Paraguay Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Asunción

Population

7,604,044 (2025 est.)

Area

406,752 sq km

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references

South America

Area — total

406,752 sq km

Area — land

397,302 sq km

Area — water

9,450 sq km

Area - comparative

About three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries — total

4,655 km

Land boundaries — border countries

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

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 — highest point

Cerro Pero 842 m

Elevation — lowest point

Junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m

Elevation — mean elevation

178 m

Natural resources

Hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use — agricultural land

54.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

36.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

1,362 sq km (2012)

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

Major watersheds (area sq km) — Atlantic Ocean drainage

Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)

Major aquifers

Guarani Aquifer System

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

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

Landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

7,604,044 (2025 est.)

Population — male

3,809,407

Population — female

3,794,637

Nationality — noun

Paraguayan(s)

Nationality — adjective

Paraguayan

Ethnic groups

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

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.)

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.

Religions

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

Age structure — 0-14 years

22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)

Age structure — 15-64 years

68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)

Age structure — 65 years and over

9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

46.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

32.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

14.3 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

7 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

32.3 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

31.6 years

Median age — female

32 years

Population growth rate

1.06% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 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

Urbanization — urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.91 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.9 years (2008 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

26.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

17.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

78.8 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

76.2 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

81.6 years

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.3% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

9.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

15.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

3.3% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

1.3% (2016 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

54.8% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

3.6% (2016)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

21.6% (2016)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

11.7% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

94.9% (2024 est.)

Literacy — male

95.4% (2024 est.)

Literacy — female

94.3% (2024 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Deforestation; water pollution; toxic dumping in rivers and streams; loss of wetlands; inadequate means for waste disposal in urban areas

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

54.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

36.9% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

63.1% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

7.509 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

813 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

10 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

1.819 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

18.1% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Paraguay

Country name — conventional short form

Paraguay

Country name — local long form

República del Paraguay

Country name — local short form

Paraguay

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 type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Asunción

Capital — geographic coordinates

25 16 S, 57 40 W

Capital — time difference

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

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

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

Legal system

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

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992

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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Yes

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

Yes

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

3 years

Suffrage

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

Executive branch — chief of state

President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)

Executive branch — head of government

President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

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

Executive branch — most recent election date

30 April 2023

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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

April 2028

Legislative branch — legislature name

Congress (Congreso)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

80 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

4/30/2023

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

23.8%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

April 2028

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Senate (Cámara de Senadores)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

45 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Proportional representation

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

4/30/2023

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)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

22.2%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

April 2028

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)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

Appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 483-6960

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 234-4508

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)

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[595] (21) 248-3000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[595] (21) 213-728

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

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

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

Independence

14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday

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

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

National symbol(s)

Lion

National color(s)

Red, white, blue

National anthem(s) — title

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

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music)

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

1 (cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

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

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$112.919 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$108.316 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$103.159 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

0.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$16,300 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$15,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$15,300 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$44.458 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

9.8% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

10.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

32.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

48.7% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

67% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

12.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

21% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

1.8% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

37.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-39.6% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2024 est.)

Labor force

3.502 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

6.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

5.8% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

6.8% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

14.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

11% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

18.8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

24.7% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

44.4 (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

1.8% (2023 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

34.4% (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

2% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$7.751 billion (2023 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$9.397 billion (2023 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$1.666 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$176.597 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$2.948 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$17.395 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$18.581 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$14.971 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$18.377 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$17.848 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$17.088 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$9.886 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$9.519 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$9.661 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$13.783 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Guarani (PYG) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

7,560.248 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

7,288.872 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

6,982.752 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

6,774.163 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

6,771.097 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

8.928 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

700 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

10 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

100 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

206,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

8.67 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

127 (2023 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

78% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

878,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

ZP

Airports

83 (2025)

Heliports

29 (2025)

Railways — total

30 km (2014)

Railways — standard gauge

30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

108 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

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

Ports — total ports

1 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

0

Ports — very small

1

Ports — ports with oil terminals

0

Ports — key ports

Puerto de Asuncion

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

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 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)

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)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

Space agency/agencies

Space Agency of Paraguay (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; established 2014) (2025)

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)

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

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Hizballah

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

7,649 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

141 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

5 (2024 est.)