Paraguay
in South America
South America

National active POI Bordering countries
Location Summary
Currency and Currency Code:
Guarani - PYG
Spoken languages:
Spanish, Guarani
Local electricity:
220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C)
Mobile phone / cellular frequencies (MHz):
850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G
ISO 2-Letter code:
PY
Internet top level domain:
.py
Country phone prefix:
+595
Local Time (capital):
Timezone:
UTC/GMT offset: hours
Current travel safety evaluation for Paraguay in South America

Safety Score: 3,0 of 5.0 based on data from 9 authorites. Meaning we advice caution when travelling to Paraguay.

Travel warnings are updated daily. Source: Travel Warning Paraguay. Last Update: 2024-08-13 08:21:03

Explore Paraguay

Paraguay with its capital Asuncion is located in South America (Central South America, northeast of Argentina). It covers some 406,753 square kilometers (about three times the size of New York state) with a population of 6,943,740. Spanish and Guarani are the languages spoken by people in Paraguay. Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil are bordering countries.

Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America bordering Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. Walk through the historic Asuncion city center- many former grand buildings are suffering from great decay, but if you look past grafitti walls, you can imagines Asuncions past splendour. At nights, you can take a cab ride and enjoy it fully illuminated. There are many bars, restaurantes in this area. Don Vito is paraguayan fast food at its best. Home of the paraguayan empanada, they have been in business for over 30 years. The original spot is just behind the Iglesia de san Jose, and if you are lucky enough to be in paraguay around may-June, you can order a pastel mandi'o, which is make of mandioca and beef. Best enjoyed with a cold pulp, a paraguayan soft drink made with natural fruit juice.

Popular Destinations in Paraguay

 

Pedro Juan Caballero
 

Encarnación
 

Coronel Oviedo
 

Concepción
 

Ciudad del Este
 

Asunción

Administrative regions of Paraguay

About the country

Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Communicaciones
Palma 468
Asunción
Paraguay

The topography is grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay with Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere. The average density of population is about 17 per km². The climate in Paraguay can be described as subtropical to temperate with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west. Potential natural disasters are local flooding in southeast (early September to June) poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

To reach someone Paraguay dial +595 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".py". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 220 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C). The sign for the locally used currency Guarani is PYG.

Three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity.

Flag of Paraguay

Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and 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. 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, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 61) 406,752sq km
Land (World Rank: 59) 397,302sq km
Water (World Rank: 50) 9,450sq km
Forest (World Rank: 30) 42.80%
Comparative about three times the size of New York state; slightly smaller than California
Landborder
4655
Elevation
Lowest point (World Rank: 34) 46m
Highest point (World Rank: 177) 842m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 62) 53.80%
Arable (World Rank: 104) 10.80%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 174) 0.20%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 30) 42.80%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 84) 1,362sq km
Map reference
South America
Environment
Issues
  • - deforestation
  • - inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents
  • - loss of wetlands
  • - water pollution
Agreement party
  • - Biodiversity
  • - Climate Change
  • - Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
  • - Desertification
  • - Endangered Species
  • - Hazardous Wastes
  • - Law of the Sea
  • - Ozone Layer Protection
  • - Wetlands
Hazzards
  • - local flooding in southeast (early September to June)
  • - poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)
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

People

Population
Total (World Rank: 104) 6,943,740
Deathrate (World Rank: 197) 0.48%
Birthrate (World Rank: 110) 1.66%
Growthrate (World Rank: 92) 1.18%
Migration rate (World Rank: 71) -0.01%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 130) 1.90%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 130) 28.00
Female (World Rank: 132) 28.50
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 102) 867,854
0 14 female (World Rank: 102) 837,480
15 24 male (World Rank: 92) 673,354
15 24 female (World Rank: 91) 666,053
25 54 male (World Rank: 104) 1,426,940
25 54 female (World Rank: 104) 1,425,280
55 64 male (World Rank: 94) 281,388
55 64 female (World Rank: 101) 270,939
65 x male (World Rank: 97) 232,011
65 x female (World Rank: 102) 262,440
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 86) 1.87%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 68) 77years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 74) 80years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 72) 75years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 101) 1.29
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 131) 1.30
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 103) 88.60%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 100) 20.30%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 81) 98.00%

Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 51) 55,190,000,000kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 91) 10,470,000,000kWh
Export (World Rank: 4) 41,130,000,000kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 213) 0.20%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 2) 99.30%
Source renew (World Rank: 147) 0.50%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 114) 38,000bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 92) 37,610bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 168) 3m³
Carbon footprint
3900000

Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 69) 5% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 93) 1% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 26) 10% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 69) -2% of GDP
National symbol
lion
National colours
white
Adjective
Paraguayan
Noun
Paraguayan(s)
Background
Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and 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. 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, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.
Flag description
three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears a circular seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words PAZ Y JUSTICIA (Peace and Justice)); red symbolizes bravery and patriotism, white represents integrity and peace, and blue denotes liberty and generosity

Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 102) 64,390,000,000USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 62) 4.10%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 137) 9,400USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 48) 20.00%
Source industry (World Rank: 75) 30.30%
Source service (World Rank: 177) 49.70%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 101) 3,383,000
In poverty (World Rank: 92) 22.20%
Products
Industries
  • - base metals
  • - beverages
  • - cement
  • - electric power
  • - steel
  • - sugar processing
  • - textiles
  • - wood products
Agriculture
  • - beef
  • - cassava
  • - corn
  • - cotton
  • - eggs
  • - fruits
  • - manioc
  • - milk
  • - pork
  • - soybeans
  • - sugarcane
  • - tapioca
  • - timber
  • - tobacco
  • - vegetables
  • - wheat
Exports
  • - cotton
  • - edible oils
  • - gold
  • - leather
  • - livestock feed
  • - meat
  • - soybeans
  • - wood
Imports
  • - chemicals
  • - consumer goods
  • - electrical machinery
  • - petroleum products
  • - road vehicles
  • - tobacco
  • - tractors
  • - vehicle parts

Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 106) 368,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 155) 5.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 110) 109.00
Assessment 0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 92) 3,524,040
Population (World Rank: 121) 51.30%

Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 100) 15.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 7) 784
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 133) 30.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 95) 32,059
Paved length (World Rank: 100) 4,860
Unpaved length (World Rank: 56) 27,199
Water
Total length (World Rank: 33) 3,100
Popular places in this country

This is a list of famous places in this country in alphabetical order.