Paraguay

Location

• Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
• landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in eastern and southern part of country

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Asunción	1,482,200	Capital
Ciudad del Este	301,815
San Lorenzo	227,876
Capiatá	198,553
Lambaré	126,377
Fernando de la Mora	120,167
Limpio	96,143
Nemby	94,641
Pedro Juan Caballero	75,109
Encarnación	74,983

Size

• 157,046 square miles
• 406,750 square kilometers
• about three times the size of New York State; slightly smaller than California

History

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.

Climate

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

Terrain

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

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.)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.note: data represent predominant household language

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.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved and promulgated 20 June 1992amendment process: proposed at the initiative of at least one quarter of either chamber of the National Congress, by the president of the republic, or by petition of at least 30,000 voters; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by both chambers and approval in a referendum
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 75
• Legal System: civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)head of government: President Santiago PEÑA Palacios (since 15 August 2023)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by simple majority popular vote for a single 5-year term; election last held on 30 April 2023 (next to be held in April 2028)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%note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 9 justices divided 3 each into the Constitutional Court, Civil and Commercial Chamber, and Criminal Division)judge selection and term of office: justices proposed by the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura, a 6-member independent body, and appointed by the Chamber of Senators with presidential concurrence; judges can serve until mandatory retirement at age 75subordinate courts: appellate courts; first instance courts; minor courts, including justices of the peace
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Congress (Congreso)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• 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
• Budget: revenues: $7.148 billion (2022 est.)expenditures: $6.937 billion (2022 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
• Industries: sugar processing, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, electric power
• Agricultural Products: soybeans, sugarcane, maize, cassava, wheat, rice, milk, beef, oranges, bananas (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 42% (2022 est.)arable land: 11.5% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.2% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 30.3% (2022 est.)forest: 39.3% (2022 est.)other: 18.8% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, fertilizers, cars, pesticides (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 33%, Brazil 24%, USA 8%, Argentina 7%, Germany 2% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: soybeans, beef, electricity, corn, soybean meal (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: Argentina 33%, Brazil 25%, Chile 10%, USA 2%, Uruguay 2% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports