República del Paraguay

Political Status: Independent since 1811; under presidential rule established in 1954; present constitution promulgated on June 22, 1992.

Area: 157,047 sq. mi. (406,752 sq. km.).

Population: 5,206,101 (2002C), excluding adjustment for underenumeration; 6,304,000 (2006E).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): ASUNCIÓN (517,000), Ciudad del Este (247,000), San Lorenzo (230,000).

Official Languages: Spanish, Guaraní.

Monetary Unit: Guaraní (market rate November 2, 2007: 4,795 guaraníes = $1US).

President: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (Colorado Party); elected on April 27, 2003, and sworn in on August 15 for a five-year term, succeeding Luis GONZÁLEZ Macchi (Colorado Party).

Vice President: Vacant; awaiting successor following the resignation of Luis Alberto CASTIGLIONI Soria (Colorado Party); elected on April 27, 2003, and sworn in on August 15 for a term concurrent with that of the president.