Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
878,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.py
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
81.58% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
206,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
127 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
8.67 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$9.397 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$7.751 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$321.1 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$317.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$78.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$1.656 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$1.434 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$92.8 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$61.7 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$845.8 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$243.2 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$2.948 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$176.597 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$1.666 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$25.240 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$13.783 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
7560.248 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
4303.883 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
4462.185 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
5204.921 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
5670.541 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
5618.933 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
5732.105 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
6240.722 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
6771.097 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
6774.163 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
6982.752 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
7288.872 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
7560.248 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$13.583 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$14.320 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$12.578 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$13.405 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$14.885 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$14.824 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$13.686 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$11.789 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$14.177 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$14.971 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$18.581 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$17.395 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
37.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
12.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
67% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-39.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
21% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
10.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
32.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
48.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$18,524 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$44.458 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$128.353 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
47.6 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
47.9 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
48.5 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
46.0 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
45.7 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
43.5 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
42.9 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
44.6 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
44.2 (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
44.2 (2024 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
34.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$10.664 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$11.653 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$11.049 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$12.834 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$14.166 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$13.325 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$10.449 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$13.685 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$17.088 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$17.848 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$18.377 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
3.13% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
4.09% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
3.60% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.98% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.77% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.79% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.77% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.63% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.84% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
3.502 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
20.10% (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$76.523 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$78.092 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$83.295 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$88.598 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$92.185 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$94.492 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$102.978 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$103.159 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$108.316 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$112.919 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.96% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
4.27% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.81% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.20% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-0.40% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-0.82% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.18% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.00% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.25% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$12,607 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$12,679 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$13,329 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$13,977 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$14,150 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$14,309 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$15,406 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$16,347 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$17,564 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$623.3 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$506.6 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$553.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$756.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$825.0 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$5.939 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$6.881 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.878 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$7.698 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$7.717 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$9.202 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.661 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$9.519 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$9.886 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$9.568 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
6.59% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
7.55% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
7.31% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
6.75% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
5.79% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
5.69% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
18.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
11% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
14.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
700 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
10 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
8.928 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
7.509 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation; water pollution; toxic dumping in rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal in urban areas
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
54.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
36.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
813 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
69.86% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.819 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
18.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
about three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California
Geography: Area: land
397,302 sq km
Geography: Area: water
9,450 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Cerro Pero 842 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
178 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country
Geography: Irrigated land
1,362 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
4,655 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
54.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
36.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Guarani Aquifer System
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Geography: 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
Geography: 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
Government: 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
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
25 16 S, 57 40 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
3 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Paraguay
Government: 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)
Government: Country name: local long form
República del Paraguay
Government: Country name: local short form
Paraguay
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ParaguayACS@state.gov https://py.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[595] (21) 213-728
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[595] (21) 248-3000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, Miami, New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: 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)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 234-4508
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 483-6960
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
April 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
30 April 2023
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
Government: Legal system
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
April 2028
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
4/30/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
80 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
23.8%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
April 2028
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
4/30/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
45 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
22.2%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Congress (Congreso)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music)
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ
Government: National color(s)
red, white, blue
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
Government: National symbol(s)
lion
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
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.
Military and 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 and Security: 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 and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.07% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.95% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.89% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.96% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.97% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.03% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.92% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.87% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.92% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.93% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: 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)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
3.6% (2016)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
21.6% (2016)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.3% (2016 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.36% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.8% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
46.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
32.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.7% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.53% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous ancestry) 95%, other 5%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.92 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.0 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
77.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
71.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
94.3% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
95.4% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
94.86% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
32 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
22.9 years (2008 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Paraguayan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.3% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
6,929,153 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.23% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
3,794,637
People and Society: Population: male
3,809,407
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
3.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
15.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.42 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
69.86% (2024 est.)
Space: 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
Space: Space agency/agencies
Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2025)
Space: 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)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Hizballah
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
141 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
7,649 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
5 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
83 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ZP
Transportation: Heliports
29 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ship 2, general cargo 22, oil tanker 5, other 79
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
108 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Puerto de Asuncion
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
1 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
30 km (2014)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.