Paraguay

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. 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

Area
total : 406,752 sq km
land: 397,302 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

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

Natural resources
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

People and Society

Population
total: 7,522,549 (2024 est.)

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

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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
1.09% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Asunción

Executive branch
chief of state: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)
head of government: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)

Economy

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)
$112.919 billion (2024 est.)
$108.316 billion (2023 est.)
$103.159 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$16,300 (2024 est.)
$15,800 (2023 est.)
$15,300 (2022 est.)

Exports
$17.395 billion (2024 est.)
$18.581 billion (2023 est.)
$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
$18.377 billion (2024 est.)
$17.848 billion (2023 est.)
$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)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.756, ranking it 99th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 36th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 6.421. (more information)