{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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": { "text": "Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "23 00 S, 58 00 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "South America" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "406,752 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "397,302 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "9,450 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "about three times the size of New York state; slightly smaller than California" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "4,655 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Argentina 2,531 km; Bolivia 753 km; Brazil 1,371 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "0 km (landlocked)" }, "Maritime claims": { "text": "none (landlocked)" }, "Climate": { "text": "subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west" }, "Terrain": { "text": "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": { "text": "Cerro Pero 842 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "junction of Río Paraguay and Río Paraná 46 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "178 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "53.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "43.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "2.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "1,362 sq km (2012)" }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Guarani Aquifer System" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "note 1: landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

note 2: pineapples are probably indigenous to the southern Brazil-Paraguay region " } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "7,439,863 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Paraguayan(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Paraguayan" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry) 95%, other 5%" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "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)": { "text": "
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." } }, "Religions": { "text": "Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

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.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "22.4% (male 847,721/female 818,983)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "68.54% (male 2,560,031/female 2,539,378)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "9.06% (2023 est.) (male 320,958/female 352,792)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "54.4" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "44.8" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "9.6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "10.4 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "29.7 years" }, "male": { "text": "29.5 years" }, "female": { "text": "29.9 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.12% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "16.15 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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": { "text": "63.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.01 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.91 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "22.9 years (2008 est.)", "note": "note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "71 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "22.6 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "26.78 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "18.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "78.61 years" }, "male": { "text": "75.97 years" }, "female": { "text": "81.38 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.92 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "68.4% (2016)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "7.6% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "1.05 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "0.8 beds/1,000 population (2016)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 99.6% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 90.6% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 96.2% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.4% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 9.4% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 3.8% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "intermediate (2023)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "dengue fever" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "20.3% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "11.5% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "18.6% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "4.4% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "1.3% (2016)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "59.4% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 15": { "text": "3.6%" }, "women married by age 18": { "text": "21.6% (2016 est.)" } }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "94.5%" }, "male": { "text": "94.9%" }, "female": { "text": "94.2% (2020)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "16.3%" }, "male": { "text": "12.7%" }, "female": { "text": "21.9% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006" } }, "Climate": { "text": "subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "53.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 10.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 42.8% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "43.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "2.4% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "63.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "1.21% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "11.16 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "7.41 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "27.65 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "1,818,501 tons (2015 est.)" } }, "Major rivers (by length in km)": { "text": "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)": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Guarani Aquifer System" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "360 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "1.9 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "387.77 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Paraguay" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Paraguay" }, "local long form": { "text": "República del Paraguay" }, "local short form": { "text": "Paraguay" }, "etymology": { "text": "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)" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Asuncion" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "25 16 S, 57 40 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "daylight saving time": { "text": "+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends last Sunday in March" }, "etymology": { "text": "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)" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "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" }, "Independence": { "text": "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" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992" }, "amendments": { "text": "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" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "yes" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a native-born citizen of Paraguay" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "3 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELÁZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { "text": "President Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (since 15 August 2018); Vice President Hugo Adalberto VELÁZQUEZ Moreno (since 15 August 2018)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Council of Ministers appointed by the president" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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)" }, "election results": { "text": "
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%; note - PEÑA will take office 15 August 2023

2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, Juan Bautista YBÁÑEZ 3.4%, other 2.5%

2013: Horacio Manuel CARTES Jara elected president; percent of vote - Horacio Manuel CARTES Jara (ANR) 48.5%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 39%, Mario FERREIRO (AP) 6.2%, Aníbal CARRILLO (FG) 3.5%, other 2.8%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "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)" }, "elections": { "text": "
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)" }, "election results": { "text": "
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%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "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": { "text": "appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "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 Nacional
Partido 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]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Jose Antonio DOS SANTOS BEDOYA (since 15 September 2021)" }, "chancery": { "text": "2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC  20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 483-6960" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 234-4508" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
gabineteembaparusa@mre.gov.py; secretario@embaparusa.gov.py" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "Los Angeles, Miami, New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Marc OSTFIELD (since 9 March 2022)" }, "embassy": { "text": "1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion" }, "mailing address": { "text": "3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC  20521-3020" }, "telephone": { "text": "[595] (21) 248-3000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[595] (21) 213-728" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
ParaguayACS@state.gov

https://py.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "lion; national colors: red, white, blue" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!\" (Paraguayans, The Republic or Death!)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/disputed" }, "note": "note: adopted 1934, in use since 1846; officially adopted following its re-arrangement in 1934" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "1 (cultural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "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) 2021": { "text": "$91.759 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$88.143 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$88.872 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.1% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-0.82% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "-0.4% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$13,700 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$13,300 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$13,600 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$38.94 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "4.79% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "1.77% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "2.76% (2019 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "BB+ (2018)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "Ba1 (2015)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "BB (2014)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "17.9% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "27.7% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "54.5% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "66.7% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "11.3% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "17.3% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.3% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "46.6% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-42.2% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "soybeans, sugar cane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, beef, milk, oranges, oil palm fruit" }, "Industries": { "text": "sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "4.69% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "3.43 million (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "26.5%" }, "industry": { "text": "18.5%" }, "services": { "text": "55% (2008)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "7.21% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "7.55% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "6.59% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "16.3%" }, "male": { "text": "12.7%" }, "female": { "text": "21.9% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "23.5% (2019 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020": { "text": "43.5 (2020 est.)" } }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "31.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "4.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "1.5%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "37.6% (2013 est.)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$7.272 billion (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$8.714 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-1.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "19.5% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "9.51% (of GDP) (2020 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "$311.068 million (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "$959.673 million (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$178.179 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$14.154 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$11.794 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$13.272 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Brazil 32%, Argentina 22%, Chile 8%, Russia 8% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "soybeans and soybean products, electricity, beef, corn, insulated wiring (2019)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$13.454 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$10.46 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$13.146 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Brazil 24%, United States 22%, China 17%, Argentina 10%, Chile 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "broadcasting equipment, cars, pesticides, refined petroleum, tires (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021": { "text": "$9.661 billion (31 December 2021 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$9.202 billion (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$7.717 billion (31 December 2019 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2019": { "text": "$16.622 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Debt - external 2018": { "text": "$16.238 billion (2018 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "guarani (PYG) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "6,774.163 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "6,771.097 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "6,240.722 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "5,732.105 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "5,618.933 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "8.831 million kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "12,718,590,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "31.748 billion kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "4.47 billion kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "2,000 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "56,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "40,760 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "7.896 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "3,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "7.893 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "62.775 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "203,971 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "3 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "7,975,074 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "119 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "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)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line just over 3 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 119 per 100 of the population (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "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)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".py" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "5.159 million (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "77% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "562,369 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "8 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "2 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "8" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "560,631 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "1.97 million (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "ZP" }, "Airports": { "text": "799 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "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": { "text": "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" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "30 km (2014)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge" } }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "78,811 km (2020)" }, "paved": { "text": "8,573 km (2020)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "70,238 km (2020)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "3,100 km (2012) (primarily on the Paraguay and Paraná River systems)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "105" }, "by type": { "text": "container ship 2, general cargo 24, oil tanker 5, other 74 (2022)" }, "note": "note: as of 2017, Paraguay registered 2,012 fluvial vessels of which 1,741 were commercial barges" }, "Ports and terminals": { "river port(s)": { "text": "Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion (Parana)" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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 expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "1% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "1% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "1% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 15,000 active duty personnel (10,000 Army; 3,500 Navy; 1,500 Air Force) (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older equipment from a variety of foreign suppliers, particularly Brazil and the US (2022)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "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" }, "Military - note": { "text": "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 SENAD

the 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 forces

the 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)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "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" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

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

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "refugees (country of origin)": { "text": "5,900 (Venezuela) (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

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

 

" } } }