Paraguay

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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.

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Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil

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23 00 S, 58 00 W

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South America

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

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0 km (landlocked)

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none (landlocked)

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

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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

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hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

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1,362 sq km (2012)

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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<br><br><strong>note:</strong> [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

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Guarani Aquifer System

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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

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

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

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

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<strong>note:</strong> data represent predominant household language

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

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1.06% (2025 est.)

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

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

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

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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

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3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)

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22.9 years (2008 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

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

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1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.92 (2025 est.)

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3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

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

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20.3% (2016)

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1.3% (2016 est.)

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54.8% (2022 est.)

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

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

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12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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presidential republic

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17 departments (<em>departamentos</em>, singular - <em>departamento</em>) 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

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

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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<strong>note</strong>: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR<br>Avanza Pais coalition or AP<br>Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG<br>GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)<br>Movimiento Hagamos or MH<br>Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE<br>Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada Nacional<br>Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS<br>Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP<br>Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN<br>Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA<br>Partido Pais Solidario or PPS<br>Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT<br>Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ

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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

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14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)

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<strong>note:</strong> the uprising against Spanish authorities took place during the night of 14-15 May 1811, so both days are celebrated in Paraguay

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

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<strong>description:</strong> 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)<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red stands for bravery and patriotism, white for integrity and peace, and blue for liberty and generosity

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<strong>note 1:</strong> resembles the flag of the Netherlands, which does not have a central emblem<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> one of three national flags that differ on each side -- the others are Moldova and Saudi Arabia

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lion

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red, white, blue

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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

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$44.458 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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2.2% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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3.502 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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24.7% (2022 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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6 privately owned TV stations; about 75 commercial and community radio stations; 1 state-owned radio network (2019)

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.py

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ZP

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83 (2025)

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29 (2025)

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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)<br><br>Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (2025)

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approximately 15,000 active duty Armed Forces (2025)

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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)

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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)

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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<br><br>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)

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

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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)

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2017 - organized country’s first international conference on space issues<br><br>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<br><br>2025 - developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first designed and built domestically

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Hizballah

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<strong>note:</strong> 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 the Terrorism reference guide