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		PARAGUAY Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. The vast majority of the people live in the eastern region, most within 160 kilometers (100 miles) of Asuncion, the capital and largest city. The Chaco, which accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population. Ethnically, culturally, and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in South America. About 95% of the people are of mixed Spanish and Guaran’ Indian descent. Little trace is left of the original Guaran’ culture except the language, which is understood by 90% of the population. About 75% of all Paraguayans speak Spanish. Guarani and Spanish are official languages. Germans, Japanese, Koreans, ethnic Chinese, Arabs, Brazilians, and Argentines are among those who have settled in Paraguay. Population: 6,995,655 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 Age structure: 0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,304,115/female 1,260,560) 15-64 years: 58.1% (male 2,043,509/female 2,023,317) 65 years and over: 5.2% (male 168,554/female 195,600) (2009 est.) Median age: total: 21.9 years male: 21.6 years female: 22.2 years (2009 est.) Population growth rate: 2.364% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 Birth rate: 28.17 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 Death rate: 4.46 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202 Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 Urbanization: urban population: 60% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 89 male: 28.77 deaths/1,000 live births female: 20.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.77 years country comparison to the world: 73 male: 73.19 years female: 78.49 years (2009 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.75 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 70 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 21,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria (2009) Nationality: noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5% Religions: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census) Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (official) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94% male: 94.9% female: 93% (2003 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2005) Education expenditures: 4% of GDP (2004) country comparison to the world: 104 POPULATION GRAPH