Paraguay
sovereign state in South America
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World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Central South America, northeast of Argentina, southwest of Brazil
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
Natural resources
hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
People & Society
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
Government type
presidential republic
Independence
14-15 May 1811 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 14-15 May (1811) (observed 15 May); 14 May is celebrated as Flag Day
Legal system
civil law system with influences from Argentine, Spanish, Roman, and French civil law models; Supreme Court of Justice reviews legislative acts
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$112.919 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$16,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4.2% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
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)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Summary
Paraguay is a republic[1]. Paraguay draws 46,473 Wikipedia views per month (republic category, ranking #12 of 32).[2]
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], Union of South American Nations[4], Mercosur[5], World Trade Organization[6], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7], International Development Association[8], International Finance Corporation[9], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[10]
- Country: Paraguay[11]
- Head of government: Santiago Peña Palacios[12]
- Continent: South America[13]
- Instance of: sovereign state[14], landlocked country[15], country[16]
- Head of state: Santiago Peña Palacios[17]
- Capital: Asunción[18]
- Official language: Spanish[19], Guarani[20]
- Currency: Paraguayan guaraní[21]
- Shares border with: Argentina[22], Bolivia[23], Brazil[24]
- Top-level Internet domain: .py[25]
- Anthem: national anthem of Paraguay[26]
- Named after: Paraguay River[27]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Alto Paraguay Department[28], Alto Paraná Department[29], Amambay Department[30], Capital District[31], Boquerón Department[32], Caaguazú Department[33], Caazapá Department[34], Canindeyú Department[35], Central Department[36], Concepción Department[37], Cordillera Department[38], Guairá Department[39], Itapúa Department[40], Misiones Department[41]
- Flag: flag of Paraguay[42]
- Legislative body: Congress of Paraguay[43]
- Highest judicial authority: Supreme Court of Paraguay[44]
- Coat of arms: coat of arms of Paraguay[45]
- Part of: Latin America[46], Southern Cone[47]
- Commons category: Paraguay[48]
- Licence plate code: PY[49]
- Located in time zone: America/Asuncion[50], UTC−03:00[51]
Body
Influence
Things named for Paraguay include Paraguayans[52], a human population[53] and Creagrutus paraguayensis[54], a taxon[55].
Why It Matters
Paraguay has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[56] Paraguay is known by 30 alternative names across languages and contexts.[57]
Entities named for Paraguay include Paraguayans[52], a human population[53] and Creagrutus paraguayensis[54], a taxon[55].