Paraguay is South America's 'empty quarter,' a country little known even to its neighbors. For much of its history it has distanced itself from the Latin American mainstream, and for a substantial period of this century was South America's most notorious and durable police state. PJ O'Rourke summed it up bluntly when he wrote 'Paraguay is nowhere and famous for nothing,' and then, on a short visit to cover elections, promptly fell in love with the place. You might do the same since Paraguay has taken steps to overcome its political, economic and geographic isolation and now welcomes visitors. The country has a relaxed riverside capital, impressive Jesuit missions, several national parks and the vast, arid Chaco - one of South America's great wilderness areas.

Full country name: Républica del Paraguay
Area: 407,000 sq km (158,730 sq mi)
Population: 5,585,828
Capital city: Asunción (pop 550,060)
People: 95% Mestizo
Language: Officially Spanish, but Guaraní is widely spoken
Religion: 97% Roman Catholic, 3% Mennonite and other Protestants
Government: Republic
President: Nicanor Duarte Frutos

GDP: US$19.8 billion
GDP per head: US$3,700
Annual growth: -0.5%
Inflation:14.6%
Major industries: Soybeans, cotton, timber, oilseed crushing, milling, brewing, textiles, hides & skins, meatpacking, sugarcane (and contraband)
Major trading partners: Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina, USA

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