2023 Edition

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.

Area

land

397,302 sq km

total

406,752 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 Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 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 countrynote 2: pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region 

Irrigated land

1,362 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

4,655 km

Land use

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.)

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (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

Age structure

0-14 years

22.4% (male 847,721/female 818,983)

15-64 years

68.54% (male 2,560,031/female 2,539,378)

65 years and over

9.06% (2023 est.) (male 320,958/female 352,792)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

16.2 births/1,000 population (2023 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 (2023 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

elderly dependency ratio

9.6

potential support ratio

10.4 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

54.4

youth dependency ratio

44.8

Drinking water source

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

Education expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

female

18.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

26.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

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%; note - data represent predominant household language (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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.4 years

male

76 years

total population

78.6 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.2% (2020)

male

94.9%

total population

94.5%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

intermediate (2023)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever

Major urban areas - population

3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

31.5 years

male

31.1 years

total

31.3 years (2023 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.9 years (2008 est.)

note

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

Nationality

adjective

Paraguayan

noun

Paraguayan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.3% (2016)

Physicians density

1.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

7,439,863 (2023 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

1.12% (2023 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 80.4%, Protestant 7% (Evangelical (non-specific) 6.7%, Evangelical Pentecostal <0.1%, Seventh Day Adventist <0.1%, Protestant (non-specific) <0.1%), Believer (not belonging to church) 5.7%, other 0.6%, agnostic <0.1%, none 0.2%, unspecified 6.2% (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

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

Sex ratio

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

1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.4% (2020 est.)

male

18.6% (2020 est.)

total

11.5% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

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

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March

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

Asuncion

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

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

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008

chief of mission

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

consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, Miami, New York

email address and website

gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py; secretario@embaparusa.gov.py

FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023); Vice President Pedro Lorenzo ALLIANA Rodríguez (since 15 August 2023); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

election results

2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo CUBAS Colomes 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); Vice President Pedro Lorenzo ALLIANA Rodríguez (since 15 August 2023)

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

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)

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 38, women 7, percent of women 18.4%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; composition - men 68, women 12, percent of women 17.6%; note - total National Congress percent of 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)

National anthem

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

National heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

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

total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

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 and leaders

Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR [Mario ABDO BENITEZ]Avanza Pais coalition or AP [Adolfo FERREIRO]Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG [Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez]GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)Movimiento Hagamos or MH [Antonio "Tony" APURIL]Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE [Jorge OVIEDO MATTO]Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN [Payo CUBAS]; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada NacionalPartido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS [Camilo Ernesto SOARES Machado]Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP [Rafael FILIZZOLA]Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Fernando CAMACHO]Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA [Efrain ALEGRE]Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT [Sixto PEREIRA Galeano]Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ [Miguel CARRIZOSA]

Suffrage

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

Agricultural products

soybeans, sugar cane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, beef, milk, oranges, oil palm fruit

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

4.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

31.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$8.714 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$7.272 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

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

Current account balance 2019

-$178.179 million (2019 est.)

Current account balance 2020

$959.673 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

$311.068 million (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2018

$16.238 billion (2018 est.)

Debt - external 2019

$16.622 billion (2019 est.)

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

Currency

guarani (PYG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

5,618.933 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

5,732.105 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

6,240.722 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

6,771.097 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

6,774.163 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2019

$13.272 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2020

$11.794 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports 2021

$14.154 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - commodities

soybeans and soybean products, electricity, beef, corn, insulated wiring (2019)

Exports - partners

Brazil 32%, Argentina 22%, Chile 8%, Russia 8% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

46.6% (2017 est.)

government consumption

11.3% (2017 est.)

household consumption

66.7% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-42.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

17.3% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.3% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

17.9% (2017 est.)

industry

27.7% (2017 est.)

services

54.5% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.94 billion (2017 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020

43.5 (2020 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.6% (2013 est.)

lowest 10%

1.5%

Imports

Imports 2019

$13.146 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2020

$10.46 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports 2021

$13.454 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

broadcasting equipment, cars, pesticides, refined petroleum, tires (2019)

Imports - partners

Brazil 24%, United States 22%, China 17%, Argentina 10%, Chile 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

4.69% (2021 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

2.76% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

1.77% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.79% (2021 est.)

Labor force

3.43 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

23.5% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$88.872 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$88.143 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$91.759 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

-0.4% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-0.82% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.1% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$13,600 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$13,300 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$13,700 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$7.717 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$9.202 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$9.661 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.51% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2019

6.59% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

7.55% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

7.21% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

21.9%

male

12.7%

total

16.3% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

3,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

7.893 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

7.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

12,718,590,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

31.748 billion kWh (2019 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

8.831 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.47 billion kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

62.775 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

56,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

2,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

40,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8 (2020 est.)

total

562,369 (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

percent of population

77% (2021 est.)

total

5.159 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

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)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

203,971 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

119 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

7,975,074 (2021 est.)

Airports

799 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

15

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

784

note

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ZP

Merchant marine

by type

container ship 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 5, other 74

note

note: as of 2017, Paraguay registered 2,012 fluvial vessels of which 1,741 were commercial barges

total

105 (2022)

National air transport system

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)

Ports and terminals

river port(s)

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)

Railways

standard gauge

30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

total

30 km (2014)

Roadways

paved

8,573 km (2020)

total

78,811 km (2020)

unpaved

70,238 km (2020)

Waterways

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

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 (aka 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 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; formally established in 1811, the Army has 9 divisions of infantry and cavalry, but each division is reportedly about the size of a US battalion or 500-1,000 troops; there is also a presidential guard regiment; the Navy is a riverine force that has some of the oldest operational warships in the World, as well as a small marine infantry force; the Air Force has a single combat squadron with a handful of light ground attack/trainer aircraft  (2023)

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) (2023)

note

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 equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

1% of GDP (2018 est.)

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 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; volunteers for the Air Force must be younger than 22 years of age with a secondary school diploma (2023)

note

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

Disputes - international

Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil: unruly region at convergence of Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for violent extremist organizations

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)

5,400 (Venezuela) (2022)

Space agency/agencies

Special Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2023)

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) (2023)

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 Appendix S

Terrorist group(s)

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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

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.)

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.)

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.)

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (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

agricultural

1.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

360 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,818,501 tons (2015 est.)