Paraguay

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.

land

397,302 sq km

total

406,752 sq km

water

9,450 sq km

about three times the size of New York state; slightly smaller than California

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

0 km (landlocked)

highest point

Cerro Pero 842 m

lowest point

junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m

mean elevation

178 m

23 00 S, 58 00 W

note 1: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of countrynote 2: pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region 

1,362 sq km (2012)

border countries

Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km

total

4,655 km

agricultural land

53.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)

forest

43.8% (2018 est.)

other

2.4% (2018 est.)

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Guarani Aquifer System

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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

South America

none (landlocked)

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

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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

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

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)

beer

3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

women married by age 15

3.6%

women married by age 18

21.6% (2016 est.)

1.3% (2016)

68.4% (2016)

7.6% of GDP (2020)

59.4% (2023 est.)

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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.

elderly dependency ratio

9.6

potential support ratio

10.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

54.4

youth dependency ratio

44.8

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

0.92 (2024 est.)

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)

female

17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

26.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

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.

note

note: data represent predominant household language

female

81.6 years

male

76.2 years

total population

78.8 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.2% (2020)

male

94.9%

total population

94.5%

3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

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

female

32 years

male

31.6 years

total

31.8 years (2024 est.)

22.9 years (2008 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

adjective

Paraguayan

noun

Paraguayan(s)

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

20.3% (2016)

1.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

3,753,173 (2024 est.)

male

3,769,376

total

7,522,549

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

1.09% (2024 est.)

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.)

improved: rural

rural: 90.6% of population

improved: total

total: 96.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 9.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

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

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

4.4% (2020 est.)

male

18.6% (2020 est.)

total

11.5% (2020 est.)

1.88 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

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

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)

geographic coordinates

25 16 S, 57 40 W

name

Asunción

time difference

UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

history

several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992

conventional long form

Republic of Paraguay

conventional 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)

local long form

República del Paraguay

local short form

Paraguay

chief of mission

Ambassador Marc OSTFIELD (since 9 March 2022)

email address and website

ParaguayACS@state.govhttps://py.usembassy.gov/

embassy

1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion

FAX

[595] (21) 213-728

mailing address

3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC  20521-3020

telephone

[595] (21) 248-3000

chancery

2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008

chief of mission

Ambassador José Antonio DOS SANTOS BEDOYA (since 15 September 2021)

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, Miami, New York

email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960

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%

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)

head of government

President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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

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

presidential republic

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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

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)

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%

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)

lyrics/music

Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed

name

"Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)

note

note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934

selected World Heritage Site locales

Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

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

lion; national colors: red, white, blue

Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANRAvanza Pais coalition or APFrente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FGGANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)Movimiento Hagamos or MHMovimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACEPartido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada NacionalPartido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MASPartido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDPPartido Encuentro Nacional or PENPartido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRAPartido Pais Solidario or PPSPartido Popular Tekojoja or PPTPatria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ

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

sugarcane, maize, soybeans, cassava, rice, wheat, milk, beef, oranges, oil palm fruit (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

4.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

29.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$6.937 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$7.148 billion (2022 est.)

Fitch rating

BB+ (2018)

Moody's rating

Ba1 (2015)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

BB (2014)

Current account balance 2021

-$347.383 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$2.993 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$109.625 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$12.118 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

guarani (PYG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

6,240.722 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports 2021

$14.821 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$14.971 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$18.711 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

beef, electricity, soybeans, corn, soybean meal (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Brazil 36%, Argentina 19%, Chile 12%, Russia 4%, US 3% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

42.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption

12% (2023 est.)

household consumption

66.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-40.4% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.6% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.9% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

11.3% (2023 est.)

industry

32.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

49% (2023 est.)

$42.956 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

45.1 (2022 est.)

note

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

highest 10%

35.4% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

1.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$14.316 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$17.142 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$17.906 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, cars, fertilizers, pesticides (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 28%, Brazil 23%, US 11%, Argentina 8%, Chile 3% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

3.43% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.79% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

9.77% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.63% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

3.469 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

24.7% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2017

19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$102.978 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$103.159 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$108.022 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.02% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.18% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.71% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$15,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,200 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,700 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

1.47% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

1.41% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

1.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

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.)

10.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

7.31% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

6.76% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.78% (2023 est.)

female

16.9% (2023 est.)

male

10.4% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

13% (2023 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.)

total emissions

8.234 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

1,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

imports

200 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

17.486 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

21.719 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

8.833 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.8 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

99.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

28.472 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

57,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2020 est.)

total

562,369 (2020 est.)

6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)

.py

percent of population

77% (2021 est.)

total

5.159 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line just over 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 119 per 100 of the population (2021)

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)

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)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

169,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

128 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

8.659 million (2022 est.)

83 (2024)

ZP

27 (2024)

by type

container ship 2, general cargo 22, oil tanker 5, other 79

total

108 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1.97 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

560,631 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

8

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

key ports

Puerto de Asuncion

total ports

1 (2024)

very small

1

standard gauge

30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

total

30 km (2014)

paved

8,573 km

total

78,811 km

unpaved

70,238 km (2020)

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

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 (Ejército 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 SENADthe 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 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 forcesthe 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)

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) (2024)

note

note: Paraguay also has a National Counterdrug Bureau (Secretaria Nacional Antidrogas or SENAD) that operates under the presidency

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

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 2019

1% of GDP (2019 est.)

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.)

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

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

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

refugees (country of origin)

5,231 (Venezuela) (2022)

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

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

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

Hizballah (2022)

note

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

carbon dioxide emissions

7.41 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

27.65 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

12.31 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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

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

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

agricultural land

53.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)

forest

43.8% (2018 est.)

other

2.4% (2018 est.)

Guarani Aquifer System

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 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.21% of GDP (2018 est.)

387.77 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

1.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

360 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,818,501 tons (2015 est.)