Discover Fascinating Paraguay Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Paraguay.
Paraguay
Background
Paraguay is a country rich in history! π΅πΎ It became independent from Spain all the way back in 1811. For a long time, it was under a military dictatorship led by Alfredo Stroessner, which lasted for a whopping 35 years. But things changed in 1989, when Paraguay returned to democracy and started having regular presidential elections that are generally free and fair. π β¨
Year of Independence
1811
Length of Military Dictatorship
35 years
Year Democracy Restored
1989
Exports - commodities
Paraguay is known for its diverse range of exports! ππ½ In 2022, the country exported a variety of commodities that play a huge role in its economy. Here's a look at some key exports:
- Beef: A significant product, famous for its quality.
- Electricity: Paraguay exports surplus electricity, mainly generated from hydropower.
- Soybeans: A major agricultural product, vital for both domestic and international markets.
- Corn: Another important crop that contributes to the agricultural sector.
- Soybean Meal: A by-product of soybeans, used mainly for animal feed.
These commodities reflect Paraguay's strengths in agriculture and energy production! πΎβ‘οΈ
Exports - partners
π Paraguay's export partners are quite diverse! In 2022, Brazil led the way, taking a massive 36% of the share. Following Brazil is Argentina with 19%, and Chile with 12%. It's interesting to note that Russia and the USA made smaller contributions, coming in at 4% and 3% respectively. π Let's take a look at how these countries stack up against each other in a fun pie chart!
Percentage of exports to Brazil
36%
Percentage of exports to Argentina
19%
Percentage of exports to Chile
12%
Percentage of exports to Russia
4%
Percentage of exports to the US
3%
Exports Partners of Paraguay (2022)
Capital
π Welcome to AsunciΓ³n! π AsunciΓ³n is the beautiful capital city of Paraguay. Located by the eastern bank of the Paraguay River, it is not only the largest city but also the heart of the nation's culture and economy! ππ₯³
Capital Name
AsunciΓ³n
Imports - commodities
Paraguay imports a variety of essential commodities to support its economy and lifestyle. Hereβs a fun breakdown of the key imports:
- Refined petroleum: Vital for transportation! π
- Broadcasting equipment: Keeping you connected and entertained! π‘
- Cars: A necessity for many families! π
- Fertilizers: Helping farmers grow food! πΎ
- Pesticides: Protecting crops from pests! π
These imports play a significant role in ensuring that Paraguay continues to thrive and flourish. π
Key Imports
Refined petroleum, Broadcasting equipment, Cars, Fertilizers, Pesticides
Climate
Paraguay has a fascinating climate that varies from subtropical to temperate! π¦οΈ This means that certain parts of the country might feel warm and humid, while others might have a cooler, more pleasant climate. In the eastern regions, you'll find substantial rainfall, which is great for lush greenery and beautiful landscapes. π³ However, as you move towards the far west, the weather changes to semiarid, which means it gets drier. It's like a little adventure in climate across different regions of Paraguay!
Climate Types
Subtropical, Temperate, Semiarid
Rainfall Variation
Substantial in the east, limited in the far west
Executive branch
ποΈ Executive Branch in Paraguay ποΈ
The executive branch of Paraguay is led by the chief of state and head of government, both of whom are President Santiago PEΓA Palacios. He has been in office since 15 August 2023. This means Paraguay is currently guided by a single leader for both key roles! π΅πΎ
This marks an exciting time for Paraguay as changes in leadership often bring new policies and directions for the country. Letβs keep an eye on what President Santiago PEΓA Palacios will bring to the table! π
Chief of State
Santiago PEΓA Palacios
Head of Government
Santiago PEΓA Palacios
In Office Since
15 August 2023
Legislative branch
ποΈ Legislative Branch of Paraguay
Paraguay has a bicameral National Congress. This means it has two parts that work together to make laws. Let's dive into the details:
- Chamber of Senators: This part has 45 seats. πͺ
- Chamber of Deputies: This part has 80 seats. π
Together, these chambers help shape the laws that govern Paraguay! π΅πΎ
Seats in the Legislative Branch of Paraguay
Natural resources
π± Paraguay is rich in natural resources! Here are some of the key resources found in this beautiful country:
- Hydropower: Paraguay generates a large portion of its electricity from hydropower, which is one of the cleanest energy sources! β‘
- Timber: The lush forests of Paraguay provide valuable timber used for construction and furniture πͺ΅.
- Iron Ore: Paraguay has deposits of iron ore which are essential for steel production. ποΈ
- Manganese: This important mineral is used in steel production and batteries. βοΈ
- Limestone: Used in various industries, limestone is another resource that bolsters Paraguayβs economy. π
Each of these resources plays a significant role in both local developments and global markets!
Economic overview
ποΈ Paraguay is an upper middle-income country in South America! It has faced challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit while it was still recovering from the economic effects of the 2019 recession caused by Argentina's troubles. ππ However, Paraguay is a global leader in hydroelectricity, generating a huge amount of power! β‘οΈ But with great power comes great responsibility; the country struggles with corruption and is known as a major money-laundering hub. π° Despite its strengths, it remains a highly agrarian economy with notable income inequality. πΎβοΈ
Income level
upper middle-income
Economic challenges
COVID-19 and 2019 recession
Hydroelectricity status
global leader
Corruption issues
major locale for corruption and money-laundering
Economic structure
highly agrarian economy
Income inequality
significant
Government type
In Paraguay, the government type is a presidential republic π΅πΎ! This means the country is run by a president who is elected by the people. The president has a lot of power and makes important decisions for the nation! π³οΈβ¨
Government Type
Presidential Republic
Ethnic groups
Paraguay has a rich tapestry of cultures with its population primarily made up of the Mestizo ethnic group, which is a blend of Spanish and Indigenous ancestry. πβ¨ In fact, 95% of the people in Paraguay identify as Mestizo, reflecting this unique heritage! Meanwhile, the rest of the population, making up 5%, consists of other ethnicities. Isn't that fascinating? π₯³
This diversity contributes to the vibrant culture and traditions found throughout Paraguay.
Percentage of Mestizo ethnicity
95%
Percentage of other ethnic groups
5%
Ethnic Composition of Paraguay
Religions
In the vibrant country of Paraguay, religion plays an essential role in the lives of its people! πβ¨ As of 2023, here's how the religious pie looks:
- Roman Catholic: 80.4% βοΈ
- Protestant: 7% π
- 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% π
- Other: 0.6% π
- Agnostic: <0.1% π€
- None: 0.2% β
- Unspecified: 6.2% β
The Roman Catholic community is the largest, making up a significant majority of the population, while diverse Protestant denominations and other belief systems contribute to the cultural richness of Paraguay. π½π
Percentage of Roman Catholics
80.4%
Percentage of Protestants
7%
Percentage of Believers (not belonging to the church)
5.7%
Percentage of Other religious beliefs
0.6%
Percentage of Agnostics
<0.1%
Percentage of people identifying as None
0.2%
Percentage Unspecified
6.2%
Religious Distribution in Paraguay (2023)
Languages
In Paraguay, the two official languages are Spanish and Guarani! π΅πΎ The population speaks these languages in different ways, which makes the linguistic landscape very interesting! π Here's the breakdown of how people communicate:
- Spanish and Guarani: 46.3% π
- Only Guarani: 34% π£
- Only Spanish: 15.2% π£οΈ
- Other languages (like Portuguese, German, and Indigenous languages): 4.1% π
- No response: 0.4% β
This mix showcases Paraguay's rich cultural diversity and heritage! π
Percentage of Spanish and Guarani speakers
46.3%
Percentage of only Guarani speakers
34%
Percentage of only Spanish speakers
15.2%
Percentage of speakers of other languages
4.1%
Percentage of no response
0.4%
Language Distribution in Paraguay
Imports - partners
π Paraguay has a diverse range of trading partners! In 2022, hereβs how the pie of imports was sliced up:
- π China takes the largest piece with 28%.
- π§π· Next up is Brazil at 23%.
- πΊπΈ The United States comes in third with 11%.
- π¦π· Argentina holds 8% of the pie.
- π¨π± And last but not least, Chile has 3%.
These percentages show how much each country contributed to Paraguay's imports last year. Pretty interesting, right? π
Largest Import Partner
China
Second Largest Import Partner
Brazil
Total Import Percentage from Top 5 Partners
73%
Imports Partners of Paraguay in 2022
Population
π Did you know that the total population of Paraguay is 7,522,549? That's a lot of people living in this beautiful country! π΅πΎ Each person has their own story, culture, and dreams that contribute to the vibrant life of Paraguay. Isn't that amazing?
Total Population of Paraguay
7,522,549
Area
π Paraguay is quite a spacious country! Let's take a look at its total area and what it's made of:
- Total Area: 406,752 sq km.
- Land Area: 397,302 sq km (that's a lot of land for farming and fun! π±)
- Water Area: 9,450 sq km (a perfect amount for rivers and lakes! π§)
Isn't it amazing how diverse the geography of Paraguay is?
Total Area
406752 sq km
Land Area
397302 sq km
Water Area
9450 sq km
Paraguay's Area Composition
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
π Paraguay's Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) has shown growth over the years! Let's take a look at how much the economy has expanded:
- In 2021, it was $102.978 billion.
- By 2022, it increased to $103.159 billion. π
- The latest estimate for 2023 is $108.022 billion! π
This means Paraguay's economy is moving in a positive direction, and it's exciting to see these numbers! π
Growth from 2021 to 2023
5.044 billion USD
Paraguay's Real GDP Over Time
Real GDP per capita
π Let's take a look at Paraguay's Real GDP per capita! This statistic helps us understand how well the country's economy is doing per person. Here are the estimates for the last three years:
- 2021: $15,400
- 2022: $15,200
- 2023: $15,700
As you can see, there's been a bit of a bounce back in 2023! π
This information can really help us understand how rich or poor people are in Paraguay and how their economy is doing over time.
Real GDP per capita in 2023
$15,700
Real GDP per capita in 2022
$15,200
Real GDP per capita in 2021
$15,400
Real GDP per capita in Paraguay (2021-2023)
Imports
π Let's take a closer look at the imports of Paraguay! In 2023, the total imports were a whopping $17.906 billion! That's a big jump from $17.142 billion in 2022 and $14.316 billion in 2021. Isn't it amazing how Paraguay's imports keep growing? ππ°
Import Value in 2023
$17.906 billion
Import Value in 2022
$17.142 billion
Import Value in 2021
$14.316 billion
Paraguay's Imports Over the Years
Exports
π Paraguay's exports have grown significantly over the past few years! In 2021, exports were $14.821 billion, which increased to $14.971 billion in 2022. By 2023, exports reached an impressive $18.711 billion! π This upward trend shows that Paraguay is making great strides in its international trade.
Total Exports in 2023
$18.711 billion
Total Exports in 2022
$14.971 billion
Total Exports in 2021
$14.821 billion
Paraguay's Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
π Paraguay is seeing a population growth rate of 1.09% in 2024! This means that more people are calling this beautiful country home, which brings lots of vibrancy and excitement to its communities! π‘β¨
Population growth rate in 2024
1.09%