Paraguay: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 9, 2026

News •

Teachers strike in Paraguay to demand pension fund protections following bank's collapse • Nov. 9, 2026, 4:22 PM ET (AP)

Paraguay's ousted president charged with crimes linked to collapse of major bank • Nov. 7, 2026, 5:52 PM ET (AP)

Ousted Paraguayan president placed under house arrest after bank collapse • Nov. 6, 2026, 9:14 PM ET (AP)

Paraguay President Peña under investigation, faces removal from office over bank collapse • Nov. 6, 2026, 12:16 AM ET (AP)

Paraguay seizes major digital bank tied to president, leaving millions of customers in limbo • Nov. 3, 2026, 3:37 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Tetä Paraguáype • Republic of Paraguay • República del Paraguay
Head Of State And Government	President: Pedro Alliana
Capital	Asunción
Population	(2026 est.) 6,299,000
Form Of Government	multiparty republic with two legislative houses (Chamber of Senators [45¹]; Chamber of Deputies [80])
Official Languages	Spanish; Guaraní
Official Religion	none²
Official Name	República del Paraguay (Spanish); Tetä Paraguáype (Guaraní) (Republic of Paraguay)
Total Area (Sq Km)	406,752
Total Area (Sq Mi)	157,048
Monetary Unit	guaraní (plural guaranies)
Population Rank	(2026) 114
Population Projection 2030	8,009,000
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi	(2026) 40.1
Density: Persons Per Sq Km	(2026) 15.5
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2023) 63.3% • Rural: (2023) 36.7%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 67.6 years • Female: (2021) 73.2 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000)	(2024) 43,674
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2024) 6,300
¹Excludes former presidents serving as senators-for-life but having no voting power.²Roman Catholicism, though not official, enjoys special recognition in the constitution.

Photos

Map of South America highlighting Paraguay in orange at the center of the continent, with neighboring countries Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay labeled. The capital city, Asuncion, is marked within Paraguay.

Cargo ships and barges on the Paraguay River near the green riverbank at Asuncion, Paraguay, with additional boats visible in the distance.

Political map of Paraguay showing its national boundaries with Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina, major cities including Asuncion, and internal divisions such as departments. An inset locator map highlights Paraguay's position within South America.

Physical map of Paraguay showing major rivers, lakes, national parks, mountain ranges, and elevation points, as well as neighboring countries Bolivia, Brazil, and Argentina. A small locator map in the bottom left highlights Paraguay's position in South America.

The renovated Catedral Metropolitana in Asuncion, Paraguay, features a cream and pink facade with three arched entrances and two bell towers, set against a clear blue sky.

National anthem of Paraguay

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Topics

Horacio Cartes Fernando Lugo Juan Carlos Wasmosy Alfredo Stroessner Carlos Antonio López Francisco Solano López José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Federico Chávez Elman Rogers Service history of Latin America United States India United Kingdom China Canada Russia Germany Australia Japan France

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Alfredo Stroessner

president of Paraguay

Horacio Cartes

Horacio Cartes

president of Paraguay

Fernando Lugo

Fernando Lugo

president of Paraguay

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Juan Carlos Wasmosy

president of Paraguay

Carlos Antonio López

Carlos Antonio López

dictator of Paraguay

Francisco Solano López

Francisco Solano López

dictator of Paraguay

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José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia

dictator of Paraguay

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Federico Chávez

president of Paraguay

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Elman Rogers Service

American anthropologist

Map of Latin America showing countries, major cities, and key physical features such as mountain ranges, highlands, and rivers. The map includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America, with labeled regions like the Andes, Brazilian Highlands, and Gran Chaco, as well as an inset highlighting the West Indies. Surrounding bodies of water, including the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea, are also labeled.

history of Latin America

Map showing the countries of South America with national capitals and surrounding bodies of water, including the Atlantic and Pacific.

South America

continent

Asunción, Paraguay

Asunción

national capital, Paraguay

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Paraguarí

Paraguay

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Encarnación

Paraguay

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Concepción

Paraguay

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Villarrica

Paraguay

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Salto del Guairá

Paraguay

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Itá

town, Paraguay

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Caacupé

Paraguay

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Fuerte Olimpo

Paraguay

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Pozo Colorado

Paraguay

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San Pedro

Paraguay

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Ypacaraí

Paraguay

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Pedro Juan Caballero

Paraguay

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