TOEFL Test Centers in Paraguay

EDU February 16, 2019

Paraguay Overview

Paraguay is a presidential republic in South America with the capital Asunción. It consists of a plain, two thirds of which is taken up by the dry and hot plains of the Gran Chaco. Paraguay has a subtropical climate with the hottest summers on the subcontinent (up to 45 ° C) and cool winters (down to −2 ° C). The population, which is very homogeneous in comparison to South America, consists of 95% people of old Spanish indigenous descent (outdated term mestizos, German: Mestizos) and 2% of indigenous people such as the Guaraní . Great social inequality and widespread corruption are hindering the country’s social and economic development. Poverty-related rural exodus leads to the concentration of two thirds of the population in the greater Asunción area. Bilingualism is considered a special cultural feature. The Guaraní, which is spoken by most of the non-indigenous population, is recognized as an official language alongside Spanish since 1,992th During the Spanish colonial rule, the history of Paraguay was largely determined by the missionary and settlement activities of the Jesuits. In 1811 the country became independent. From then on it suffered from devastating wars against neighboring countries (Chaco War 1932-35) and bloody dictatorships (General A. Stroessner 1954-89). The first free elections took place in 1991 and the democratization process is ongoing. The economic basis of Paraguay is the export-oriented agriculture and the export of electrical energy from the large hydropower plants on the Paraná. In foreign policy there are traditionally good relations with the USA, in foreign trade with Latin American countries in the Mercosur economic community.

Country facts

• Official name: Republic of Paraguay
• License plate: PY
• ISO-3166: PY, PRY (600)
• Internet domain:.py
• Currency: 1 guaraní (₲) = 100 céntimos
• Area: 406,752 km²
• Population (2018): 7 million
• Capital: Asunción
• Official language (s): Spanish, Guaraní
• Form of government: Presidential Republic
• Administrative division: 17 regions (departments) and capital district
• Head of State: President Mario Abdo Benítez (since August 15, 2018)
• Religion (s) (2002): 89.6% Catholics, 6.2% Protestants, 1.1% other Christians, 1.9% other / n / a, 1.1% non-denominational
• Time zone: Central European Time -5 hours
• National holiday: May 15th

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): South America
• Location (coordinates): between 19 ° 14 ‘and 27 ° 36’ south latitude and 54 ° 16 ‘and 62 ° 38’ west longitude
• Climate: In the north a humid tropical climate, otherwise a warm subtropical climate, in the Gran Chaco very dry
• Highest mountain: Cerro Peró (842 m)
• Road network (2017): 6 167 km (paved), 68 509 km (unpaved)
• Railway network (2014): 30 km

Population

• Annual population growth (2020): 1.16%
• Birth rate (2020): 16.6 per 1,000 residents.
• Death rate (2020): 4.9 per 1,000 residents.
• Average age (2020): 29.7 years
• Average life expectancy (2020): 77.9 years (men 75.2; women 80.7)
• Age structure (2020): 23.4% younger than 15 years, 7.9% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15 year olds and older) (2018): 94%
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2017): 110 per 100 residents
• Internet users (2017): 61 per 100 residents

Economy

• GDP per capita (2018): US $ 5,899
• Total GDP (2018): US $ 42 billion
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 5,670
• Education expenditure (2016): 4.5% of GDP
• Military expenditure (2018): 0.9% of GDP
• Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2017): 5.8%

Climate

A subtropical climate is predominant, with the northern parts of Paraguay already belonging to the humid tropics. The summers are hot, with maximum temperatures of up to 45 ° C, and the winters are cool (minimum temperatures of −2 ° C). The mean annual precipitation, which still reaches 2,000 mm in the northeast, decreases towards the west; at Asunción they are still 1,300 mm, in the north-west of the country only 500 mm.

Vegetation

In the better-watered eastern Paraguay, subtropical wet forests are widespread, in the northeast also wet savannas. Grasslands occupy the south of the eastern region. Quebracho forests grow in the eastern section of the Gran Chaco. Deciduous dry forests and grasslands follow to the west, while dry savannas predominate in the northwest.

Deforestation of the primeval forest for raw wood export, cattle breeding and the cultivation of soy for export and as fodder are increasingly leading to soil erosion and climate change. Reforestation projects have so far not been very successful.

National symbols

The national flag was officially introduced on November 27, 1842. Allegedly, the choice of color is based on admiration for the French Revolution. It is horizontally striped in the colors red, white and blue and bears the national coat of arms in the middle.

The center of the coat of arms (also valid since 1842) consists of the “Maistern”, a five-pointed, golden star (symbol of freedom). A wreath of olive and palm branches surrounds the star. The compilation is surrounded by the official country name in the upper half. A ring as a sign of inseparability closes off the coat of arms from the outside.

The national holiday is May 15th. It commemorates the gaining of independence in 1811.