occasions. Guests need not be punctual; being late is

accepted and more comfortable for all involved. Guests may

be traveling from a variety of distances under a variety of

circumstances, so it is accepted that people arrive when they

can. Invited dinner guests might bring a gift of wine, beer, or

a dessert. Guests usually are expected to stay after a meal for

conversation and tea. If guests have traveled a long distance

or face a difficult journey home, they will generally be

expected to stay the night.

Eating

Mealtimes and eating habits vary according to region and

family. Rather than sit down to a daily family meal, rural

people often eat when they can. Farmers might eat lunch in

their fields, for example, rather than go home. Urban families

usually eat their main meal together. Traditionally, the main

meal is lunch and normally extends from around 11:30 a.m. to

1 p.m. However, if members of the family cannot return from

work or school for lunch, they may have a larger evening

meal together. In urban areas, dinner tends to be eaten quite

late, sometimes close to 10 p.m. or later.

Many people drink mate (hot herbal tea) first thing in the

morning and shortly before going to bed. People take breaks

for tereré (cold herbal tea) a few times a day, often at 9 a.m.,

11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. Many people add yuyos

(pronounced "jew-jos," plants meant to add health benefits

and flavor) to their mate or tereré.

Guests usually receive their plates of food fully served.

They may take additional portions from serving dishes on the

table. Not finishing one's food is considered an insult to the

cook. Hosts usually insist their guests take second helpings.

Proper etiquette is important in formal situations, including

not placing hands in the lap (they rest on the table edge) and

waiting for the hosts to begin eating. Few people, especially

in rural areas, drink during meals. Drinks are often offered or

served after the meal, along with coffee for the adults.

The asado (barbecue) is a popular family gathering

throughout the country. Beef is the main meat served at an

asado, as Paraguay is one of the region's primary producers

and exporters of cattle. Hosts take pride in having their own

styles of preparing beef for these occasions.

Street vendors sell food on urban streets; eating or

drinking in public is common. In restaurants, one rarely buys

a drink for oneself; one orders a large pitcher for all at the

table. Additional rounds are ordered by other diners. When

eating a snack or small meal around other people,

Paraguayans customarily offer to share their food. Declining

the offer is not considered impolite. In rural restaurants,

service is included in the bill and tips are not expected, as

they are in urban areas.

LIFESTYLE

Family

Structure

Paraguayan society centers on the extended family. Two to

three children is the norm. Single-parent families are

common, and children nearly always live with the mother,

who may have children with multiple fathers. In many cases,

a mother and her children will live with the mother's parents,

who help in providing child care as well as financial support.

Children born out of wedlock are generally well accepted in

the community. When women remarry, their children

typically call their stepfather Tio (Uncle). Many people move

to urban areas or foreign countries to work, often leaving their

children to be cared for by grandparents.

Parents and Children

Most children are well behaved and polite. It is common for

children to live with their parents until they marry. After

children marry, families sometimes build an extra room onto

the house for the new couple to live in, if not a small, separate

house on the property, called a casita (little house). Three or

four generations might live in one home or on one plot of land

in both urban and rural places. Adult children, especially

daughters, usually care for their aging parents.

Gender Roles

The father generally heads the family, and the mother usually

takes care of the household. However, many women work

outside the home in order to supplement the family income,

whether they live with their husbands or are single and live

with their parents. In all, some 58 percent of women are

formally employed. Other women engage in paid work inside

the home; for example, they might bake bread for a nearby

corner store or take in laundry to do. Most rural women, like

the men, are involved in agriculture.

Housing

Rural

Most rural families have electricity, satellite television,

modern cellular phones, and radios but may not have other

modern conveniences such as indoor plumbing. Water for

drinking and cooking may come from wells and is either hand

drawn or pumped by electric pumps into the kitchen. In the

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most remote and poor areas, including some indigenous

villages, local streams provide a family's water as well as a

place to do laundry and bathe. Rural families live in simple

wooden or brick homes with dirt or brick floors and straw or

tin roofs. People keep their doors and windows open

throughout the day to combat the heat and to welcome

visitors. Most families own a dog as protection for the home.

Urban

Most urban homes are made of concrete or brick and have

tiled floors and traditional red-tile roofs. Nearly all homes in

Asunción and other urban areas have running water and

electricity. Many urban Paraguayans also have internet

connections and cable or satellite television. Electric water

heaters are starting to gain popularity over showers that are

heated by manually turning on an electric unit located on the

showerhead. In urban shantytowns, shelters are made from

cardboard or tin, often with satellite television dishes attached

to their roofs.

Interiors and Exteriors

Traditional Catholic families may display small religious

statues, artwork, rosary beads, and candles in a corner of the

living room or bedroom. Patios and balconies are common

and are usually furnished and decorated with plants,

providing a comfortable place to relax outside. Women take

great pride in their patios and front yards because this is

where guests come to drink tereré (cold herbal tea) and

socialize. Most visits take place entirely in the front yard and

patio, which are nearly always equipped with a barbeque pit

or grill used for asados (barbecues).

Dating and Marriage

Most Paraguayan young women have an elaborate party,

called a fiesta de quince, at age 15 to celebrate becoming a

señorita, or young woman. Poorer families may pool their

resources through a community party that celebrates every

girl in the village who turned 15 that year. Dating may have

been done informally prior to the fiesta de quince, but after it,

formal dates are allowed.

In addition to school and church, young people get to

know one another at community fiestas, large family

gatherings, dances, and so forth. It is generally acknowledged

that before any serious dating takes place, a young man

should have permission from a young woman's parents to date

her.

Many years ago, it was traditional that as a couple started

to date, the young man could only see the young woman on

traditional visiting days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and

Sunday) in the family home, always with one parent close by.

Then later in the relationship, a relative of the young woman

might chaperone the couple. In urban areas today, these

customs have all but died out, but they may still be

encountered among very religious families or in more remote

rural areas.

Dating among teens tends to be casual and sometimes

includes getting together with a group of friends. Malls are

popular date sites in cities, while in both urban and rural areas

social clubs host dances and parties that are also popular. In

rural areas, many dates may occur at either the young man's

or woman's family home.

In more tradition-bound families, parents generally expect

to approve marriage partners. This is rarely the case today in

urban areas, however. For a marriage to be legal, the wedding

must be performed civilly. In addition, couples may have a

church wedding. Paraguayan church weddings are elaborate

and expensive affairs. Same-sex marriage is not legally

recognized in Paraguay.

Many couples enter into common-law relationships,

especially when they have had children together. Others have

children together but do not live together. Infidelity is

widespread and generally accepted, particularly for men.

Life Cycle

Birth

In rural areas, babies are born at local government-run health

clinics or at home with the help of a midwife. In cities, most

women give birth in hospitals, where they are also attended to

by midwives. Catholic babies are baptized soon after birth.

Some children are named after the saint on whose day they

were born. A child's first birthday is cause for a large

celebration.

Death

When a person dies, his or her body is kept in the family's

home until burial (typically the next day). Relatives, friends,

and neighbors come to the home to pay their final respects.

After funeral services are held, the funeral party joins in a

procession to the cemetery. Friends and relatives of Catholic

families are invited to pray the novena (nine days of

consecutive prayer) for the deceased. After the prayer, the

family of the deceased usually provides snacks, such as

candy, cookies, or chipa (hard cheese bread). The last day of

the novena is celebrated with a large lunch.

Paraguayan cemeteries typically have mausoleums instead

of underground graves. These mausoleums are typically built

to be large enough to hold entire families. Cemeteries are

located on the highest ground in the area so that the dead will

be closer to God.

Diet

Breakfast usually consists of cocido (a hot drink of mate,

cooked sugar, and milk) or coffee, in addition to bread with

margarine and fruit spread, rolls, and pastries. The most

important staple foods include mandioca (cassava), sopa

Paraguaya (cornbread baked with cheese, onions, and

sometimes meat), chipa (hard cheese bread), tortillas, and

empanadas (deep-fried meat or vegetable turnovers). Breads

and cakes may be baked in a traditional clay oven called a

tatakua.

Small rural gardens provide campesino (farmer) families

with tomatoes, onions, carrots, garlic, squash, watermelon,

cabbage, and other produce. Surrounding trees and bushes

provide fruit. Meat and poultry are commonly eaten. Beef is a

typical part of the adult diet. Paraguayans also eat chicken

and freshwater fish dishes. Pork and goat are less common.

Recreation

Sports

Soccer is the most popular sport in Paraguay—both to watch

and to play. Volleyball is also a common participation sport.

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Men often play sports in the evenings. Many enjoy tennis and

basketball. Golf is popular among the wealthy, with numerous

golf courses found in larger urban areas. Women generally

did not play sports in the past, but recently more have started

participating, with soccer and volleyball being the most

popular.

Leisure

Urban people might go to the theater, the movies, or to other

cultural events. Large shopping malls found in urban areas are

very popular, especially in the summertime, when the

air-conditioning offers a welcome relief from the heat. Most

households have televisions, and families enjoy watching

sports, the news, movies, and soap operas. Local radio

broadcasts are popular. Rural and urban people alike relax by

drinking tereré (cold herbal tea) and mate (hot herbal tea) and

visiting each other.

Outside spots such as small-town plazas or urban

neighborhood parks are popular gathering places for visiting

with friends, biking, or bringing children to enjoy

playgrounds. Most Paraguayan homes are also designed with

large outdoor patios called quinchos, which are used for

entertaining or simply relaxing with the family. People also

socialize with friends and family in the outdoor seating areas

most restaurants and cafés offer.

The Arts

Arts reflect the people's Spanish and Guaraní heritage.

Paraguay's famous ñandutí lace is known for its intricate and

delicate designs. Other popular crafts include wood and stone

carving, pottery, and embroidery. Several groups have been

formed to preserve Guaraní culture.

Popular music tends to have Western influences and

includes Latino polkas and ballads. The bottle dance is often

accompanied by Paraguayan polka music. Dancing is a

popular form of recreation and shows heavy influence from

Spain. Young people tend to enjoy music with a distinct beat

(techno, rap, etc.). The Paraguayan harp is a famous

instrument.

Holidays

Paraguayans celebrate New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany

(6 January), Carnaval (a week of parades and parties in

February), Heroes' Day (1 March), Semana Santa (Holy

Week before Easter), Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day

(14–15 May), Mother's Day (15 May), the Chaco Armistice

(12 June), Día de la Amistad (Friendship Day, 30 July),

Founding of Asunción City (15 August, celebrated with large

parades), Día de los Niños (Children's Day, 16 August),

Constitution Day (25 August), Victory of Boquerón (29

September), Columbus Day (12 October), All Saints' Day (1

November), Virgin of Caacupé (8 December), and Christmas.

Semana Santa is the most important holiday period and is a

week for family gatherings.

SOCIETY

Government

Paraguay is a presidential republic divided into 17

departamentos (departments) and the capital city. It is headed

by a president who is elected to one five-year term, without

the possibility of reelection. The president is head of state and

head of government. Legislators in the 45-seat Chamber of

Senators and 80-seat Chamber of Deputies are elected to

five-year terms as well. The voting age is 18; the law requires

that adults vote until age 75. Paraguay's principal political

parties are the Colorado Party and the Authentic Radical

Liberal Party. The presidential palace, the seat of government,

is located in Asunción, the largest city and capital.

Economy

Many Paraguayans work in the country's large informal

sector, which centers on the resale of consumer goods.

Paraguay's formal economy is based primarily on

agriculture, though the services sector is becoming

increasingly important in major cities. Most rural families

grow cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, or corn as their primary

cash crops. Soybeans are mainly grown on large-scale

corporate farms owned by foreigners or multinational

corporations and are a top agricultural export. Beef is another

important export; cattle are raised on expansive ranches

usually owned by foreigners.

Paraguay also earns significant income from the sale of

excess hydroelectric power generated from its two large

hydroelectric dams; the country sells most of the power it

generates, making it one of the largest electricity exporters in

the world.

The economy grew between 2003 and 2008 thanks to an

increased international demand for commodities but was hurt

by drought and the global recession in 2008. However, the

economy has recovered and grown strongly since 2014.

A small wealthy class has most of the nation's assets, and

most economic opportunities are available only to urban

residents. Almost a quarter of the population lives below the

poverty line, though there is a growing and vocal middle

class. Rural families commonly send one or more members to

other countries to work.

Political instability, foreign debt, and lack of infrastructure

inhibit economic progress. Other challenges include lack of a

trained workforce and relatively high unemployment.

Deforestation has effectively ruined the potential for a

sustainable timber industry, though there is some promise in

large-scale eucalyptus tree farming operations. Land

redistribution, economic diversification, and foreign

investment are needed to improve conditions.

In an effort to boost foreign investment and strengthen

regional economic activity, Paraguay helped found the

Mercosur trade bloc, which also includes as full members

Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, and Venezuela. Paraguay's

currency is the guaraní (PYG).

Transportation and Communications

Paraguay has a national highway system consisting of some

paved highways between all cities and most large towns.

Streets within urban areas are normally paved or made of

cobblestones. Most rural roads are unpaved and may become

impassable after a heavy rain.

Buses serve as the main form of public transportation

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throughout the country. Buses are often crowded, especially

during rush hours, and the vehicles tend to be run down and

rather unreliable. However, the government has increased

spending on public transit, and more modern and efficient

buses are starting to be phased into service.

Taxis are available throughout most of Paraguay. Many

people in both urban and rural areas own motorcycles, which

are affordable to purchase and operate. Cars, once owned

exclusively by wealthier urban residents, are becoming

increasingly common, and traffic in cities is a growing

problem.

Horse-drawn carts are common in the countryside (and

may still be seen occasionally in cities). Rural inhabitants also

ride horses or walk to where they need to go. Ox-drawn carts

are sometimes used to haul heavy items.

There are several Paraguayan television channels, which

transmit without charge throughout the country. Private

providers offer additional cable and satellite options, which

include foreign programming from places like the United

States and Europe. Both AM and FM radio stations broadcast

throughout the country.

Most people do not have landline telephones, as cellular

phones have all but replaced them. Mobile service is available

countrywide through multiple providers. Wireless internet

connections are available in all urban areas at stores,

restaurants, hotels, and malls; many rural businesses offer it

as well. Most people access the internet on personal electronic

devices. High-speed connections are also available in most

urban areas and are beginning to be available in smaller towns

and rural areas as well.

Education

Structure

Public education is mandatory from grades one through nine

and is provided free of charge, but students must buy

uniforms and supplies and attendance is not strictly enforced.

Primary school is six years, with an additional three years of

lower secondary school after that, followed by three years of

upper secondary. Schools are often crowded. To

accommodate all of their students, most schools offer two

schedules a day, with some students attending in the morning

and some in the afternoon.

School Life

By law, instruction is required to be exclusively in Spanish,

but since many rural children only speak Guaraní, sometimes

lessons are taught in that language, especially in lower grades.

Common subjects include reading and grammar in both

Spanish and Guaraní, science, social studies, math, and

health. Private schools and large urban schools often offer art

classes, computer training, and music lessons as well.

Most children (about 89 percent) complete primary school.

Enrollment drops slightly in secondary schools. Opportunities

for those who finish school are limited, and many either work

in the fields or migrate to other countries to find work. The

official literacy rate does not reflect reality in rural areas,

where the literacy rate is substantially lower.

Higher Education

There are some institutions of higher learning, but only a

small percentage of the population attends college.

Competition to get into the two national universities, which

provide free higher education, is intense, and few families can

afford the private universities that have opened in recent

years.

Health

The healthcare system includes both public and private

hospitals and clinics. In the public system, these include large

regional hospitals, specialty hospitals, and satellite clinics that

are located in most cities and towns. The smaller the town,

the smaller the clinic. Rural health clinics may be staffed only

a few days a week by a nurse, who refers cases to a larger

clinic or hospital as needed. To access government-provided

health care, one must pay up front or participate in the

low-cost public healthcare insurance program.

The private healthcare system consists of large corporate

providers and individual doctors who run their own practices

and clinics. In rural areas, private-practice doctors routinely

make house calls. The private healthcare system offers

first-class care but is often priced out of the reach of most

Paraguayans.

Rural people often use traditional herbs and cures to treat

minor ailments. These are normally provided by traditional

healers called curanderos, who take a holistic approach to

health. Even many rich Paraguayans rely heavily on these

healers and put great faith in their traditional approach.

While Paraguayans value cleanliness, unsanitary

conditions such as poor sewage systems contribute to poor

health. Malnutrition affects children. Severe dental problems

afflict a majority of the population. Other major issues

include cardiovascular disease, parasites, and pneumonia.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue have been a problem

in recent years; as a result, mosquito control is a major effort

throughout the country.

AT A GLANCE

Contact Information

Embassy of Paraguay, 2209 Massachusetts Avenue NW,

Washington, DC 20008; phone (202) 483-6960; web site

www.mre.gov.py/Sitios/Home/Index/embaparusa/ENG.

Country and Development Data

Capital Asunción

Population 6,943,739 (rank=102)

Area (sq. mi.) 157,048 (rank=59)

Area (sq. km.) 406,752

Human Development Index 110 of 188 countries

Gender Inequality Index 104 of 188 countries

GDP (PPP) per capita $9,800

Adult Literacy 95% (male); 93% (female)

Infant Mortality 19 per 1,000 births

Life Expectancy 75 (male); 80 (female)

Currency Guaraní

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http://www.mre.gov.py/Sitios/Home/Index/embaparusa/ENG
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Paraguay

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