Paraguay

Presidential RepublicPop7.6MGDP (PPP)$112.9BCI42Beta CP0.0→Beta

Paraguay

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 397,302 sq km
Water: 9,450 sq km
Total: 406,752 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)

Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

Lowest point: junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m
Highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
Mean elevation: 178 m

Irrigated land: 1,362 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Guarani Aquifer System
Map references: South America

Land Boundaries

Total: 4,655 km
Border countries: Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Natural hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Geography note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country
Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Area comparative: about three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California
Geographic coordinates: 23 00 S, 58 00 W
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

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Atlantic ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

Major rivers (BY length in km): Río de la Plata/Paraná (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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 95.4% (2024 est.)
Female: 94.3% (2024 est.)
Total population: 94.9% (2024 est.)

Languages

Note: note: data represent predominant household language
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% (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 80.4%, Protestant 7% (Evangelical (non-specific) 6.7%, Evangelical Pentecostal <0.1%, Adventist <0.1%, Protestant (non-specific) <0.1%), Believer (not belonging to the church) 5.7%, other 0.6%, agnostic <0.1%, none 0.2%, unspecified 6.2% (2023 est.)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 31.6 years
Total: 32.3 years (2025 est.)
Female: 32 years

Population

Male: 3,809,407
Total: 7,604,044 (2025 est.)
Female: 3,794,637

Nationality

Noun: Paraguayan(s)
Adjective: Paraguayan

Tobacco Use

Male: 15.5% (2025 est.)
Total: 9.3% (2025 est.)
Female: 3.3% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Age Structure

0 14 years: 22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)
15 64 years: 68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)
65 years and over: 9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)

Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry) 95%, other 5%

Child Marriage

Women married BY age 15: 3.6% (2016)
Women married BY age 18: 21.6% (2016)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 46.7 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 7 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 14.3 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

Improved: rural: rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education Expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 11.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 1.06% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.92 (2025 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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 76.2 years
Female: 81.6 years
Total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: rural: rural: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 20.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.9 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 54.8% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 1.3% (2016 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue, with an emblem centered on the white band; the emblem on one side of the flag is the national coat of arms, which has a five-pointed yellow star in a green wreath with the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY around it, all inside two circles; the other side of the flag has a circular treasury seal (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA)

meaning: red stands for bravery and patriotism, white for integrity and peace, and blue for liberty and generosity

Capital

Name: Asunción
Etymology: the name means "assumption" in Spanish; the Spanish founded the city on August 15, 1537, the Catholic feast day for the Assumption of the Virgin Mary 
Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75

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

Constitution

History: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992
Amendment process: 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

Country Name

Etymology: derives from the river of the same name; the river's name may come from the Guarani words para (water or river) and guay (born)
Local long form: República del Paraguay
Local short form: Paraguay
Conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
Conventional short form: Paraguay

Independence: 14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)
Legal system: civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): 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)
Subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
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

Executive Branch

Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
Election results: 2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colomés (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2%

2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9%
Head of government: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
Most recent election date: 30 April 2023
Election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term
Expected date of next election: April 2028

National holiday: Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
National color(s): red, white, blue

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

Political parties: Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR
Avanza Pais coalition or AP
Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG
GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)
Movimiento Hagamos or MH
Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE
Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada Nacional
Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS
Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP
Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA
Partido Pais Solidario or PPS
Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT
Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: Congress (Congreso)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, the Republic or Death!)
History: adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music) 
Lyrics/music: Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ

National symbol(s): lion
Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boquerón, Caaguazú, Caazapá, Canindeyú, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guairá, Itapúa, Misiones, Ñeembucú, Paraguarí, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 80 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 4/30/2023
Expected date of next election: April 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 23.8%
Parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (48); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (23); National Crusade Party (CN) (4); Other (5)

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Term in office: 5 years
Number of seats: 45 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 4/30/2023
Expected date of next election: April 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 22.2%
Parties elected and seats per party: National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (23); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (12); National Crusade Party (CN) (5); Other (5)

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 234-4508
Chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960
Chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)
Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Email address and website: gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py

Embajada de la República del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de América :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py)

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [595] (21) 213-728
Embassy: 1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion
Telephone: [595] (21) 248-3000
Mailing address: 3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC  20521-3020
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)
Email address and website: ParaguayACS@state.gov

https://py.usembassy.gov/

International organisations: 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, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Legislature

PARAGUAY · LOWER HOUSE

Chamber of Deputies

80 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Colorado Party

Parties

All political parties12 parties · 80 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

PARAGUAY · UPPER HOUSE

Senate

45 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Colorado Party

Parties

All political parties12 parties · 45 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

SP
Santiago Peña Palacios
- Head of StateSince 2023
- Head of GovernmentDate unknown

Economy

Budget

Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $7.751 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $9.397 billion (2023 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $16.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $14.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $18.581 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $17.395 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $17.6B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $17.088 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $17.848 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $18.377 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power
Labor force: 3.502 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Exchange Rates

Currency: guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 6,771.097 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 6,774.163 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 6,982.752 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 7,288.872 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 7,560.248 (2024 est.)

Debt External

Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Debt external 2023: $13.783 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview: upper middle-income South American economy; COVID-19 hit while still recovering from 2019 Argentina-driven recession; global hydroelectricity leader; major corruption and money-laundering locale; highly agrarian economy; significant income inequality

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.8%

Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 6.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 6.1% (2024 est.)

Exports partners: Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)
Imports partners: China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $18,524

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $15,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $16,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 4.2%

Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 0.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 4.2% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products: soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)
Exports commodities: soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
Imports commodities: broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): -$1.5B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Current account balance 2022: -$2.948 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$176.597 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: -$1.666 billion (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $44.458 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 67% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 12.6% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 21% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 37.2% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -39.6% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 24.7% (2022 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.8%

Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 9.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 3.8% (2024 est.)

Industrial production growth rate: 2.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $112.919 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $103.159 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $108.316 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $112.919 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 11% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 14.1% (2024 est.)
Female: 18.8% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.661 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $9.519 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $9.886 billion (2023 est.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 32.5% (2024 est.)
Services: 48.7% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 10.7% (2024 est.)

Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Lowest 10%: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Highest 10%: 34.4% (2023 est.)

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2023: 44.4 (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 10 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 700 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 8.928 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Hydroelectricity: 99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 78% (2023 est.)

Broadcast media: 6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)
Internet country code: .py

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 206,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 8.67 million (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2023 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 878,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 0
Medium: 0
Key ports: Puerto de Asuncion
Very small: 1
Total ports: 1 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 0

Airports: 83 (2025)

Railways

Total: 30 km (2014)
Standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Heliports: 29 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 108 (2023)
BY type: container ship 2, general cargo 22, oil tanker 5, other 79

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: ZP

Environment

Climate: subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Land Use

Other: 7% (2023 est.)
Forest: 36.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 54.1% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 813 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 1.819 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 18.1% (2022 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation; water pollution; toxic dumping in rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal in urban areas

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 7.509 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

International Environmental 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

Military & Security

Military note: the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense and has a role in domestic security duties; it provides support for natural disasters and cooperates with the National Police and other internal security organizations in combating the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations, largely narcotics traffickers; the EPP is a small, domestic criminal/guerrilla group operating in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—have consisted largely of isolated attacks on remote police and army posts, or against ranchers and peasants accused of aiding Paraguayan security forces

the Paraguayan military has deployed small numbers of troops on UN peacekeeping missions and cooperates with neighboring countries, such as Argentina and Brazil, on security issues, particularly organized crime and narco-trafficking in what is known as the Tri-Border Area; Paraguay has not fought a war against a neighboring country since the Chaco War with Bolivia in the 1930s (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.9%

Military expenditures 2020: 1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military expenditures 2021: 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military expenditures 2022: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military expenditures 2023: 0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military expenditures 2024: 0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Paraguay (Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay; aka Armed Forces of the Nation or Fuerzas Armadas de la Nación): Paraguayan Army (Ejército Paraguayo), Paraguayan Navy (Armada Paraguaya; includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya)

Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for voluntary service for men and women; all men 18-25 are required to perform military service for at least 12 months (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older or obsolescent equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US; in recent years, the military has received small quantities of more modern equipment, such as light attack aircraft from Brazil and secondhand helicopters from Taiwan (2025)
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): Hizballah

Space

Space agency/agencies: Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2025)
Space program overview: has a small, recently established space program focused on the acquisition of satellites, satellite data, and the technologies and capabilities to manufacture satellites, as well as promoting domestic expertise and industry; a priority is acquiring remote sensing capabilities to support socio-economic development, including resource mapping, weather, and crop monitoring; has built a cube satellite with foreign assistance; operates satellites; cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including those of India, Japan, Taiwan, the US, and member states of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space program milestones: 2017 - organized country’s first international conference on space issues

2021 - first research/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Guaranisat-1) built jointly with Japan, launched by US, and deployed from International Space Station; signed protocols for the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency

2025 - developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first designed and built domestically

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 141 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 7,649 (2024 est.)
Stateless persons: 5 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index42.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4106 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.39as of 2024-Q480 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (67/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Paraguay — vintage 2026-Q1: Paraguay factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/paraguay

Download as JSON

Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Paraguay

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Child Marriage

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Chamber of Deputies

Senate

Current

Santiago Peña Palacios

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Debt External

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Railways

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal