PYG

$NA

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$233.8 million (2005)

Currency (code):

guarani (PYG)

Currency code:

Exchange rates:

guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 5,031 (2007), 5,672.8 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003)

Communications
Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

453,800 (2007)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.33 million (2007)

Telephone system:

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is in Asuncion domestic: the fixed-line market is a state monopoly; deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in a rapid expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006)

Radios:

925,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2007)

Televisions:

990,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.py

Internet hosts:

19,691 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:

280,000 (2007)

Transportation
Paraguay

Airports:

838 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 825 1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 267 under 914 m: 532 (2007)

Railways:

total: 36 km standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2006)

Roadways:

total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (2000)

Waterways:

3,100 km (2007)

Merchant marine:

total: 23 by type: cargo 18, carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Argentina 5, Netherlands 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals:

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Military
Paraguay

Military branches:

Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,
Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Paraguay, FAP) (2008)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,589,873 females age 16-49: 1,585,573 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,327,730 females age 16-49: 1,356,989 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 72,109 female: 70,509 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures:

1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues
Paraguay

Disputes - international:

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs:

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, and Europe; weak border controls, extensive corruption and money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008

@Peru

Introduction
Peru

Background:

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime, which led to his ouster in 2000. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government - Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Geography
Peru

Location:

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between
Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates: