Country Profile: Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked nation located in Central South America, bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. With a population of approximately 7.5 million, it is characterized by a diverse cultural heritage predominantly of Mestizo ancestry. The Paraguayan economy is classified as upper middle-income, heavily reliant on agriculture and hydropower, while the government operates as a presidential republic. Since the return to democracy in 1989, Paraguay has held regular elections, which mark its political landscape.

Geography

Paraguay's geographic location is in the heart of South America, spanning an area of 406,752 sq km, making it slightly smaller than California. The country's terrain consists of grassy plains in the east and marshy lowlands in the Gran Chaco region west of the Río Paraguay. Paraguay has a subtropical to temperate climate, with significant rainfall in the east.

4,655 km: Total land boundaries shared with Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil.
0 km: Paraguay is entirely landlocked with no coastline.
54.1%: Percentage of land used for agriculture (2023).
36.9%: Forest cover across the country (2023).
842 m: Highest point at Cerro Pero.

People and Society

Paraguay boasts a population of 7,522,549 (2024 estimate) with a growth rate of 1.09%. The population largely resides in the eastern half of the country, with a youthful demographic—22.2% of people are aged 0-14 years. Spanish and Guarani are the official languages, reflecting the country's cultural diversity.

95%: Ethnic composition includes Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Indigenous).
80.4%: Population identifies as Roman Catholic (2023).
63.1%: Urban population proportion (2023).
78.8 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024 estimate).
94.9%: Literacy rate (2024 estimate).

Economy

Paraguay's economy is primarily agrarian, heavily influenced by soybean production, and has seen a growth in hydroelectric power, making it a leader in global electricity exports. The GDP (PPP) is projected at $112.919 billion for 2024, with significant contributions from both the services and agricultural sectors. Despite challenges such as corruption and income inequality, the economy is expected to grow.

6.1%: Unemployment rate (2024 estimate).
4.2%: Projected GDP growth rate for 2024.
10.7%: Agriculture's contribution to GDP (2024 estimate).
$44.458 billion: GDP at official exchange rate (2024 estimate).
24.7%: Population living below the national poverty line (2022 estimate).

Government

Paraguay is governed as a presidential republic with a bicameral legislature. The nation has undergone several political changes since gaining independence from Spain in 1811. The current president, Santiago Peña Palacios, took office on August 15, 2023. The legal system is based on civil law, influenced by various legal traditions.

18 years: Minimum voting age with compulsory participation until 75.
17 departments: Administrative divisions within the country.
0%: Current military service rates for women, who comprise about 6% of the military (2021).
1: Number of World Heritage Sites.
8%: Health expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2021).

Military and Security

Paraguay maintains its security through a combination of army, navy, and air force units, with a defense policy focused on external defense and domestic security support. The military's budget is 0.8% of GDP and employs roughly 15,000 active personnel.

18 years: Mandatory conscription age for military service.
1%: Military expenditure as a % of GDP as of 2021.
12 months: Duration of conscript service in the army.
5,209 million kWh: Estimated electricity transmission and distribution losses (2023).
The EPP: Domestic criminal/guerrilla group causing security concerns.

Energy

Paraguay boasts an installed electricity capacity of 8.928 million kW (2023), primarily from hydropower, which accounts for 99.4% of its energy generation capacity. The country has achieved full electrification for its population and plays a significant role in energy exports.

24.202 billion kWh: Electricity exports in 2023.
14.835 billion kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023).
5.209 billion kWh: Losses in transmission and distribution (2023).
0.5%: Biomass and waste contribution to total installed capacity (2023).
700 metric tons: Coal consumption estimate for 2023.

Environment

Paraguay faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, water pollution, and inadequate waste disposal methods. The country is part of several international environmental agreements, aiming to address these issues.

387.77 billion cubic meters: Total renewable water resources (2022).
1.819 million tons: Annual municipal solid waste generated (2024).
18.1%: Percentage of municipal solid waste recycled (2022).
7.509 million metric tonnes: CO2 emissions (2023).
362 million cubic meters: Municipal water withdrawal (2022).

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes 83 airports and 30 km of railways. Paraguay operates a limited number of ports with Puerto de Asuncion being a significant one. The country has an active merchant marine fleet.

108: Total vessels in the merchant marine (2023).
29: Number of heliports (2025).
1: Main operating port, classified as very small (2024).
30 km: Length of the railways operational (2014).
ZP: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix.

Communications

Paraguay has a rapidly growing communications sector, with a high mobile phone penetration rate. In 2023, approximately 78% of the population utilizes the Internet, supported by a variety of broadcast media.

206,000: Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2023).
8.67 million: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2023).
878,000: Fixed broadband subscriptions (2023).
3: Fixed-line subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2023).
128: Mobile subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	7,522,549 (2024 est.)
Area	406,752 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$112.919 billion (2024)
Unemployment Rate	6.1% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	78.8 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	94.9% (2024 est.)
Electricity Access	100% (2022 est.)
CO2 Emissions	7.509 million metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Total Energy Consumption per Capita	25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Annual Municipal Solid Waste	1.819 million tons (2024 est.)