Official name: REPUBLIC OF PARAGUAY
Date of membership: 19 September 1986
Short name: Paraguay
Capital: Asuncion
Geography
Location: Central South America, northeast of Argentina
Area: 406,750 sq km
Land boundaries: 3,920 km
Border countries: Argentine 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km
Natural resources: Hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone
Environment – international agreements: Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements.
Economic indicators
| Total at current prices | 35 646 | Millions USD | 2020 |
| Per capita at current prices | 4998 | USD | 2020 |
| Growth rate per capita at constant prices | -1.9 | % | 2020 |
| Imports of goods and services (GDP at current prices) | 29.3 | % | 2020 |
| Export of goods and services (GDP at current prices) | 33.5 | % | 2020 |
Source: Paraguay: Economic National Profile. CEPALSTAT. Databases and Statistical
Publications. ECLAC. Inquiry: February 24, 2022
Socio-demographic indicators
| Total population | 7 132.5 | (000) | 2020 |
| Life expectancy | 75 | Años | 2020_2025 |
| Women | 77 | Años | 2020_2025 |
| Men | 73 | Años | 2020_2025 |
| Public health expenditure as a percentage of GDP | 6.7 | % | 2018 |
| Literacy rate for persons between the ages of 15 to 24 | 98.6 | % | 2020 |
| Net rate of enrolment in primary education | 80.3 | % | 2020 |
| Net rate of enrolment in secondary education | 70.0 | % | 2020 |
| Public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP | 3.5 | % | 2019 |
| Gini Coefficient | 0.45 | ND | 2020 |
| Unemployment | 7.7 | % | 2020 |
| Migration | -2.1 | % | 2020-2025 |
Source: Paraguay: National Socio-Demographic Profile. CEPALSTAT. Data Bases and Statistical Publications. ECLAC. Inquiry: February 24, 2022
Languages: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Government
Administrative divisions: 17 departments (departamentos, singular – departamento) and 1 capital city: Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro.
Independence: 14 May 1811 (from Spain)
Constitution: Promulgated 20 June 1992
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75
Executive branch: Chief of state: Mario Abdo Benítez (2018-2023). The president is both the chief of state and head of government. Vice President Hugo Velasquez (2018-2023).
Legislative branch: Bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura).
Internet country code: .py
Official Portal Web: http://www.presidencia.gov.py
SELA