CapitalAsunció
Population7,604,044
Area406,752 km²
GDP per capita$16,300
LanguagesSpanish and Guarani, exclusively Guarani, exclusively Spanish, other languages, no answer
Currencyguarani
Life Expectancy78.8 yr
Governmentpresidential republic
Introduction
Background
Before the Spanish arrived in the early 16th century, the region that is now known as Paraguay was primarily occupied by various Indigenous groups, mainly of the Guarani language family. This territory was subsequently integrated into the Viceroyalty of Peru. Paraguay declared its independence from Spanish rule in 1811, with assistance from neighboring countries. Following independence, the nation was governed by a succession of military dictators until 1870. The catastrophic War of the Triple Alliance, which lasted from 1864 to 1870 and pitted Paraguay against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, resulted in the loss of two-thirds of the male population and a significant portion of its territory. For the subsequent fifty years, the country experienced economic stagnation and a turbulent succession of political regimes. After the Chaco War from 1932 to 1935 with Bolivia, Paraguay acquired a substantial portion of the Chaco lowlands. The lengthy military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER, which lasted for 35 years, came to an end in 1989, and since then, Paraguay has conducted relatively free and regular presidential elections, marking its return to democratic governance.
Geography
Area
land
397,302 sq km
water
9,450 sq km
total
406,752 sq km
Climate
ranging from subtropical to temperate climates; significant precipitation occurs in the eastern regions, transitioning to semiarid conditions in the extreme west
Terrain
comprising grassy plains and forested hills located east of the Río Paraguay; the Gran Chaco area to the west of the river is predominantly a low, marshy plain adjacent to the river, with dry forests and thorny scrub occupying other areas
Land use
other
7% (2023 est.)
forest
36.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
54.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Location
situated in Central South America, positioned northeast of Argentina and southwest of Brazil
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation
lowest point
the confluence of the Río Paraguay and the Río Paraná is at an elevation of 46 meters
highest point
Cerro Pero 842 m
mean elevation
178 m
Irrigated land
1,362 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Guarani Aquifer System
Map references
South America
Land boundaries
total
4,655 km
border countries
Argentina: 2,531 kilometers; Bolivia: 753 kilometers; Brazil: 1,371 kilometers
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
local flooding is prevalent in the southeast from early September to June; poorly drained lowlands may become waterlogged from early October to June
Geography - note
a landlocked nation bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; its population is primarily concentrated in the eastern and southern regions of the country
Natural resources
resources include hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, and limestone
Area - comparative
approximately three times larger than New York State; slightly smaller than California
Geographic coordinates
23 00 S, 58 00 W
Population distribution
the majority of the population lives in the eastern half of the nation; to the west lies the Gran Chaco, a semi-arid lowland plain that constitutes 60% of the total land area but is home to only 2% of the population
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Paraná (2,582,704 sq km)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Río de la Plata/Paraná (shared with Brazil [s], Argentina, and Uruguay [m]) - 4,880 kilometers; mouth of the Paraguay River (shared with Brazil [s] and Argentina) - 2,549 kilometers
note: [s] following the country name denotes the river source; [m] following the country name denotes the river mouth
People & Society
Literacy
male
95.4% (2024 est.)
female
94.3% (2024 est.)
total population
94.9% (2024 est.)
Languages
Languages
Spanish (official) and Guarani (official) 46.3%, exclusively Guarani 34%, exclusively Spanish 15.2%, other languages (including Portuguese, German, and various Indigenous tongues) 4.1%, no answer 0.4% (2012 estimate)
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.
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.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.01 male(s)/female
total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
0.91 male(s)/female
Birth rate
15.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
4.97 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
31.6 years
total
32.3 years (2025 est.)
female
32 years
Population
male
3,809,407
total
7,604,044 (2025 est.)
female
3,794,637
Nationality
noun
Paraguayan(s)
adjective
Paraguayan
Tobacco use
male
15.5% (2025 est.)
total
9.3% (2025 est.)
female
3.3% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
63.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
22.2% (male 850,191/female 821,237)
15-64 years
68.4% (male 2,582,021/female 2,561,962)
65 years and over
9.4% (2024 est.) (male 337,164/female 369,974)
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (of mixed Spanish and Indigenous heritage) 95%, others 5%
Child marriage
women married by age 15
3.6% (2016)
women married by age 18
21.6% (2016)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
46.7 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio
32.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio
7 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
14.3 (2025 est.)
Physician density
3.89 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
17.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: rural
rural: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 99.6% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.4% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
11.7% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
26.1 deaths/1,000 live births
total
21.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
1.06% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.92 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
a majority of the populace is located in the eastern portion of the nation; the Gran Chaco region (a semi-arid lowland area) is situated to the west, covering 60% of the land area, yet housing only 2% of the total population
Life expectancy at birth
male
76.2 years
female
81.6 years
total population
78.8 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
58 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: rural
rural: 94.9% of population (2022 est.)
improved: total
total: 98.1% of population (2022 est.)
improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: rural
rural: 5.1% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 1.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
3.27 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
5.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
3.511 million ASUNCION (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.3% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.9 years (2008 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.8% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
1.3% (2016 est.)
Environment
Climate
ranging from subtropical to temperate climates; significant precipitation is observed in the eastern regions, transitioning to semiarid conditions in the extreme west
Land use
other
7% (2023 est.)
forest
36.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
54.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 11.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.2% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 42.4% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
63.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
101.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
37.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
813 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
1.819 million tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
18.1% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
deforestation; pollution of water bodies; hazardous waste disposal into rivers and streams; degradation of wetlands; insufficient waste management systems in urban locales
Total water withdrawal
municipal
362 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
154 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
1.897 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
7.509 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
2,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
7.507 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
12.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
387.77 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental agreements
party to
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
Nuclear Test Ban, Tropical Timber 2006
Government
Flag
description: features three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), white, and blue, with an emblem positioned in the center of the white band; one side of the flag displays the national coat of arms, which includes a five-pointed yellow star encircled by a green wreath, along with the inscription REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all enclosed within two circles; the reverse side bears a circular treasury seal (depicting a yellow lion beneath a red Cap of Liberty with the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA)
meaning: red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white denotes integrity and peace, and blue represents liberty and generosity
Capital
name
Asunción
etymology
the term translates to "assumption" in Spanish; the city was established by the Spanish on August 15, 1537, coinciding with the Catholic feast day dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
time difference
UTC-3 (which is 2 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
25 16 S, 57 40 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; voting is universal and compulsory until the age of 75
Citizenship
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
Constitution
history
several previous constitutions; the most recent one was approved and promulgated on June 20, 1992
amendment process
can be proposed by at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or through a petition signed by at least 30,000 voters; a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers and subsequent approval in a referendum is required for passage
Country name
etymology
takes its name from the river of the same designation; the river's name is possibly derived from the Guarani words para (water or river) and guay (born)
local long form
República del Paraguay
local short form
Paraguay
conventional long form
Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form
Paraguay
Independence
14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)
Legal system
operates under a civil law system influenced by Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law traditions; the Supreme Court of Justice is responsible for reviewing legislative acts
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (comprising 9 justices, divided into 3 for the Constitutional Court, 3 for the Civil and Commercial Chamber, and 3 for the Criminal Division)
subordinate courts
includes appellate courts; courts of first instance; and minor courts, such as justices of the peace
judge selection and term of office
justices are nominated by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with the president's approval; judges are eligible to serve until the mandatory retirement age of 75
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (in office since August 15, 2023)
election results
2023: Santiago PEÑA Palacios elected president; percent of vote - Santiago PEÑA Palacios (ANR) 43.9%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 28.3%, Paraguayo "Payo" CUBAS Colomés (PCN) 23.6%, other 4.2%
2018: Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ elected president; percent of vote - Mario ABDO BENÍTEZ (ANR) 49%, Efraín ALEGRE (PLRA) 45.1%, other 5.9%
head of government
President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (in office since August 15, 2023)
most recent election date
30 April 2023
election/appointment process
president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple-majority popular vote for a single 5-year term
expected date of next election
April 2028
National holiday
Independence Day, celebrated on May 14-15 (1811) (observed on May 15); May 14 is recognized as Flag Day
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue
Political parties
Asociacion Nacional Republicana (National Republican Association) - Colorado Party or ANR
Avanza Pais coalition or AP
Frente Guasu (Broad Front coalition) or FG
GANAR Alliance (Great Renewed National Alliance) (alliance between PLRA and Guasú Front)
Movimiento Hagamos or MH
Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos (National Union of Ethical Citizens) or UNACE
Partido Cruzada Nacional (National Crusade Party) or PCN; note - formerly Movimiento Cruzada Nacional
Partido del Movimiento al Socialismo or P-MAS
Partido Democratica Progresista (Progressive Democratic Party) or PDP
Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN
Partido Liberal Radical Autentico (Authentic Radical Liberal Party) or PLRA
Partido Pais Solidario or PPS
Partido Popular Tekojoja or PPT
Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PPQ
Legislative branch
legislature name
Congress (Congreso)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Paraguayos, Republica o muerte!" (Paraguayans, the Republic or Death!)
history
adopted 1846 (lyrics) and 1934 (music)
lyrics/music
Francisco Esteban ACUNA de Figueroa/Remberto GIMENEZ
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) 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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de Diputados)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
80 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/30/2023
expected date of next election
April 2028
percentage of women in chamber
23.8%
parties elected and seats per party
National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (48); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (23); National Crusade Party (CN) (4); Other (5)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Cámara de Senadores)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
45 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
4/30/2023
expected date of next election
April 2028
percentage of women in chamber
22.2%
parties elected and seats per party
National Republican Association/Colorado Party (ANR) (23); Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) - Alliances (12); National Crusade Party (CN) (5); Other (5)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 234-4508
chancery
2209 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 483-6960
chief of mission
Ambassador Gustavo Alfredo LEITE Gusinky (since 5 September 2025)
consulate(s) general
Los Angeles, Miami, New York
email address and website
[email protected]
Embajada de la República del Paraguay ante los Estados Unidos de América :: The Embassy (mre.gov.py)
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[595] (21) 213-728
embassy
1776 Mariscal Lopez Avenue, Asuncion
telephone
[595] (21) 248-3000
mailing address
3020 Asuncion Place, Washington DC 20521-3020
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Robert ALTER (since July 2025)
email address and website
[email protected]
https://py.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Economy
Budget
revenues
$7.751 billion (2023 est.)
expenditures
$9.397 billion (2023 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$14.971 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$18.581 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$17.395 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$17.088 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$17.848 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$18.377 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
sugar manufacturing, cement, textiles, beverages, timber products, steel, base metals, electricity generation
Labor force
3.502 million (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2016
18.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022
1.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024
2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
guarani (PYG) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
6,771.097 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
6,774.163 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
6,982.752 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
7,288.872 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
7,560.248 (2024 est.)
Debt - external
Debt - external 2023
$13.783 billion (2023 est.)
Economic overview
upper middle-income economy in South America; the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recovery from the recession that began in 2019 due to Argentina; a prominent leader in hydroelectric power; a significant site of corruption and money laundering; a predominantly agricultural economy; marked income disparity
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
6.8% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
5.8% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
6.1% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$15,300 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$15,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$16,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
0.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.2% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)
Exports - commodities
soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)
Imports - commodities
broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, automobiles, pesticides (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
-$2.948 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
-$176.597 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
-$1.666 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
10.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$44.458 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
67% (2024 est.)
government consumption
12.6% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories
1.8% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital
21% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services
37.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services
-39.6% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
24.7% (2022 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
29.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
4.2% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.6% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.8% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$103.159 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$108.316 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$112.919 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
11% (2024 est.)
total
14.1% (2024 est.)
female
18.8% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.661 billion (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$9.519 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$9.886 billion (2023 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
32.5% (2024 est.)
services
48.7% (2024 est.)
agriculture
10.7% (2024 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
1.8% (2023 est.)
highest 10%
34.4% (2023 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
44.4 (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
10 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
100 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption
700 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
52,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
24.202 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
14.835 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
8.928 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
5.209 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
25.733 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
hydroelectricity
99.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste
0.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
78% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
In 2019, the country had 6 privately owned television stations, roughly 75 commercial and community radio stations, and 1 state-operated radio network.
Internet country code
.py
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
206,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
3 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
8.67 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
127 (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
878,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Puerto de Asuncion
very small
1
total ports
1 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
0
Airports
83 (2025)
Railways
total
30 km (2014)
standard gauge
30 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge
Heliports
29 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
108 (2023)
by type
2 container ships, 22 general cargo vessels, 5 oil tankers, 79 others
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
ZP
Military & Security
Military - note
The Paraguay military is tasked with external defense and also engages in domestic security operations; it assists during natural disasters and collaborates with the National Police and various internal security agencies to combat the Paraguayan People’s Army (Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) and international criminal groups, primarily those involved in drug trafficking. The EPP is a minor, domestic guerrilla/criminal entity operating in the rural northern regions of the nation near the Brazilian border. Its actions, along with those of its splinter groups—Marsical López’s Army (EML) and the Armed Peasant Association (ACA)—mainly involve sporadic assaults on isolated police and military installations, as well as on farmers and peasants alleged to support Paraguayan security forces.
The Paraguayan military has sent limited numbers of personnel on United Nations peacekeeping missions and works in conjunction with neighboring nations, including Argentina and Brazil, addressing security matters, especially organized crime and drug trafficking within the Tri-Border Area. Paraguay has not engaged in military conflict with a neighboring nation since the Chaco War against Bolivia in the 1930s (2025).
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2020
1% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022
0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023
0.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
0.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Paraguay (Fuerzas Armadas de Paraguay; also known as Armed Forces of the Nation or Fuerzas Armadas de la Nación): Paraguayan Army (Ejército Paraguayo), Paraguayan Navy (Armada Paraguaya; which includes marines), Paraguayan Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya)
Ministry of Internal Affairs: National Police of Paraguay (Policía Nacional del Paraguay, PNP) (2025)
Military service age and obligation
Voluntary service eligibility for both men and women is set at ages 18-25; all males within the age range of 18-25 are mandated to complete a minimum of 12 months of military service (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's inventory primarily consists of outdated or obsolescent equipment sourced from various foreign suppliers, notably Brazil and the United States; however, in recent years, it has acquired small amounts of more contemporary equipment, such as light attack aircraft from Brazil and used helicopters from Taiwan (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
There are approximately 15,000 personnel in active duty within the Armed Forces (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
Hizballah
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs
141 (2024 est.)
refugees
7,649 (2024 est.)
stateless persons
5 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Paraguay's Space Agency (Agencia Especial del Paraguay, AEP; founded in 2014) (2025)
Space program overview
maintains a nascent space program that aims to acquire satellites, satellite data, and the necessary technologies and capacities for satellite manufacturing, while also fostering local expertise and industry; a key objective is to obtain remote sensing capabilities to aid socio-economic development, which includes resource mapping, weather prediction, and agricultural monitoring; has successfully constructed a cube satellite with international collaboration; operates satellites; collaborates with foreign space agencies and industries, including those from India, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and member nations of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (2025)
Key space-program milestones
2017 - hosted the nation’s inaugural international conference on space-related topics
2021 - collaborated with Japan to produce the first research/technology-demonstrator cube satellite (Guaranisat-1), which was launched by the United States and deployed from the International Space Station; formalized agreements for the creation of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency
2025 - in the process of developing Guarani-Sat-2, which will be Paraguay's second satellite and the first to be designed and constructed within the country
