Paraguay

República del Paraguay (Spanish)

Tetã Paraguái (Guaraní)

Political Status: Independent since 1811; under presidential rule established in 1844; present constitution promulgated on June 20, 1992.

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

Population: 6,749,234 (2012E—UN); 6,541,591 (2012E—U.S. Census).

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 5, 2012: 4,465.40 guaraníes = $1US).

President: Luis Federico FRANCO Gómez (Patriotic Alliance for Change/Authentic Radical Liberal Party); sworn in on June 22, 2012, succeeding Fernando Armindo LUGO Méndez (Patriotic Alliance for Change), who was impeached by the Senate.

Vice President: Oscar Amancio DENIS (Authentic Radical Liberal Party); sworn in on June 28, 2012, succeeding Luis Federico FRANCO Gómez (Patriotic Alliance for Change/Authentic Radical Liberal Party).