Size: 157,000 square miles (about the size of California)
Major Cities: Asuncion (capital), Ciudad del Este, Concepcion, Encarnacion
Population: 6.3 million
Religions: Catholic 90%, Mennonite and Protestant 9%
Languages: Spanish and Guarani (an Indian language)
Average Age: 21.2 years old
Life Expectancy: 75 years old
Literacy: 94% can read and write
Unemployment: 15%
Industry: Cement, Textile, Steel, Electric Power
Agriculture: Cotton, Sugarcane, Soybeans, Corn, Wheat, Beef, Timber

In August of 1537, the Spanish explorer Juan Salazar built the fort that would later become the city Asuncion. It was founded as a result of a treasure hunt to find the gold of the “white king.” Though it did not have gold itself, Asuncion soon became a center of commerce in the region. Because of its lack of gold, the city was eventually neglected by the Europeans. This began to pave the way for the country to eventually become the one of the first independent nations in South America.

In 1808, Spain’s monarchy was overrun by Napoleon’s French Army. The lack of Spanish leadership in Spain soon spilled over into the New World. Paraguay declared its independence on May 14, 1811.

Paraguay’s national history began under the strong and popular leadership of Jose Gaspar Rodriguez de Francia. Francia was very idealistic and driven to leave Paraguay better off than when he came to power. He became the common man’s “Robin Hood.” Though he was very competent, diligent and honest (leaving several years worth of his salary unspent and in the treasury), his socialistic leanings drove him to seize the property of the elite for “the good of Paraguay.” This type of authoritarian rule would be typical for the centuries to follow.

In the late 1860’s, Paraguay found itself in the middle of a terrible war. Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina all declared war on their small neighbor. The War of the Triple Alliance cost Paraguay much of its land as well as the lives of over 198,000 men.

Recently, the country has been making vast improvements. Paraguay and Brazil finished the Itapu Dam in 1982. It is the largest hydro-electric dam in the world. Each of its eighteen turbines are capable of supplying electricity to a city of 300,000 people.

The centuries of dictatorial rule ended in 1989 with the successful coup of Alfredo Strossener. The 1992 constitution further solidified the democratic yearnings of the people giving every citizen over eighteen years old the privilege of voting. This new government established a stable constitutional-republic with three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.