PARAGUAY

- Independence date: May 15, 1811

- Country name: Republic of Paraguay

- Capital: Asunción

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTS AND SOCIAL INDICATORS

Area: 406.750 km 2

Geographical Location: Located in the South American continent, it's bordered by Bolivia to the North and Northeast; by Brazil to the East, and by Argentina to the South and West.

Climate: The climate in Paraguay can be distinguished in two seasons: a warm, rainy season with an average temperature of 31º C to 38º C, and predominant winds from the Northwest that bring a lot of rain to the country; and a cold, dry season, with little rain, predominant winds from the South, and an average temperature that ranges from 0º C to 14.5º C.

Organization of its territory: The Paraguay River divides this territory in two great natural regions: The Oriental Region and the Occidental Region. Politically, the Paraguayan State is divided into a Capital District (the city of Asuncion) and seventeen departments.

Natural Resources: The country offers mainly water, hydro-electrical, and forest resources, as well as, great agriculture and livestock raising opportunities. It also has reserves of natural gas and non-ferrous minerals.

Population Density: 14 hab/km 2

Languages that are spoken in the country: Spanish is the country's official language; the guarani, a language considered national patrimony, is also wildly spoken.

Currency: Guarani (G)

Population: 5.534.378 inhabitants

Urban Population: 56.1 %

Rural Population: 43.1 %

Population Growth: 2.3 %