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Paraguay
Paraguay
Population
6.9M
Rank #107Source: World Bank
Capital
Asuncion
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$44.46B
Rank #99Source: World Bank
Land Area
406.8K km²
Rank #60Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
73.844 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 406,752 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
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
Elevation: mean elevation: 178 m lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m highest point: Cerro Pero 842 m
Natural Hazards: local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
Environmental 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...
Land Use: agricultural land: 53.8% (2011 est.) forest: 43.8% (2011 est.) other: 2.4% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country
Natural Resources
hydropowertimberiron oremanganeselimestone
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.42
Population
6.9M
Ethnic Groups
Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) (95%)other (5%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (89.6%)Protestant (6.2%)other Christian (1.1%)other or unspecified (1.9%)none (1.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$6,416.097
GDP per Capita PPP
18,523.681
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
6,300
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
44.2
(2024)
(2024)
Unemployment
5.686%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
3.835%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
99.8%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
58.8%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
8.025 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
3.4 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
99.997%
(2012)
(2012)
Environment
Forest Coverage
38.545% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
81.578%
(2024)
(2024)
Mobile Penetration
126.605%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
12.884%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.905 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
37,901.25 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
5,926
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
78,712.68 km(©IRF)
Military
Military Forces
Armed Forces Command (Commando de las Fuerzas Militares): Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Paraguay, FAP)
Personnel Strength
the Armed Forces of Paraguay have approximately 14,000 active personnel (8,500 Army; 3,000 Navy; 2,500 Air Force)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.41B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.93%
Military Expenditure History
1% of GDP (2019) 0.9% of GDP (2018) 0.9% of GDP (2017) 1% of GDP (2016) 1.1% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the Paraguayan military forces inventory is comprised of mostly older equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US; since 2010, Paraguay has acquired limited...
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation is 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of...
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
51.092%
(2020)
(2020)
Primary Enrollment
89.439%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
79.131%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
Not Available
Education Spending
3.406% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
94.86%
(2024)
(2024)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
24.16:1
(2012)
(2012)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
3.893
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
99.604%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
64.365%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
17 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
17.235 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
70.271
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
79
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
80%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
2.1%
(2024)
(2024)
Food Insecurity
5.2%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
13.464%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
23.75%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.04
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.08
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.46
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.08
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.58
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.06
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
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
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Mario Abdo BENITEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELAZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of...
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...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
International Organizations
National Symbols
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)...
National Symbols
lion; national colors: red, white, blue
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...
Safety
Homicide Rate
6.78 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): Guaraní, Spanish
Currency: PYG (₲)
Timezone(s): UTC-04:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +595
Car Sign: PY
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
CIA World Factbook • 2020
This true-color satellite image of lower South America shows the Andes along the left-hand side, starting out wide up top and narrowing as they move south. The white spine-like strip along the lower Andes is snow. Mount Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, is located in this section of the Andes. To the east, the muddy green featureless areas in the image are the vast wetlands of Paraguay (further north) and Argentina (in the south). The largest lake in this region is Lake Mar Chiquita, which sits on the western edge of these wetlands. The two whitish tan patches between the lake and the Andes are the much smaller, snow-covered Sierra de Cordoba mountains. Photo courtesy of NASA.
This true-color satellite image of lower South America shows the Andes along the left-hand side, starting out wide up top and narrowing as they move south. The white spine-like strip along the lower Andes is snow. Mount Aconcagua, the tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere, is located in this section of the Andes. To the east, the muddy green featureless areas in the image are the vast wetlands of Paraguay (further north) and Argentina (in the south). The largest lake in this region is Lake Mar Chiquita, which sits on the western edge of these wetlands. The two whitish tan patches between the lake and the Andes are the much smaller, snow-covered Sierra de Cordoba mountains. Photo courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
3 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data