FACTBOX: Facts about Paraguay
(Reuters) - Here are some facts about Paraguay, which votes in a general election on Sunday.
* Paraguay is a poor, landlocked country of 5.6 million people at the heart of South America. It lost a good chunk of its territory, and many of its men, during the 1864-1870 War of the Triple Alliance against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The country is known for its corruption and the contraband of goods such as electronics, cigarettes and liquor.
* Paraguay's Colorado Party is the world's longest-ruling party still in power. The Colorados have governed for more than 60 years, backing the 35-year dictatorship of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner until his overthrow in 1989. Every president in office since the return of democracy has been investigated for corruption.
* The world's fourth-largest soybean exporter, Paraguay relies mainly on agriculture and hydroelectric power. The underground economy includes contraband in drugs and weapons. The U.S. government has warned of money-laundering and terrorist financing in the tri-border area, where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil meet near the majestic Iguazu waterfalls.
* Political violence has marred Paraguay's recent history, with military-led coup attempts in 1996 and 2000. Bloody street protests broke out in March 1999 after the assassination of the country's vice president.
* The indigenous language of Guarani is widely spoken in Paraguay, along with Spanish. The Spanish conquerors of the 16th century assimilated with the Guarani-speaking Indians and learned their language. Although only 2 percent of the population is indigenous and most Paraguayans are mestizo, the two languages thrive side by side.
* Paraguay is a predominantly Roman Catholic country that is home to an insular community of Mennonites, who turned part of the arid Chaco region into a prosperous area for farming and dairy production. Japanese immigrants have also preserved their language and customs in some areas.
(Reporting by Hilary Burke and Daniela Desantis; Editing by Kieran Murray)
