Paraguay Facts

Paraguay, State of South America; 406 750 km², 7 million residents (2019).Paraguay borders Brazil in the east, Argentina in the south and southwest, and Bolivia in the northwest. The capital is Asuncion (523,200 residents, 2018).

Country facts

• Republic of Paraguay / Republic of Paraguay
• Country abbreviation: PY
• Area: 406 750 km²
• Population (2019): 7 million residents
• Capital: Asuncion
• Main languages: Guarani, Spanish
• State: Republic
• Head of State and Head of Government: Mario Abdo Benítez (President)
• Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 5,872
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 5,680
• Currency unit: 1 guaraní = 100 centimos
• Currency code: PYG
• Country number (telephony): 595
• Internet Domain Name: py
• Time difference compared to Sweden: −5
• National Day: May 15 (Independence Day, 1811)

Nature

• Land use: forest (32%), agricultural land (6%), other (62%)
• Highest mountain: Cerro Pero (842 m asl)

Population

• Population density (2019): 17 residents per km²
• Natural population growth (2019): 1.6%; birth number 21 ‰, death number 5 ‰
• Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (30%), 15-64 (64%), 65- (6%)
• Life expectancy (2019): men 72 years, women 76 years
• Infant mortality (2019): 17 per 1,000 live births
• Population forecast 2050: 9 million residents
• HDI (2017): 0.702 (place 110 of 189)
• Urbanization rate (2019): 61%
• Most populous city (2018): Asunción (523,200 residents)

Business

• Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (18%), industry (28%), service (54%)
• Exports (2017): USD 11,730 million
• Main export products: soybeans, meat products, cotton fibers
• Main exporting countries: Brazil, Argentina, Chile
• Imports (2017): US $ 11,350 million
• Main import products: vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco
• Main importing countries: China, Brazil Argentina
• Railway network (2014): 30 km

Paraguay is divided through the Paraguay River into two natural regions, East and West Paraguay. Eastern Paraguay is the smaller part and is a continuation to the south of the Brazilian highlands. To the west of the elevation area, the broad river valley of the Paraguay River is spreading with large swamps. Western Paraguay is part of Gran Chaco which continues both into Argentina in the south and into Bolivia in the north. It is a hot plain and, farthest to the west, a plateau region without any major terrain forms.

The country’s president has executive power and is elected for five years, while the legislative power resides with the National Congress. Paraguay is primarily an agricultural country. Mainly, cotton, oilseeds, wheat and coffee are grown. The country had a high economic growth during the 1970s, mainly due to an aggressive development strategy for agriculture and the construction of the Itaipú hydropower plant. Since the 1980s, the country’s economy has been very unstable due to fluctuating returns in agriculture and price fluctuations in the world market. The manufacturing industry is largely devoted to the processing of raw materials from agriculture. In 2011, agriculture was hit hard when outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease stopped the export of beef.

Paraguay Map