n lost from 1958-1985); water pollution;
inadequate means for waste disposal present health risks for many
urban residents
natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to
June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed,
but not ratified - Nuclear Test Ban

Note: landlocked; buffer between Argentina and Brazil

@Paraguay:People

Population: 5,358,198 (July 1995 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (female 1,077,284; male 1,123,776)
15-64 years: 55% (female 1,465,147; male 1,468,642)
65 years and over: 4% (female 120,776; male 102,573) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.71% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 31.48 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 4.38 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 24.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 73.58 years
male: 72.06 years
female: 75.18 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.22 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic divisions: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indian) 95%, Caucasians
plus Amerindians 5%

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant
denominations

Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 90%
male: 92%
female: 88%

Labor force: 1.692 million (1993 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 45%

@Paraguay:Government

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Digraph: PA

Type: republic

Capital: Asuncion

Administrative divisions: 19 departments (departamentos, singular -
departamento); Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Boqueron,
Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Chaco, Concepcion, Cordillera,
Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Nueva Asuncion, Paraguari,
Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Days, 14-15 May (1811)

Constitution: promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system: based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes;
judicial review of legisl