Paraguay

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 562,369 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 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

Internet users

total: 5.159 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 77% (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: limited progress on structural reform and deficient infrastructure of the landlocked country are obstacles to the telecom platform; effective competition in mobile market, serving 96% of population through LTE; deployment of fiber; operator enabled 109 free Internet points across the country and is looking to expand to 430 points in 2022; dependent on neighboring countries for access to submarine cables (2022) domestic: fixed-line just over 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 119 per 100 of the population (2021) 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)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 169,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 8.659 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 128 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

sugarcane, maize, soybeans, cassava, rice, wheat, milk, beef, oranges, oil palm fruit (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 29.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

revenues: $7.148 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $6.937 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: BB+ (2018) Moody's rating: Ba1 (2015) Standard & Poors rating: BB (2014) note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Current account balance

$109.625 million (2023 est.) -$2.993 billion (2022 est.) -$347.383 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$12.118 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Exchange rates

guarani (PYG) per US dollar - 7,288.872 (2023 est.) 6,982.752 (2022 est.) 6,774.163 (2021 est.) 6,771.097 (2020 est.) 6,240.722 (2019 est.)

Exports

$18.711 billion (2023 est.) $14.971 billion (2022 est.) $14.821 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

beef, electricity, soybeans, corn, soybean meal (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Brazil 36%, Argentina 19%, Chile 12%, Russia 4%, US 3% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$42.956 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 66.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 12% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 20.6% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: -0.9% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 42.5% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -40.4% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 11.3% (2023 est.) industry: 32.4% (2023 est.) services: 49% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

45.1 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.8% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 35.4% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$17.906 billion (2023 est.) $17.142 billion (2022 est.) $14.316 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, fertilizers, pesticides (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 28%, Brazil 23%, US 11%, Argentina 8%, Chile 3% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

3.43% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.63% (2023 est.) 9.77% (2022 est.) 4.79% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

3.469 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

24.7% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$108.022 billion (2023 est.) $103.159 billion (2022 est.) $102.978 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

4.71% (2023 est.) 0.18% (2022 est.) 4.02% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$15,700 (2023 est.) $15,200 (2022 est.) $15,400 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.41% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.47% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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

Taxes and other revenues

10.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

5.78% (2023 est.) 6.76% (2022 est.) 7.31% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13% (2023 est.) male: 10.4% (2023 est.) female: 16.9% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Carbon dioxide emissions

8.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 3,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 8.231 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

consumption: 1,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: (2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton imports: 200 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 8.833 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 17.486 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 21.719 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 4.8 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

hydroelectricity: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

28.472 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 57,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 12.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

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

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.)

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

Major rivers (by length in km)

R o de la Plata/Paran (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: Paran (2,582,704 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

1.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

387.77 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 360 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 1.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

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

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 1,818,501 tons (2015 est.)

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

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m lowest point: junction of R o Paraguay and R o Paran 46 m mean elevation: 178 m

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

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

Irrigated land

1,362 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 4,655 km border countries (3): Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km

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.)

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

Major rivers (by length in km)

R o de la Plata/Paran (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: Paran (2,582,704 sq km)

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Natural resources

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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

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

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

Capital

name: Asunci n geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) 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)

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 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

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay conventional short form: Paraguay local long form: Rep blica 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)

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/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Jos Antonio DOS SANTOS BEDOYA (since 15 September 2021) chancery: 2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508 email address and website: gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py Embajada de la Rep blica del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de Am rica :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py) consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Santiago PE A Palacios (since 15 August 2023) head of government: President Santiago PE A Palacios (since 15 August 2023) 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 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) election results: 2023: Santiago PE A Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PE A Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efra n ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colom s (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2% 2018: Mario ABDO BEN TEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BEN TEZ (ANR) 49%, Efra n ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9% note : the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

Government type

presidential republic

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, UNHRC, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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) 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

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

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 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028) election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 45.7%, PLRA 24.4%, PCN 11.5%, PEN 5.2%, PPQ 2.5%, other 10.7%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 23, PLRA 12, PCN 5, PEN 2, PPQ 1, other 2; composition - men 34, women 11, percentage women 24.4% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party/coalition - ANR 44%, PLRA 30.9%, PCN 8.3%, PPQ 3.6%, PEN 2.9%; other 10.3%; seats by party/coalition - ANR 49, PLRA 21, PCN 4, PEN 2, PPQ 1, other 3; compositio - men 61, women 19, percentage women 23.8%; note - total National Congress percentage women NA%

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 Sant sima Trinidad de Paran and Jes s de Tavarangue

National holiday

Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, white, blue

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 Guas 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

Suffrage

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

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 16 th 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.

Military - note

the Paraguayan military is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security duties; while the National Police are responsible for maintaining internal security, the military works with the police through a Joint Task Force (Fuerza de Tarea Conjunta or FTC) in combatting the Paraguayan People s Army (Ej rcito del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and transnational criminal organizations; the military has an Internal Defense Operations Command (Comando de Defensa Interna or CODI), which includes the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to coordinate internal security support to the police and other security organizations, such as the National Anti-Drug Secretariat or SENAD the EPP is a domestic criminal/guerrilla group initially dedicated to a Marxist-Leninist revolution in Paraguay that operates in the rural northern part of the country along the border with Brazil; the activities of the EPP and its offshoots Marsical L pez 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 is a small force by regional standards, and its limited equipment inventory is largely obsolete, with some of it pre-dating World War II; it has deployed small numbers of troops on UN 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 (2024)

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Paraguay (Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay; aka Armed Forces of the Nation or Fuerzas Armadas de la Naci n): Paraguayan Army (Ej rcito Paraguayo), Paraguayan Navy (Armada Paraguaya; includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza A rea Paraguaya) Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Polic a Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (2024) note: Paraguay also has a National Counterdrug Bureau (Secretaria Nacional Antidrogas or SENAD) that operates under the presidency

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 20,000 active-duty personnel (13,500 Army; 4,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force) (2023)

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 Paraguayan Government has purchased small quantities of more modern equipment (2024)

Military expenditures

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1% of GDP (2020 est.) 1% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 (2024) note: as of 2021, women made up about 6% of the active military

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.59 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.)

Birth rate

15.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 3.6% women married by age 18: 21.6% (2016 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.3% (2016)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

68.4% (2016)

Current health expenditure

7.6% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59.4% (2023 est.)

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54.4 youth dependency ratio: 44.8 elderly dependency ratio: 9.6 potential support ratio: 10.4 (2021 est.)

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.)

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 26.1 deaths/1,000 live births female: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

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 informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: data represent predominant household language

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.8 years (2024 est.) male: 76.2 years female: 81.6 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.5% male: 94.9% female: 94.2% (2020)

Major urban areas - population

3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

71 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 31.8 years (2024 est.) male: 31.6 years female: 32 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.9 years (2008 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

noun: Paraguayan(s) adjective: Paraguayan

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.3% (2016)

Physician density

1.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

total: 7,522,549 male: 3,769,376 female: 3,753,173 (2024 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

Population growth rate

1.09% (2024 est.)

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.)

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.)

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 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 11.5% (2020 est.) male: 18.6% (2020 est.) female: 4.4% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

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

Space agency/agencies

Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2024)

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 in-country expertise building and space industry; a priority is acquiring remote sensing (RS) capabilities to support socio-economic develop, 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 (ALCE) (2024) note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

Terrorist group(s)

Hizballah (2022) note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Illicit drugs

marijuana cultivation and the trafficking of Andean cocaine in the tri-border area shared with Argentina, and Brazil facilitates money laundering

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 5,231 (Venezuela) (2022)

Airports

83 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ZP

Heliports

27 (2024)

Merchant marine

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

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

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 1 ports with oil terminals: 0 key ports: Puerto de Asuncion

Railways

total: 30 km (2014) standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Roadways

total: 78,811 km paved: 8,573 km unpaved: 70,238 km (2020)

Waterways

3,100 km (2012) (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná River systems)