Capital

Paraguay

name: Asuncion

geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W

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

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)

Citizenship

Paraguay

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

Legal system

Paraguay

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

Suffrage

Paraguay

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

Area

Paraguay

total: 406,752 sq km

land: 397,302 sq km

water: 9,450 sq km

Land use

Paraguay

agricultural land: 53.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 43.8% (2018 est.)

other: 2.4% (2018 est.)

Location

Paraguay

Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

Age structure

Paraguay

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)

Birth rate

Paraguay

16.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Paraguay

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Paraguay

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

Paraguay

total population: 78.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 76 years

female: 81.4 years

Major urban areas - population

Paraguay

3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

Median age

Paraguay

total: 31.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 31.1 years

female: 31.5 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Paraguay

22.9 years (2008 est.)

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

Net migration rate

Paraguay

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

Population distribution

Paraguay

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

Paraguay

1.12% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Paraguay

1.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Paraguay

urban population: 63.1% of total population (2023)

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

Education expenditures

Paraguay

3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Paraguay

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

Industrial production growth rate

Paraguay

4.69% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Paraguay

3.43 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Paraguay

23.5% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate

Paraguay

7.21% (2021 est.)

7.55% (2020 est.)

6.59% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Paraguay

19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Paraguay

4.79% (2021 est.)

1.77% (2020 est.)

2.76% (2019 est.)

Exports

Paraguay

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

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

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

Exports - partners

Paraguay

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

Imports

Paraguay

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

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

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

Imports - partners

Paraguay

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

Airports

Paraguay

799 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Paraguay

total: 562,369 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 8 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Paraguay

total: 5.159 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 77% (2021 est.)

Railways

Paraguay

total: 30 km (2014)

standard gauge: 30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Roadways

Paraguay

total: 78,811 km (2020)

paved: 8,573 km (2020)

unpaved: 70,238 km (2020)

Telephones - fixed lines

Paraguay

total subscriptions: 203,971 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Paraguay

total subscriptions: 7,975,074 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 119 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Paraguay

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

Disputes - international

Paraguay

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