Topic: Introduction
Background: Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration. The population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable.Fiji became independent in 1970 after nearly a century as a British colony. Coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian control of Fiji led to heavy Indian emigration. The population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more equitable.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 18,274 sq km

land: 18,274 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Climate: tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation
Natural resources: timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Topic: People and Society
Population: 943,737 (2022 est.)
Ethnic groups: iTaukei 56.8% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indo-Fijian 37.5%, Rotuman 1.2%, other 4.5% (European, part European, other Pacific Islanders, Chinese) (2007 est.)
Languages: English (official), iTaukei (official), Fiji Hindi (official)
Religions: Protestant 45% (Methodist 34.6%, Assembly of God 5.7%, Seventh Day Adventist 3.9%, and Anglican 0.8%), Hindu 27.9%, other Christian 10.4%, Roman Catholic 9.1%, Muslim 6.3%, Sikh 0.3%, other 0.3%, none 0.8% (2007 est.)
Population growth rate: 0.44% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
Executive branch: chief of state: President Ratu Wiliame KATONIVERE (since 12 November 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Voreqe "Frank" BAINIMARAMA (since 22 September 2014)
Legislative branch: description: unicameral Parliament (51 seats; members directly elected in a nationwide, multi-seat constituency by open-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: tourism-based Pacific island economy, susceptible to sea-level rises; new energy infrastructure investments; major foreign direct investment; COVID-19 crippled tourism sector; privatizing state-owned enterprises; military coups have destabilized labor forcetourism-based Pacific island economy, susceptible to sea-level rises; new energy infrastructure investments; major foreign direct investment; COVID-19 crippled tourism sector; privatizing state-owned enterprises; military coups have destabilized labor force
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.86 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $11,000 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: sugar cane, cassava, taro, poultry, vegetables, coconuts, eggs, milk, ginger, sweet potatoes
Industries: tourism, sugar processing, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber
Exports: $1.23 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: United States 29%, Australia 14%, New Zealand 7%, Japan 6%, Tonga 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities: water, refined petroleum, fish, raw sugar, gold (2019)
Imports: $1.97 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: Singapore 18%, Australia 13%, China 13.8%, New Zealand 11%, France 11%, South Korea 8% (2017)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, aircraft, cars, wheat, broadcasting equipment (2019)
Exchange rates: Fijian dollars (FJD) per US dollar -Page last updated: Wednesday, May 11, 2022


Topic: Photos of Anguilla

Topic: Introduction
Background: Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency. On 7 September 2017, the island suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Irma, particularly to communications and residential and business infrastructure.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Geographic coordinates: 18 15 N, 63 10 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area: total: 91 sq km

land: 91 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: about one-half the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: total: 0 km
Coastline: 61 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone
Elevation: highest point: Crocus Hill 73 m

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
Natural resources: salt, fish, lobster
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 61.1% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (2012)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast
Natural hazards: frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)
Geography - note: the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles
Map description: Anguilla map showing the major island of Anguilla and its nearby small islands that comprise this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.Anguilla map showing the major island of Anguilla and its nearby small islands that comprise this UK territory in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 18,741 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Anguillan(s)

adjective: Anguillan
Ethnic groups: African/Black 85.3%, Hispanic 4.9%, mixed 3.8%, White 3.2%, East Indian/Indian 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified 0.3% (2011 est.)

note: data represent population by ethnic origin
Languages: English (official)
Religions: Protestant 73.2% (includes Anglican 22.7%, Methodist 19.4%, Pentecostal 10.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.3%, Baptist 7.1%, Church of God 4.9%, Presbyterian 0.2%, Brethren 0.1%), Roman Catholic 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 10.9%, other 3.2%, unspecified 0.3%, none 4.5% (2011 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 21.63% (male 1,991/female 1,922)

15-24 years: 13.9% (male 1,269/female 1,246)

25-54 years: 42.27% (male 3,428/female 4,218)

55-64 years: 12.42% (male 993/female 1,254)

65 years and over: 9.78% (2020 est.) (male 874/female 895)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: NA

youth dependency ratio: NA

elderly dependency ratio: NA

potential support ratio: NA
Median age: total: 35.7 years

male: 33.7 years

female: 37.6 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.8% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 12.01 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.64 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: 10.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population is concentrated in The Valley in the center of the island; settlmement is fairly uniform in the southwest, but rather sparce in the northeast
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 1,000 THE VALLEY (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.77 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 3.07 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 82.2 years

male: 79.59 years

female: 84.89 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.72 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 97.5% of population

total: 97.5% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.5% of population

total: 2.5% of population (2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: NA
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.1% of population

total: 99.1% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.9% of population

total: 0.9% of population (2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA
Education expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2018)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Climate: tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds
Land use: agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest: 61.1% (2018 est.)

other: 38.9% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 100% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 0.47% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Anguilla

etymology: the name Anguilla means "eel" in various Romance languages (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French) and likely derives from the island's lengthy shape
Government type: parliamentary democracy (House of Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status: overseas territory of the UK
Capital: name: The Valley

geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 03 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: name derives from the capital's location between several hills
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday: Anguilla Day, 30 May (1967)
Constitution: history: several previous; latest 1 April 1982

amendments: amended 1990, 2012, 2017, 2019
Legal system: common law based on the English model
Citizenship: see United Kingdom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Dileeni DANIEL-SELVARATNAM
(since 18 January 2021)

head of government: Premier Dr. Ellis WEBSTER (since 30 June 2020); note -  starting in 2019, the title of head of government was changed to premier from chief minister of Anguilla

cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among elected members of the House of Assembly

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed premier by the governor
Legislative branch: description: unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats; 7 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 2 appointed by the governor, and 2 ex officio members - the attorney general and deputy governor; members serve five-year terms)

elections: last held on 29 June 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APM 7, AUF 4; composition - men 8, women 3, percent of women 27.3%
Judicial branch: highest courts: the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the superior court of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States; the ECSC - headquartered on St. Lucia - consists of the Court of Appeal - headed by the chief justice and 4 judges - and the High Court with 18 judges; the Court of Appeal is itinerant, travelling to member states on a schedule to hear appeals from the High Court and subordinate courts; High Court judges reside in the member states, though none on Anguilla

judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62

subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court
Political parties and leaders: Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP
Anguilla National Alliance or ANA
Anguilla Progressive Movement or APM [Dr. Ellis WEBSTER]; prior to 2019, it was known as the Anguilla United Movement or AUM
Anguilla United Front or AUF [Victor BANKS] (alliance includes ADP, ANA)
Democracy, Opportunity, Vision, and Empowerment Party or DOVE [Sutcliffe HODGE]
International organization participation: Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK); alternate contact is the US Embassy in Barbados [1] (246) 227-4000
Flag description: blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with a turquoise-blue field below; the white in the background represents peace; the blue base symbolizes the surrounding sea, as well as faith, youth, and hope; the three dolphins stand for endurance, unity, and strength
National symbol(s): dolphin
National anthem: name: "God Bless Anguilla"

lyrics/music: Alex RICHARDSON

note: local anthem adopted 1981; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Anguilla has few natural resources, is unsuited for agriculture, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry has spurred the growth of the construction sector contributing to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the recovery of the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $175.4 million (2009 est.)

$191.7 million (2008 est.)

$108.9 million (2004 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: -8.5% (2009 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,200 (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $175.4 million (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (2017 est.)

-0.6% (2016 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3% (2017 est.)

industry: 10.5% (2017 est.)

services: 86.4% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 74.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 26.8% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 48.2% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -67.4% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising
Industries: tourism, boat building, offshore financial services
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 6,049 (2001)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 74.1%

industry: 3%

services: 18%

agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining: 4% (2000 est.)

manufacturing: 3% (2000 est.)

construction: 18% (2000 est.)

transportation and utilities: 10% (2000 est.)

commerce: 36% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: 8% (2002)
Population below poverty line: 23% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA

highest 10%: NA
Budget: revenues: 81.92 million (2017 est.)

expenditures: 80.32 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): 0.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 20.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 46.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Current account balance: -$23.2 million (2017 est.)

-$25.3 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $7.9 million (2017 est.)

$3.9 million (2016 est.)
Exports - commodities: lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum
Imports: $186.2 million (2017 est.)

$170.1 million (2016 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $76.38 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$48.14 million (31 December 2015 est.)
Debt - external: $41.04 million (31 December 2013)

$8.8 million (1998)
Exchange rates: East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -

2.7 (2017 est.)

2.7 (2016 est.)

2.7 (2015 est.)

2.7 (2014 est.)

2.7 (2013 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 6,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 42 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 26,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 182 (2018 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: the telecom sector has seen a decline in subscriber numbers (particularly for prepaid mobile services the mainstay of short term visitors) and revenue; fixed and mobile broadband services are two areas that have benefited from the crisis as employees and students have resorted to working from home; one major casualty may be the region’s second largest telco operator, Digicel; the company filed for bankruptcy in the US in April 2020; it continues to operate in all of its Caribbean markets as it seeks to refinance billions of dollars of debt; the other major telco, regional incumbent Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC), is experiencing similar drops in subscriber numbers and revenue; CWC is expanding and enhancing its fixed and mobile networks in many of the countries it serves around the Caribbean, despite many locations being small islands with very small populations; one area of the telecom market that is not prepared for growth is 5G mobile; governments, regulators, and even the mobile network operators have shown that they have not been investing in 5G opportunities at the present time; network expansion and enhancements remain concentrated around improving LTE coverage. (2021)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 42 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 182 per 100 persons (2018)

international: country code - 1-264; landing points for the SSCS, ECFS, GCN and Southern Caribbean Fiber with submarine cable links to Caribbean islands and to the US; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments but the contribution to the sector has been insufficient to offset steep falls in other areas of the market
Broadcast media: 1 private TV station; multi-channel cable TV subscription services are available; about 10 radio stations, one of which is government-owned
Internet country code: .ai
Internet users: total: 12,489 (2019 est.)

percent of population: 82% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 5,000 (2018 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2018 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 4
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-A
Airports: total: 1 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2021)
Roadways: total: 175 km (2004)

paved: 82 km (2004)

unpaved: 93 km (2004)
Merchant marine: total: 2

by type: other 2 (2021)
Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Blowing Point, Road Bay

Topic: Military and Security
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none identifiednone identified
Illicit drugs: transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europetransshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe


This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:

territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the mean low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its territorial sea beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the territorial seas of both states are measured; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.

contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g., the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea); where the coasts of two states are opposite or adjacent to each other, neither state is entitled to extend its contiguous zone beyond the median line, every point of which is equidistant from the nearest points on the baseline from which the contiguous zone of both states are measured.

exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2,500-meter isobath, which is a line connecting points of 2,500 meters in depth; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.

exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g., the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.

Topic: Afghanistannone (landlocked)

Topic: Albaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Algeriaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

Topic: American Samoaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Andorranone (landlocked)

Topic: Angolaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Anguillaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: AntarcticaAustralia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 22 of 29 Antarctic Treaty consultative parties have made no claims to Antarctic territory, although Russia and the United States have reserved the right to do so, and no country can make a new claim; also see the Disputes - international entry

Topic: Antigua and Barbudaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Argentinaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Armenianone (landlocked)

Topic: Arubaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Ashmore and Cartier Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Australiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Austrianone (landlocked)

Topic: Azerbaijannone (landlocked)

Topic: Bahamas, Theterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Bahrainterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Topic: Bangladeshterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: to the outer limits of the continental margin

Topic: Barbadosterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Belarusnone (landlocked)

Topic: Belgiumterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit

continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Topic: Belizeterritorial sea: 12 nm in the north, 3 nm in the south; note - from the mouth of the Sarstoon River to Ranguana Cay, Belize's territorial sea is 3 nm; according to Belize's Maritime Areas Act, 1992, the purpose of this limitation is to provide a framework for negotiating a definitive agreement on territorial differences with Guatemala

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Beninterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

continental shelf: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Bermudaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Bhutannone (landlocked)

Topic: Bolivianone (landlocked)

Topic: Bosnia and HerzegovinaNA

Topic: Botswananone (landlocked)

Topic: Bouvet Islandterritorial sea: 4 nm

Topic: Brazilterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Topic: British Indian Ocean Territoryterritorial sea: 12 nm

Environment (Protection and Preservation) Zone: 200 nm

Topic: British Virgin Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Bruneiterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

Topic: Bulgariaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Burkina Fasonone (landlocked)

Topic: Burmaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Burundinone (landlocked)

Topic: Cabo Verdeterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Cambodiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Cameroonterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

Topic: Canadaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Cayman Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Central African Republicnone (landlocked)

Topic: Chadnone (landlocked)

Topic: Chileterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200/350 nm

Topic: Chinaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Christmas Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Clipperton Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Cocos (Keeling) Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Colombiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Comorosterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Congo, Democratic Republic of theterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: since 2011, the DRC has had a Common Interest Zone agreement with Angola for the mutual development of off-shore resources

Topic: Congo, Republic of theterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Cook Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Coral Sea Islandsterritorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Costa Ricaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Cote d'Ivoireterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Croatiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Cubaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Curacaoterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Cyprusterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Czechianone (landlocked)

Topic: Denmarkterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Djiboutiterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Dominicaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Dominican Republicterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Ecuadorterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

note: Ecuador has declared its right to extend its continental shelf to 350 nm measured from the baselines of the Galapagos Archipelago

Topic: Egyptterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or the equidistant median line with Cyprus

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: El Salvadorterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Equatorial Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Eritreaterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Estoniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

Topic: Eswatininone (landlocked)

Topic: Ethiopianone (landlocked)

Topic: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Faroe Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Topic: Fijiterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Finlandterritorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden, Estonia, and Russia

Topic: Franceterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean Sea)

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: French Polynesiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: French Southern and Antarctic Landsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen and Iles Eparses (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands); Juan de Nova Island and Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Gabonterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Gambia, Theterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: extent not specified

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Gaza Stripsee entry for Israel note: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further noticenote: effective 3 January 2009, the Gaza maritime area is closed to all maritime traffic and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until further notice

Topic: Georgiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Germanyterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Ghanaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Gibraltarterritorial sea: 3 nm

Topic: Greeceterritorial sea: 6 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Greenlandterritorial sea: 3 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Topic: Grenadaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Guamterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Guatemalaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Guernseyterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Topic: Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Guinea-Bissauterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Guyanaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Topic: Haititerritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Topic: Heard Island and McDonald Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Holy See (Vatican City)none (landlocked)

Topic: Hondurasterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

Topic: Hong Kongterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Hungarynone (landlocked)

Topic: Icelandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Indiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Indonesiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Iranterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf

continental shelf: natural prolongation

Topic: Iraqterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: not specified

Topic: Irelandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Isle of Manterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Topic: Israelterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Topic: Italyterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Jamaicaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Jan Mayenterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Japanterritorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the international straits - La Perouse or Soya, Tsugaru, Osumi, and the Korea and Tsushima Straits

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Jerseyterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Topic: Jordanterritorial sea: 3 nm

Topic: Kazakhstannone (landlocked)

Topic: Kenyaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Kiribatiterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Korea, Northterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

note: military boundary line 50 nm in the Sea of Japan and the exclusive economic zone limit in the Yellow Sea where all foreign vessels and aircraft without permission are banned

Topic: Korea, Southterritorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: not specified

Topic: Kosovonone (landlocked)

Topic: Kuwaitterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Kyrgyzstannone (landlocked)

Topic: Laosnone (landlocked)

Topic: Latviaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: limits as agreed to by Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Russia

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Lebanonterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Lesothonone (landlocked)

Topic: Liberiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Libyaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

Topic: Liechtensteinnone (landlocked)

Topic: Lithuaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Luxembourgnone (landlocked)

Topic: Macaunot specified

Topic: Madagascarterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath

Topic: Malawinone (landlocked)

Topic: Malaysiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

Topic: Maldivesterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Malinone (landlocked)

Topic: Maltaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Topic: Marshall Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Mauritaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Mauritiusterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines

Topic: Mexicoterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Micronesia, Federated States ofterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Moldovanone (landlocked)

Topic: Monacoterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Topic: Mongolianone (landlocked)

Topic: Montenegroterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: defined by treaty

Topic: Montserratterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Moroccoterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Mozambiqueterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Namibiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Nauruterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Navassa Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Nepalnone (landlocked)

Topic: Netherlandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: New Caledoniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: New Zealandterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Nicaraguaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: natural prolongation

Topic: Nigernone (landlocked)

Topic: Nigeriaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Niueterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Norfolk Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: North Macedonianone (landlocked)

Topic: Northern Mariana Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Norwayterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 10 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Omanterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Pakistanterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Palauterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Panamaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

Topic: Papua New Guineaterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Paracel IslandsNA

Topic: Paraguaynone (landlocked)

Topic: Peruterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Philippinesterritorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea as wide as 285 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Pitcairn Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Polandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Topic: Portugalterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Puerto Ricoterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Qatarterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Topic: Romaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Russiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Rwandanone (landlocked)

Topic: Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunhaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Saint Kitts and Nevisterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Saint Luciaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Saint Pierre and Miquelonterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Saint Vincent and the Grenadinesterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Samoaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: San Marinonone (landlocked)

Topic: Sao Tome and Principeterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Saudi Arabiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: not specified

Topic: Senegalterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Serbianone (landlocked)

Topic: Seychellesterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Sierra Leoneterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

Topic: Singaporeterritorial sea: 3 nm

exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Topic: Sint Maartenterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Slovakianone (landlocked)

Topic: Sloveniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

Topic: Solomon Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Somaliaterritorial sea: 200 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: South Africaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Topic: South Georgia and South Sandwich Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: South Sudannone (landlocked)

Topic: Spainterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

Topic: Spratly IslandsNA

Topic: Sri Lankaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Sudanterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 18 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Surinameterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Svalbardterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

continental shelf: extends to depth of exploitation

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Swedenterritorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)

exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Switzerlandnone (landlocked)

Topic: Syriaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

Topic: Taiwanterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Tajikistannone (landlocked)

Topic: Tanzaniaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Thailandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Timor-Lesteterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Togoterritorial sea: 30 nm; note: the US does not recognize this claim

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Tokelauterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Tongaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Trinidad and Tobagoterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Tunisiaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 12 nm

Topic: Turkeyterritorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea

exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR

12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea

Topic: Turkmenistannone (landlocked)

Topic: Turks and Caicos Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: Tuvaluterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Ugandanone (landlocked)

Topic: Ukraineterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: United Arab Emiratesterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: United Kingdomterritorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Topic: United Statesterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: not specified

Topic: United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refugesterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Uruguayterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or the edge of continental margin

Topic: Uzbekistannone (doubly landlocked)

Topic: Vanuatuterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines

Topic: Venezuelaterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 15 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Topic: Vietnamterritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Virgin Islandsterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Wake Islandterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: Wallis and Futunaterritorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Topic: West Banknone (landlocked)

Topic: Worlda variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nma variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm, contiguous zone - 24 nm, and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm

Topic: Yementerritorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 24 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Topic: Zambianone (landlocked)

Topic: Zimbabwenone (landlocked)


Topic: Photos of Paraguay

Topic: Introduction
Background: Several Indigenous groups, principally belonging to the Guarani language family, inhabited the area of modern Paraguay before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century, when the territory was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811 with the help of neighboring states. In the aftermath of independence, a series of military dictators ruled the country until 1870. During the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1864-70) – fought against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century and experienced a tumultuous series of political regimes. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.

Topic: Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
Map references: South America
Area: total: 406,752 sq km

land: 397,302 sq km

water: 9,450 sq km
Area - comparative: about three times the size of New York state; slightly smaller than California
Land boundaries: total: 4,655 km

border countries (3): Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Terrain: grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere
Elevation: highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m

mean elevation: 178 m
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Land use: agricultural land: 53.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)

other: 2.4% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land: 1,362 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio de la Plata/Parana (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Paraguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Population distribution: most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Geography - note: note 1: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

note 2: pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region
Map description: Paraguay map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.Paraguay map showing major population centers as well as parts of surrounding countries.

Topic: People and Society
Population: 7,356,409 (2022 est.)
Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s)

adjective: Paraguayan
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry) 95%, other 5%
Languages: Spanish (official) and Guarani (official) 46.3%, only Guarani 34%, only Spanish 15.2%, other (includes Portuguese, German, other Indigenous languages) 4.1%, no response 0.4%; note - data represent predominant household language (2012 est.)

major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 est.)
Demographic profile: Paraguay falls below the Latin American average in several socioeconomic categories, including immunization rates, potable water, sanitation, and secondary school enrollment, and has greater rates of income inequality and child and maternal mortality. Paraguay's poverty rate has declined in recent years but remains high, especially in rural areas, with more than a third of the population below the poverty line. However, the well-being of the poor in many regions has improved in terms of housing quality and access to clean water, telephone service, and electricity. The fertility rate continues to drop, declining sharply from an average 4.3 births per woman in the late 1990s to about 2 in 2013, as a result of the greater educational attainment of women, increased use of contraception, and a desire for smaller families among young women.Paraguay is a country of emigration; it has not attracted large numbers of immigrants because of political instability, civil wars, years of dictatorship, and the greater appeal of neighboring countries. Paraguay first tried to encourage immigration in 1870 in order to rebound from the heavy death toll it suffered during the War of the Triple Alliance, but it received few European and Middle Eastern immigrants. In the 20th century, limited numbers of immigrants arrived from Lebanon, Japan, South Korea, and China, as well as Mennonites from Canada, Russia, and Mexico. Large flows of Brazilian immigrants have been arriving since the 1960s, mainly to work in agriculture. Paraguayans continue to emigrate to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, the United States, Italy, Spain, and France.Paraguay falls below the Latin American average in several socioeconomic categories, including immunization rates, potable water, sanitation, and secondary school enrollment, and has greater rates of income inequality and child and maternal mortality. Paraguay's poverty rate has declined in recent years but remains high, especially in rural areas, with more than a third of the population below the poverty line. However, the well-being of the poor in many regions has improved in terms of housing quality and access to clean water, telephone service, and electricity. The fertility rate continues to drop, declining sharply from an average 4.3 births per woman in the late 1990s to about 2 in 2013, as a result of the greater educational attainment of women, increased use of contraception, and a desire for smaller families among young women.Paraguay is a country of emigration; it has not attracted large numbers of immigrants because of political instability, civil wars, years of dictatorship, and the greater appeal of neighboring countries. Paraguay first tried to encourage immigration in 1870 in order to rebound from the heavy death toll it suffered during the War of the Triple Alliance, but it received few European and Middle Eastern immigrants. In the 20th century, limited numbers of immigrants arrived from Lebanon, Japan, South Korea, and China, as well as Mennonites from Canada, Russia, and Mexico. Large flows of Brazilian immigrants have been arriving since the 1960s, mainly to work in agriculture. Paraguayans continue to emigrate to Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, the United States, Italy, Spain, and France.
Age structure: 0-14 years: 23.41% (male 857,303/female 826,470)

15-24 years: 17.71% (male 640,400/female 633,525)

25-54 years: 42.63% (male 1,532,692/female 1,532,851)

55-64 years: 8.37% (male 306,100/female 295,890)

65 years and over: 7.88% (2020 est.) (male 267,351/female 299,103)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 55.5

youth dependency ratio: 49.9

elderly dependency ratio: 10.6

potential support ratio: 9.4 (2020 est.)
Median age: total: 29.7 years

male: 29.5 years

female: 29.9 years (2020 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.14% (2022 est.)
Birth rate: 16.32 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate: 4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Population distribution: most of the population resides in the eastern half of the country; to the west lies the Gran Chaco (a semi-arid lowland plain), which accounts for 60% of the land territory, but only 2% of the overall population
Urbanization: urban population: 62.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 3.452 million ASUNCION (capital) (2022)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female

total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.9 years (2008 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 23.21 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 18.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.37 years

male: 75.72 years

female: 81.15 years (2022 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.89 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 68.4% (2016)
Drinking water source: improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)
Current Health Expenditure: 7.2% (2019)
Physicians density: 1.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Sanitation facility access: improved: urban: 99.6% of population

rural: 90.6% of population

total: 96.2% of population

unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population

rural: 9.4% of population

total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.3% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 19,000 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: (2020 est.) <500
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 20.3% (2016)
Tobacco use: total: 11.5% (2020 est.)

male: 18.6% (2020 est.)

female: 4.4% (2020 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.3% (2016)
Child marriage: women married by age 15: 3.6%

women married by age 18: 21.6% (2016 est.)
Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2019)
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.5%

male: 94.9%

female: 94.2% (2020)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.1%

male: 13.1%

female: 23.3% (2020 est.)

Topic: Environment
Environment - current issues: deforestation; water pollution; rivers suffer from toxic dumping; tanneries release mercury and chromium into rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents
Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006
Air pollutants: particulate matter emissions: 11.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 7.41 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 27.65 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Land use: agricultural land: 53.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)

other: 2.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 62.8% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Revenue from forest resources: forest revenues: 1.21% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from coal: coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: dengue fever
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,818,501 tons (2015 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km): Rio de la Plata/Parana (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 km; Paraguay river mouth (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 362 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial: 154 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

agricultural: 1.897 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 387.77 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Topic: Government
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay

conventional short form: Paraguay

local long form: Republica del Paraguay

local short form: Paraguay

etymology: the precise meaning of the name Paraguay is unclear, but it seems to derive from the river of the same name; one explanation has the name meaning "water of the Payagua" (an indigenous tribe that lived along the river)
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Asuncion

geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March

etymology: the name means "assumption" and derives from the original name given to the city at its founding in 1537, Nuestra Senora Santa Maria de la Asuncion (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption)
Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro
Independence: 14-15 May 1811 (from Spain); note - the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811 and both days are celebrated in Paraguay
National holiday: Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992

amendments: proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum; amended 2011
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 3 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
Executive branch: chief of state: President Mario ABDO BENITEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELAZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Mario ABDO BENITEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELAZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 22 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2023)

election results:
2018: Mario ABDO BENITEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENITEZ (ANR) 49%, Efrain ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, Juan Bautista YBANEZ 3.4%, other 2.5%

2013: Horacio CARTES elected president; percent of vote - Horacio CARTES (ANR) 48.5%, Efrain ALEGRE (PLRA) 39%, Mario FERREIRO (AP) 6.2%, Anibal CARRILLO (FG) 3.5%, other 2.8%
Legislative branch: description: bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of:
Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members directly elected in 18 multi-seat constituencies - corresponding to the country's 17 departments and capital city - by closed-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections:
Chamber of Senators - last held on 22 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2023)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 22 April 2018 (next to be held in April 2023)

election results:
Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 32.52%, PLRA 24.18%, FG 11.83%, PPQ 6.77%, MH 4.47%, PDP 3.66%, MCN 2.48%, UNACE 2.12%, other 11.97%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 17, PLRA 13, FG 6, PPQ 3, MH 2, PDP 2, MCN 1, UNACE 1; composition - men 38, women 7, percent of women 15.6%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 39.1%, PLRA 17.74%, Ganar Alliance 12.08%, PPQ 4.46%, MH 3.19%; other 23.43%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 42, PLRA 17, Ganar Alliance 13, PPQ 3, MH 2, other 3; composition - men 66, women 14, percent of women 17.5%; note - total National Congress percent of women 16.8%
Judicial branch: highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division)

judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75

subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
Political parties and leaders: Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Pedro ALLIANA]
Avanza Pais coalition or AP [Adolfo FERREIRO]
Broad Front coalition (Frente Guasu) or FG [Carlos FILIZZOLA]
Ganar Alliance (alliance between PLRA and Guasu Front)
Movimiento Cruzada Nacional or MCN
Movimiento Hagamos or MH [Antonio "Tony" APURIL]
Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Jorge OVIEDO MATTO]
Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]
Partido Democratica Progresista or PDP [Rafael FILIZZOLA]
Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO]
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Efrain ALEGRE]
Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT [Sixto PEREIRA Galeano]
Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Miguel CARRIZOSA]
International organization participation: CAN (associate), CD, CELAC, FAO, G-11, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Antonio DOS SANTOS BEDOYA (since 15 September 2021)

chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008

telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960

FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508

email address and website:
eeuuembaparsc@mre.gov.py; secretaria@embaparusa.gov.py

consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc OSTFIELD (since 9 March 2022)

embassy: 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion

mailing address: 3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC  20521-3020

telephone: [595] (21) 248-3000

FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

email address and website:
ParaguayACS@state.gov

https://py.usembassy.gov/
Flag description: three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity

note: the three color bands resemble those on the flag of the Netherlands; one of only three national flags that differ on their obverse and reverse sides - the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia
National symbol(s): lion; national colors: red, white, blue
National anthem: name: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)

lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed

note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 1 (cultural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain.   On a per capita basis, real income has grown steadily over the past five years as strong world demand for commodities, combined with high prices and favorable weather, supported Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the fifth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. Severe drought and outbreaks of hoof-and-mouth disease in 2012 led to a brief drop in beef and other agricultural exports. Since 2014, however, Paraguay’s economy has grown at a 4% average annual rate due to strong production and high global prices, at a time when other countries in the region have contracted.   The Paraguayan Government recognizes the need to diversify its economy and has taken steps in recent years to do so. In addition to looking for new commodity markets in the Middle East and Europe, Paraguayan officials have promoted the country’s low labor costs, cheap energy from its massive Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam, and single-digit tax rate on foreign firms. As a result, the number of factories operating in the country – mostly transplants from Brazil - has tripled since 2014.   Corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth. Judicial corruption is endemic and is seen as the greatest barrier to attracting more foreign investment. Paraguay has been adverse to public debt throughout its history, but has recently sought to finance infrastructure improvements to attract foreign investment.Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. On a per capita basis, real income has grown steadily over the past five years as strong world demand for commodities, combined with high prices and favorable weather, supported Paraguay's commodity-based export expansion. Paraguay is the fifth largest soy producer in the world. Drought hit in 2008, reducing agricultural exports and slowing the economy even before the onset of the global recession. The economy fell 3.8% in 2009, as lower world demand and commodity prices caused exports to contract. Severe drought and outbreaks of hoof-and-mouth disease in 2012 led to a brief drop in beef and other agricultural exports. Since 2014, however, Paraguay’s economy has grown at a 4% average annual rate due to strong production and high global prices, at a time when other countries in the region have contracted. The Paraguayan Government recognizes the need to diversify its economy and has taken steps in recent years to do so. In addition to looking for new commodity markets in the Middle East and Europe, Paraguayan officials have promoted the country’s low labor costs, cheap energy from its massive Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam, and single-digit tax rate on foreign firms. As a result, the number of factories operating in the country – mostly transplants from Brazil - has tripled since 2014. Corruption, limited progress on structural reform, and deficient infrastructure are the main obstacles to long-term growth. Judicial corruption is endemic and is seen as the greatest barrier to attracting more foreign investment. Paraguay has been adverse to public debt throughout its history, but has recently sought to finance infrastructure improvements to attract foreign investment.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $87.98 billion (2020 est.)

$88.87 billion (2019 est.)

$89.23 billion (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate: 4.8% (2017 est.)

4.3% (2016 est.)

3.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $12,300 (2020 est.)

$12,600 (2019 est.)

$12,800 (2018 est.)

note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate): $38.94 billion (2017 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (2017 est.)

4.1% (2016 est.)
Credit ratings: Fitch rating: BB+ (2018)

Moody's rating: Ba1 (2015)

Standard & Poors rating: BB (2014)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 17.9% (2017 est.)

industry: 27.7% (2017 est.)

services: 54.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 66.7% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 11.3% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 17.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 46.6% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -42.2% (2017 est.)
Agricultural products: soybeans, sugar cane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, beef, milk, oranges, oil palm fruit
Industries: sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2017 est.)
Labor force: 3.428 million (2017 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26.5%

industry: 18.5%

services: 55% (2008)
Unemployment rate: 5.7% (2017 est.)

6% (2016 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: total: 17.1%

male: 13.1%

female: 23.3% (2020 est.)
Population below poverty line: 23.5% (2019 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 46.2 (2018 est.)

53.2 (2009)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.5%

highest 10%: 37.6% (2013 est.)
Budget: revenues: 5.524 billion (2017 est.)

expenditures: 5.968 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-): -1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public debt: 19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 14.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Current account balance: -$298 million (2017 est.)

$416 million (2016 est.)
Exports: $11.81 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$13.27 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$14.36 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Exports - partners: Brazil 32%, Argentina 22%, Chile 8%, Russia 8% (2019)
Exports - commodities: soybeans and soybean products, electricity, beef, corn, insulated wiring (2019)
Imports: $10.62 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$13.15 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$13.88 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars
Imports - partners: Brazil 24%, United States 22%, China 17%, Argentina 10%, Chile 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: broadcasting equipment, cars, pesticides, refined petroleum, tires (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $7.877 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$6.881 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt - external: $16.622 billion (2019 est.)

$16.238 billion (2018 est.)
Exchange rates: guarani (PYG) per US dollar -

7,045 (2020 est.)

6,426 (2019 est.)

5,915.4 (2018 est.)

5,160.4 (2014 est.)

4,462.2 (2013 est.)

Topic: Energy
Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2020)
Electricity - production: 63.13 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - consumption: 10.9 billion kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports: 41.13 billion kWh (2015 est.)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity: 8.87 million kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants: 99% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources: 1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Crude oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption: 43,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports: 40,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Topic: Communications
Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 249,231 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 7,865,050 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2020 est.)
Telecommunication systems: general assessment: limited progress on structural reform and deficient infrastructure of the landlocked country are obstacles to telecom platform; monopolized fixed-line service; effective competition in mobile market, serving 96% of population through LTE; deployment of fiber; South Korean investment in education centers; operator enabled 109 free Internet points across the country and is looking to expand to 430 points in 2022; Inter-American Development Bank loan supports modernization within regulatory framework; dependent on neighboring countries for access to submarine cables; major importer of broadcasting equipment from the USA (2022)

domestic: deficiencies in provision of fixed-line service have resulted in expansion of mobile-cellular services fostered by competition among multiple providers; Internet market also open to competition; fixed-line just over 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 105 per 100 of the population (2020)

international: country code - 595; Paraguay's landlocked position means they must depend on neighbors for interconnection with submarine cable networks, making it cost more for broadband services; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Broadcast media: 6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)
Internet country code: .py
Internet users: total: 4.92 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 64% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 562,369 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)

Topic: Transportation
National air transport system: number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 560,631 (2018)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1.97 million (2018) mt-km
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZP
Airports: total: 799 (2021)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 15

over 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7

914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2021)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 784

1,524 to 2,437 m: 23

914 to 1,523 m: 290

under 914 m: 471 (2021)
Railways: total: 30 km (2014)

standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Roadways: total: 78,811 km (2020)

paved: 8,573 km (2020)

unpaved: 70,238 km (2020)
Waterways: 3,100 km (2012) (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná River systems)
Merchant marine: total: 110

by type: container ship 3, general cargo 25, oil tanker 5, other 77 (2021)

note: as of 2017, Paraguay registered 2,012 fluvial vessels of which 1,741 were commercial barges
Ports and terminals: river port(s): Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)

Topic: Military and Security
Military and security forces: Armed Forces Command (Commando de las Fuerzas Militares): Army (Ejercito), Navy (Armada, includes marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea)

Ministry of Internal Affairs: the National Police of Paraguay includes the Special Police Operations Force (Fuerza de Operaciones Policiales Especiales) (2022)
Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

1% of GDP (2019) (approximately $590 million)

1% of GDP (2018) (approximately $590 million)

0.9% of GDP (2017) (approximately $550 million)
Military and security service personnel strengths: the Armed Forces of Paraguay have approximately 15,000 active personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the Paraguayan military forces inventory is comprised of mostly older equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US; since 2010, Paraguay has acquired small quantities of mostly second-hand military equipment from several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Israel, Taiwan, and the US (2022)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (conscripts also serve in the National Police); volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2022)

note - as of 2021, women made up about 6% of the active military
Military - note: as of 2022, the armed forces were conducting operations against the Paraguayan People's Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo, EPP), a Marxist-nationalist insurgent group operating in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; they were also assisting internal security forces in countering narco-trafficking networks

Topic: Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil: unruly region at convergence of Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for violent extremist organizationsParaguay-Argentina-Brazil: unruly region at convergence of Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for violent extremist organizations
Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees (country of origin): 5,900 (Venezuela) (2022)
Illicit drugs: cannabis cultivation and the trafficking of Andean cocaine in the tri-border area shared with Argentina, and Brazil facilitates money laundering, violence and other criminal activity. cannabis cultivation and the trafficking of Andean cocaine in the tri-border area shared with Argentina, and Brazil facilitates money laundering, violence and other criminal activity.


US State Dept Travel Advisory: The US Department of State currently recommends US citizens DO NOT TRAVEL to Somalia due to COVID-19, crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health issues, and kidnapping. Consult its website via the link below for updates to travel advisories and statements on safety, security, local laws and special circumstances in this country.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html
Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens should make sure their passport is valid at the date of their entering the country and during the length of their entire visit. They should also make sure they have at least 1 blank page in their passport for any entry stamp that will be required. A visa is not required.
US Embassy/Consulate: Mogadishu, Somalia (reopened October 2019 on the grounds of the Mogadishu Airport); US citizens may call US Dept of State (202)-501-4444 for emergencies; alternate contact is the embassy in Kenya; [254] (20) 363-6000; US Embassy Nairobi, United Nations Avenue Nairobi, PO Box 606 Village Market, 00621 Nairobi, Kenya; Kenya_ACS@state.gov; https://so.usembassy.gov/
Telephone Code: 252
Local Emergency Phone: Local numbers only
Vaccinations: An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for travelers arriving from countries with a risk of yellow fever transmission and for travelers having transited through the airport of a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Somalia is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

http://www.who.int/
Climate: Principally desert; northeast monsoon (December to February), moderate temperatures in north and hot in south; southwest monsoon (May to October), torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons
Currency (Code): Somali shillings (SOS)
Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s): 220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C

Major Languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, English
Major Religions: Sunni Muslim
Time Difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Potable Water: Opt for bottled water
International Driving Permit: Suggested
Road Driving Side: Right
Tourist Destinations: Mogadishu; cave art of Laas Geel; Hargeisa; sea beaches of Berbera; Kismayo National Park
Major Sports: Soccer, track and field
Cultural Practices: The left hand is considered unclean and should not be used for shaking hands.
Tipping Guidelines: Tipping is not obligatory. For exceptional service, an additional tip is always welcome. Hotels and restaurants tend to include a tip of 5-10%, but luxury hotels and high-end restaurants may charge 10-15% of the total bill in the form of a service charge.Please visit the following links to find further information about your desired destination.

World Health Organization (WHO) - To learn what vaccines and health precautions to take while visiting your destination.

US State Dept Travel Information - Overall information about foreign travel for US citizens.

To obtain an international driving permit (IDP). Only two organizations in the US issue IDPs:
American Automobile Association (AAA) and American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)

How to get help in an emergency?
Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate, or call one of these numbers:
from the US or Canada - 1-888-407-4747 or from Overseas - +1 202-501-4444

Page last updated: Tuesday, April 05, 2022