Facts

Paraguay
  • Capital: Asunción
  • Population: 6,459,058 (July 2011 estimate)
  • Area: 406,752 sq. km (about the size of California)
  • Largest City: Asunción at 1.977 million (2009)
  • Population Density: 14.2/sq. km (39/sq. mile)
  • Climate: Subtropical to temperate
  • Life expectancy: 76.19 years
  • Median age: 25.4 years
  • Percentage of the population over 65: 6.1 (13.1% of the US population is over 65)
  • GDP (per capita in 2010 USD): $5,200 (2010 est.), $4,600 (2009 est.), $4,800 (2008 est.)
  • Telephones (land line): 387,300 (2009)
  • Telephones (cellular): 5.619 million (2009)
    • This figure is deceiving in that many Paraguayans have more than one cellular phone.  Calling plans are structured to encourage customers to have phones with each of the three major companies providing service.  Customers have multiple phone numbers and use each plan to call others only within the same network.
  • Internet users: 1.105 million (2009)
  • Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
  • February 3, 1989: Paraguay becomes a democracy after the Dictator Stroessner is removed, ending his 35 year reign
  • National Symbol: Lion
  • Paraguay, along with Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, sits over the Guaraní Aquifer.  Covering 1,200,000 sq. km, it’s one of the world’s largest.
  • Paraguay is the only country in South America with two official languages: Spanish and Guaraní.
  • Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, and Moldova are in only countries in the world where the two sides of the flag differ.
  • Paraguay and Bolivia are the only landlocked countries in South America.


The Peace Corps
  • 2:00 a.m. on October 14, 1960: Then-Sen. John F. Kennedy proposes the Peace Corps in an impromptu campaign speech addressing 5,000 University of Michigan students
  • Peace Corps Officially Established: March 1, 1961 (by Executive Order)
  • First Director: R. Sargent Shriver (Appointed by President Kennedy)
  • Total Number of Volunteers and Trainees to date: 200,000+
  • Total Number of Countries Served: 139
  • Current Number of Volunteers and Trainees: 9,095
  • Current Number of Countries served: 76 countries
  • Percentage of Married Volunteers: 7
  • Average Volunteer Age: 28
  • Percentage of Volunteers Serving in Latin America: 24
  • Peace Corps Paraguay Established: 1966
  • Total Number of Peace Corps Paraguay Volunteers: Over 3,581
  • Current Number of Peace Corps Paraguay Volunteers: 257
  • Peace Corps Paraguay volunteers work in agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth development.

The Peace Corps Mission:
  1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.



Sources: PeaceCorps.gov and The World Factbook