Paraguay - Wikipedia Paraguay This article is about the country. For other uses, see Paraguay ( disambiguation ). Coordinates : 23 ° S 58 ° W ﻿ / ﻿ 23 ° S 58 ° W ﻿ / - 23 ; - 58 Republic of Paraguay República del Paraguay ( Spanish ) Tetã Paraguái ( Guarani ) Flag ( nb 2 ) Seal Motto : `` Paz y justicia '' ( Spanish ) `` Peace and justice '' Anthem : Paraguayos, República o Muerte ( Spanish ) Paraguayans, Republic or Death Location of Paraguay ( dark green ) in South America ( grey ) Capital and largest city Asunción 25 ° 16 ′ S 57 ° 40 ′ W ﻿ / ﻿ 25.267 ° S 57.667 ° W ﻿ / - 25.267 ; - 57.667 Official languages Guarani Spanish Ethnic groups ( 2016 ) 95 % Mestizo 5 % Other Religion ( 2017 ) 89 % Roman Catholicism 5 % Protestant 4 % Non-religious 2 % Other Demonym Paraguayan Guaraní ( colloquial ) Government Unitary dominant - party presidential republic President Mario Abdo Benítez Vice President Hugo Velázquez Senate President Fernando Lugo Legislature Congress Upper house Senate Lower house Chamber of Deputies Independence from Spain Declared May 14, 1811 Recognized November 25, 1842 Admitted to the United Nations October 24, 1945 Area Total 406,752 km ( 157,048 sq mi ) ( 59th ) Water ( % ) 2.3 Population 2018 estimate 7,052,984 ( 104th ) Density 17.33 / km ( 44.9 / sq mi ) ( 210th ) GDP ( PPP ) 2018 estimate Total $95.011 billion ( 88th ) Per capita $13,471 ( 96th ) GDP ( nominal ) 2018 estimate Total $41.851 billion ( 94th ) Per capita $5,933 ( 94th ) Gini ( 2017 ) 47.9 high HDI ( 2017 ) 0.702 high 110th Currency Guaraní ( PYG ) Time zone UTC -- 4 ( PYT ) Summer ( DST ) UTC -- 3 ( PYST ) Driving side right Calling code + 595 ISO 3166 code PY Internet TLD. py Mixed European and Amerindian. Paraguay ( / ˈpærəɡwaɪ / ; Spanish pronunciation : ( paɾaˈɣwaj ) ; Guarani : Paraguái, ( paɾaˈɰwaj ) ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( Spanish : República del Paraguay ; Guarani : Tetã Paraguái ), is one of only two landlocked countries in South America ( the other is Bolivia ). It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the country from north to south. Due to its central location in South America, it is sometimes referred to as Corazón de Sudamérica ( `` Heart of South America '' ). Spanish conquistadores arrived in 1524 after navigating northwards from the Río de la Plata to the Paraná River, and finally up the Paraguay River. In 1537, they established the city of Asunción, which was the first capital of the Governorate of Paraguay and Río de la Plata. Paraguay was the epicenter of the Jesuit Missions, where the Guaraní people were educated and introduced to Christianity and European culture under the direction of the Society of Jesus in Jesuit reductions, mainly during the 17th century. However, after the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spanish territories in 1767, Paraguay increasingly became a peripheral colony, with few urban centers and settlers. Following independence from Spain at the beginning of the 19th century, Paraguay was ruled by a series of authoritarian governments who generally implemented nationalist, isolationist and protectionist policies. This period ended with the disastrous Paraguayan War, during which Paraguay lost at least 50 % of its prewar population and around 25 - 33 % of its territory to the Triple Alliance of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. In the 20th century, Paraguay faced another major international conflict -- the Chaco War -- against Bolivia, from which the Paraguayans emerged victorious. Afterwards, the country entered a period of military dictatorships, ending with the 35 year regime of Alfredo Stroessner that lasted until he was toppled in 1989 by an internal military coup. This marked the beginning of the `` democratic era '' of Paraguay. With around 7 million inhabitants, Paraguay is a founding member of Mercosur, an original member of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Lima Group. Also, the city of Luque, in Asuncion 's Metropolitan Area, is the seat of the CONMEBOL. The Guarani culture is very influential and more than 90 % of the people speak different forms of the Guarani language. Paraguayans are known for being a very happy and easy - living people and many times the country topped the `` world 's happiest place '' charts because of the `` positive experiences '' lived and expressed by the population. Contents 1 History 1.1 Pre-Columbian Era 1.2 Colonization 1.3 Independence and rule of Francia 1.4 Rule of the López 1.5 Paraguayan War ( 1864 -- 1870 ) 1.6 20th century 1.7 Stroessner era, 1954 -- 1989 1.8 Stroessner 's overthrow, post-1989 1.9 Election of Fernando Lugo 1.10 Present day 2 Geography and Climate 2.1 Geography 2.2 Climate 3 Government and politics 3.1 Military 3.2 Administrative subdivisions 4 Economy 4.1 Industry and manufacturing 4.2 Social issues 4.2. 1 Social issues of the indigenous 5 Demographics 5.1 Religion 5.2 Languages 5.3 Largest cities 6 Culture 6.1 Sports 7 Education 8 Health 9 See also 10 Notes 11 References 12 External links History Main article : History of Paraguay Pre-columbian era The indigenous Guaraní had been living in eastern Paraguay for at least a millennium before the arrival of the Spanish. Western Paraguay, the Gran Chaco, was inhabited by nomads of whom the Guaycuru peoples were the most prominent. The Paraguay River was roughly the dividing line between the agricultural Guarani people to the east and the nomadic and semi-nomadic people to the west in the Gran Chaco. The Guarcuru nomads were known for their warrior traditions and were not fully pacified until the late 19th century. These indigenous tribes belonged to five distinct language families, which were the bases of their major divisions. Differing language speaking groups were generally competitive over resources and territories. They were further divided into tribes by speaking languages in branches of these families. Today 17 separate ethnolinguistic groups remain. Colonization The first Europeans in the area were Spanish explorers in 1516. The Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa founded the settlement of Asunción on 15 August 1537. The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province of Paraguay. An attempt to create an autonomous Christian Indian nation was undertaken by Jesuit missions and settlements in this part of South America in the eighteenth century, which included portions of Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. They developed Jesuit reductions to bring Guarani populations together at Spanish missions and protect them from virtual slavery by Spanish settlers and Portuguese slave raiders, the Bandeirantes. In addition to seeking their conversion to Christianity. Catholicism in Paraguay was influenced by the indigenous peoples ; the syncretic religion has absorbed native elements. The reducciones flourished in eastern Paraguay for about 150 years, until the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish Crown in 1767. The ruins of two 18th - century Jesuit Missions of La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná and Jesús de Tavarangue have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. In western Paraguay Spanish settlement and Christianity were strongly resisted by the nomadic Guaycuru and other nomads from the 16th century onward. Most of these peoples were absorbed into the mestizo population in the 18th and 19th centuries. Independence and rule of Francia Main article : Independence of Paraguay José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, Paraguay 's first dictator. Paraguay overthrew the local Spanish administration on 14 May 1811. Paraguay 's first dictator was José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia who ruled Paraguay from 1814 until his death in 1840, with very little outside contact or influence. He intended to create a utopian society based on the French theorist Jean - Jacques Rousseau 's Social Contract. Rodríguez de Francia established new laws that greatly reduced the powers of the Catholic church ( Catholicism was then an established state religion ) and the cabinet, forbade colonial citizens from marrying one another and allowed them to marry only blacks, mulattoes or natives, in order to break the power of colonial - era elites and to create a mixed - race or mestizo society. He cut off relations between Paraguay and the rest of South America. Because of Francia 's restrictions of freedom, Fulgencio Yegros and several other Independence - era leaders in 1820 planned a coup d'état against Francia, who discovered the plot and had its leaders either executed or imprisoned for life. Rule of the López After Francia 's death in 1840, Paraguay was ruled by various military officers under a new junta, until Carlos Antonio López ( allegedly Rodríguez de Francia 's nephew ) came to power in 1841. López modernized Paraguay and opened it to foreign commerce. He signed a non-aggression pact with Argentina and officially declared independence of Paraguay in 1842. After López 's death in 1862, power was transferred to his eldest son, Francisco Solano López. The regime of the López family was characterized by pervasive and rigid centralism in production and distribution. There was no distinction between the public and the private spheres, and the López family ruled the country as it would a large estate. The government exerted control on all exports. The export of yerba mate and valuable wood products maintained the balance of trade between Paraguay and the outside world. The Paraguayan government was extremely protectionist, never accepted loans from abroad and levied high tariffs against imported foreign products. This protectionism made the society self - sufficient, and it also avoided the debt suffered by Argentina and Brazil. Slavery existed in Paraguay, although not in great numbers, until 1844, when it was legally abolished in the new Constitution. Francisco Solano López, the son of Carlos Antonio López, replaced his father as the President - Dictator in 1862, and generally continued the political policies of his father. Both wanted to give an international image of Paraguay as `` democratic and republican '', but in fact, the ruling family had almost total control of all public life in the country, including Church and colleges. Militarily, Carlos Antonio López modernized and expanded industry and the Paraguayan Army and greatly strengthened the strategic defences of Paraguay by developing the Fortress of Humaitá. The government hired more than 200 foreign technicians, who installed telegraph lines and railroads to aid the expanding steel, textile, paper and ink, naval construction, weapons and gunpowder industries. The Ybycuí foundry, completed in 1850, manufactured cannons, mortars and bullets of all calibers. River warships were built in the shipyards of Asunción. Fortifications were built, especially along the Apa River and in Gran Chaco. The work was continued by his son Francisco Solano. Political map of the region, 1864 According to George Thompson, C.E., Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers in the Paraguayan Army prior to and during the war, López 's government was comparatively a good one for Paraguay : Probably in no other country in the world has life and property been so secure as all over Paraguay during his ( Antonio Lopez 's ) reign. Crime was almost unknown, and when committed, immediately detected and punished. The mass of the people was, perhaps, the happiest in existence. They had hardly to do any work to gain a livelihood. Each family had its house or hut in its own ground. They planted, in a few days, enough tobacco, maize and mandioca for their own consumption (... ). Having at every hut a grove of oranges (... ) and also a few cows, they were almost throughout the year under little necessity (... ). The higher classes, of course, lived more in the European way... -- George Thompson, C.E. Paraguayan war ( 1864 -- 1870 ) Main articles : Paraguayan War and Paraguayan War casualties Francisco Solano López On 12 October 1864, despite Paraguayan ultimatums, the Brazilian Empire ( sided with the Argentine Government under Gen. Bartolomé Mitre and the rebellious Uruguayan colorados led by Gen. Venancio Flores ) invaded the Republic of Uruguay in order to overthrow the Government of that time ( which was under the rule of the Blanco Party, an ally of López ), thus starting the Paraguayan War. The Paraguayans, led by the Marshal of the Republic Francisco Solano López, retalliated by attacking the Matto Grosso on 15 December 1864 and later declared war against Argentina on 23 March 1865. The `` Blanco Government '' was toppled and replaced by a `` Colorado Government '' under Gen. Venancio Flores on 22 February 1865 and afterwards, the Argentine Republic, the Empire of Brazil and the Republic of Uruguay signed the infamous Secret Treaty of the Triple Alliance against the Paraguayan Government, on 1 May 1865. With incredible heroism, the Paraguayans held a ferocious resistance but were ultimately defeated in 1870 after the Battle of Cerro Corá, where Marshal Solano López was killed in action, refusing to surrender. The real causes of this war, which remains the bloodiest international conflict in the history of The Americas, are still highly debated. Paraguay lost around 25 - 33 % of its territory to Argentina and Brazil, was forced to pay an enormous war debt and to sell large amounts of national properties in order to restore its internal budget. But the worst consequence of the war was the catastrophic loss of population. At least 50 % of the Paraguayans died during the conflict and took long decades for the country to recover. About the disaster suffered by the Paraguayans at the outcome of the war, William D. Rubinstein wrote : `` The normal estimate is that of a Paraguayan population of somewhere between 450,000 and 900,000, only 220,000 survived the war, of whom only 28,000 were adult males. '' During the pillaging of Asunción in 1869, the Imperial Brazilian Army packed up and transported the Paraguayan National Archives to Rio de Janeiro. Brazil 's records from the war have remained classified. This has made Paraguayan history in the Colonial and early National periods difficult to research and study. The Battle of Tuyutí, May 1866 20th century Gran Chaco was the site of the Chaco War ( 1932 -- 35 ), in which Bolivia lost most of the disputed territory to Paraguay. Paraguayan recruits during the Chaco war In 1904 the Liberal revolution against the rule of Colorados broke out. The Liberal rule started a period of great political instability. Between 1904 and 1954 Paraguay had thirty - one presidents, most of whom were removed from office by force. Conflicts between the factions of the ruling Liberal party led to the Paraguayan Civil War of 1922. The unresolved border conflict with Bolivia over the Chaco region finally erupted in the early 1930s in the Chaco War. After great losses Paraguay defeated Bolivia and established its sovereignty over most of the disputed Chaco region. After the war, military officers used popular dissatisfaction with the Liberal politicians to seize the power for themselves. On 17 February 1936, the February Revolution brought colonel Rafael Franco to power. Between 1940 and 1948, the country was ruled by general Higinio Morínigo. Dissatisfaction with his rule resulted in the Paraguayan civil war of 1947. In its aftermath Alfredo Stroessner began involvement in a string of plots, which resulted in his military coup d'état of 4 May 1954. Stroessner era, 1954 -- 1989 See also : El Stronato A series of unstable governments ensued until the establishment in 1954 of the regime of dictator Alfredo Stroessner, who remained in office for more than three decades until 1989. Paraguay was modernized to some extent under Stroessner 's regime, although his rule was marked by extensive human rights abuses. Stroessner and the Colorado party ruled the country from 1954 to 1989. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but also had a poor human rights and environmental record ( see `` Political History '' ). Paraguay actively participated in Operation Condor. Torture and death for political opponents was routine. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until 2008. The splits in the Colorado Party in the 1980s, and the prevailing conditions : Stroessner 's advanced age, the character of the regime, the economic downturn, and international isolation, were catalysts for anti-regime demonstrations and statements by the opposition prior to the 1988 general elections. PLRA leader Domingo Laíno served as the focal point of the opposition in the second half of the 1980s. The government 's effort to isolate Laino by exiling him in 1982 had backfired. On his sixth attempt to re-enter the country in 1986, Laino returned with three television crews from the U.S., a former United States ambassador to Paraguay, and a group of Uruguayan and Argentine congressmen. Despite the international contingent, the police violently barred Laino 's return. The Stroessner regime relented in April 1987, and permitted Laino to return to Asunción. Laino took the lead in organizing demonstrations and reducing infighting among the opposition party. The opposition was unable to reach agreement on a common strategy regarding the elections, with some parties advocating abstention, and others calling for blank voting. The parties held numerous ' lightning demonstrations ' ( mítines relámpagos ), especially in rural areas. Such demonstrations were gathered and quickly disbanded before the arrival of the police. In response to the upsurge in opposition activities, Stroessner condemned the Accord for advocating `` sabotage of the general elections and disrespect of the law ''. He used national police and civilian vigilantes of the Colorado Party to break up demonstrations. A number of opposition leaders were imprisoned or otherwise harassed. Hermes Rafael Saguier, another key leader of the PLRA, was imprisoned for four months in 1987 on charges of sedition. In early February 1988, police arrested 200 people attending a National Coordinating Committee meeting in Coronel Oviedo. Laino and several other opposition figures were arrested before dawn on the day of the election, 14 February, and held for twelve hours. The government declared Stroessner 's re-election with 89 % of the vote. The opposition attributed the results in part to the virtual Colorado monopoly on the mass media. They noted that 53 % of those polled indicated that there was an `` uneasiness '' in Paraguayan society. 74 % believed that the political situation needed changes, including 45 % who wanted a substantial or total change. Finally, 31 % stated that they planned to abstain from voting in the February elections. Stroessner 's overthrow, post-1989 On 3 February 1989, Stroessner was overthrown in a military coup headed by General Andrés Rodríguez. As president, Rodríguez instituted political, legal, and economic reforms and initiated a rapprochement with the international community. Reflecting the deep hunger of the rural poor for land, hundreds immediately occupied thousands of acres of unused territories belonging to Stroessner and his associates ; by mid-1990, 19,000 families occupied 340,000 acres ( 138,000 ha ). At the time, 2.06 million people lived in rural areas, more than half of the 4.1 million total population, and most were landless. The June 1992 constitution established a democratic system of government and dramatically improved protection of fundamental human rights. In May 1993, Colorado Party candidate Juan Carlos Wasmosy was elected as Paraguay 's first civilian president in almost 40 years, in what international observers deemed fair and free elections. With support from the United States, the Organization of American States, and other countries in the region, the Paraguayan people rejected an April 1996 attempt by then Army Chief General Lino Oviedo to oust President Wasmosy. Oviedo was nominated as the Colorado candidate for president in the 1998 election, however, when the Supreme Court upheld in April his conviction on charges related to the 1996 coup attempt, he was not allowed to run and was detained in jail. His former running mate, Raúl Cubas, became the Colorado Party 's candidate, and was elected in May in elections deemed by international observers to be free and fair. One of Cubas ' first acts after taking office in August was to commute Oviedo 's sentence and release him. In December 1998, Paraguay 's Supreme Court declared these actions unconstitutional. In this tense atmosphere, the murder of Vice President and long - time Oviedo rival Luis María Argaña on 23 March 1999, led the Chamber of Deputies to impeach Cubas the next day. On 26 March, eight student anti-government demonstrators were murdered, widely believed to have been carried out by Oviedo supporters. This increased opposition to Cubas, who resigned on 28 March. Senate President Luis González Macchi, a Cubas opponent, was peacefully sworn in as president the same day. In 2003, Nicanor Duarte Frutos was elected as president. Election of Fernando Lugo For the 2008 general elections, the Colorado Party was favored in polls. Their candidate was Minister of Education Blanca Ovelar, the first woman to be nominated as a candidate for a major party in Paraguayan history. After sixty years of Colorado rule, voters chose Fernando Lugo, a former Roman Catholic Bishop and not a professional politician in civil government, and a member of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, Paraguay 's largest opposition party. Lugo was an adherent of liberation theology. Lugo achieved a historic victory in Paraguay 's presidential election, defeating the ruling party candidate, and ending 61 years of conservative rule. Lugo won with nearly 41 % of the vote, compared to almost 31 % for Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado party. Outgoing President Nicanor Duarte Frutos hailed the moment as the first time in the history of the nation that a government had transferred power to opposition forces in a constitutional and peaceful fashion. Lugo was sworn in on 15 August 2008. The Lugo administration set its two major priorities as the reduction of corruption and economic inequality. Inauguration of new President Horacio Cartes, 15 August 2013 Political instability following Lugo 's election and disputes within his cabinet encouraged some renewal of popular support for the Colorado Party. Reports suggested that the businessman Horacio Cartes became the new political figure amid disputes. Despite the US Drug Enforcement Administration 's strong accusations against Cartes related to drug trafficking, he continued to amass followers in the political arena. On 14 January 2011, the Colorado Party convention nominated Horacio Cartes as the presidential candidate for the party. However, the party 's constitution did n't allow it. On 21 June 2012, impeachment proceedings against President Lugo began in the country 's lower house, which was controlled by his opponents. Lugo was given less than twenty - four hours to prepare for the proceedings and only two hours in which to mount a defense. Impeachment was quickly approved and the resulting trial in Paraguay 's Senate, also controlled by the opposition, ended with the removal of Lugo from office and Vice President Federico Franco assuming the duties of president. Lugo 's rivals blamed him for the deaths of 17 people -- eight police officers and nine farmers -- in armed clashes after police were ambushed by armed peasants when enforcing an eviction order against rural trespassers. Lugo 's supporters gathered outside Congress to protest the decision as a `` politically motivated coup d'état ''. Lugo 's removal from office on 22 June 2012 is considered by UNASUR and other neighboring countries, especially those currently governed by leftist leaders, as a coup d'état. However, the Organization of American States, which sent a mission to Paraguay to gather information, concluded that the impeachment process was not a coup d'état, as it had been carried out in accordance with the Constitution of Paraguay. Present day From August 2013 to 15 August 2018, the President of Paraguay was Horacio Cartes. Since 15 August 2018 the current President of Paraguay is Mario Abdo Benítez. Geography and climate Geography Main article : Geography of Paraguay Paraguay map of Köppen climate classification Landscape in the Gran Chaco, Paraguay Paraguay is divided by the Río Paraguay into two well differentiated geographic regions. The eastern region ( Región Oriental ) ; and the western region, officially called Western Paraguay ( Región Occidental ) and also known as the Chaco, which is part of the Gran Chaco. The country lies between latitudes 19 ° and 28 ° S, and longitudes 54 ° and 63 ° W. The terrain consists mostly of grassy plains and wooded hills in the eastern region. To the west are mostly low, marshy plains. Climate Main article : Climate of Paraguay The overall climate is tropical to subtropical. Like most lands in the region, Paraguay has only wet and dry periods. Winds play a major role in influencing Paraguay 's weather : between October and March, warm winds blow from the Amazon Basin in the North, while the period between May and August brings cold winds from the Andes. The absence of mountain ranges to provide a natural barrier allows winds to develop speeds as high as 161 km / h ( 100 mph ). This also leads to significant changes in temperature within a short span of time ; between April and September, temperatures will sometimes drop below freezing. January is the hottest summer month, with an average daily temperature of 28.9 degrees Celsius ( 84 degrees F ). Rainfall varies dramatically across the country, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, and semi-arid conditions in the far west. The far eastern forest belt receives an average of 170 centimeters ( 67 inches ) of rain annually, while the western Chaco region typically averages no more than 50 cm ( 20 in ) a year. The rains in the west tend to be irregular and evaporate quickly, contributing to the aridity of the area. Government and politics Main articles : Politics of Paraguay, Human rights in Paraguay, and Foreign relations of Paraguay Paraguay is a representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system and separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President, who is head of state and head of government. Legislative power is vested in the two chambers of the National Congress. The judiciary is vested on tribunals and Courts of Civil Law and a nine - member Supreme Court of Justice, all of them independent of the executive and the legislature. Military Main article : Military of Paraguay Paraguayan marines at Ancon Marine Base The military of Paraguay consist of the Paraguayan army, navy ( including naval aviation and marine corps ) and air force. The constitution of Paraguay ( article 238 ) establishes the president of Paraguay as the commander - in - chief. Paraguay has compulsory military service, and all 18 - year - old males and 17 - year - olds in the year of their 18th birthday are liable for one year of active duty. Although the 1992 constitution allows for conscientious objection, no enabling legislation has yet been approved. In July 2005, military aid in the form of U.S. Special Forces began arriving at Paraguay 's Mariscal Estigarribia air base, a sprawling complex built in 1982. Administrative subdivisions Main articles : Departments of Paraguay and Districts of Paraguay Paraguay consists of seventeen departments and one capital district ( distrito capital ). It is also divided into 2 regions : The `` Occidental Region '' or Chaco ( Boquerón, Alto Paraguay and Presidente Hayes ), and the `` Oriental Region '' ( the other departments and the capital district ). These are the departments, with their capitals, population, area and the number of districts : Alto Paraguay Boquerón Presidente Hayes Amambay Concepción San Pedro Distrito Capital Guairá Caazapá Alto Paraná Caaguazú Canindeyú Itapúa Paraguarí Misiones Ñeembucú Cordillera Central Brazil Bolivia Argentina ISO 3166 - 2 : PY Departament Capital Population ( 2018 estimate ) Area ( km2 ) Districts ASU Distrito Capital Asunción 524,190 117 Concepción Concepción 244,071 18,051 12 San Pedro San Pedro 419,629 20,002 21 Cordillera Caacupé 299,234 4,948 20 Guairá Villarrica 220,818 3,846 18 5 Caaguazú Coronel Oviedo 545,904 11,474 22 6 Caazapá Caazapá 184,530 9,496 11 7 Itapúa Encarnación 592,017 16,525 30 8 Misiones San Juan Bautista 123,442 9,556 10 9 Paraguarí Paraguarí 254,884 8,705 18 10 Alto Paraná Ciudad del Este 796,689 14,895 22 11 Central Areguá 2,072,041 2,465 19 12 Ñeembucú Pilar 88,784 12,147 16 13 Amambay Pedro Juan Caballero 164,462 12,933 5 14 Canindeyú Salto del Guairá 221,647 14,667 14 15 Presidente Hayes Villa Hayes 121,075 72,907 8 16 Alto Paraguay Fuerte Olimpo 17,219 82,349 17 Boquerón Filadelfia 63,011 91,669 -- Paraguay Asunción 7,052,983 406,752 254 The departments are further divided into districts ( distritos ). Economy Main article : Economy of Paraguay The macroeconomy in Paraguay is characterized by a historical low inflation rate -- 5 % average ( in 2013, the inflation rate was 3.7 % ), international reserves 20 % of GDP and twice the amount of the external national debt. The country enjoys clean and renewable energy production of 8,700 MW ( current domestic demand 2,300 MW ). Paraguay is the world 's largest exporter of electric power, from two large hydroelectric power projects along its borders. The excess production is sold to Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Between 1970 and 2013, the country had the highest economic growth of South America, with an average rate of 7.2 % per year. In 2010 and 2013, Paraguay experienced the greatest economic expansion of South America, with a GDP growth rate of 14.5 % and 13.6 % respectively. Graphical depiction of Paraguay 's product exports in 28 color - coded categories, 2012 Paraguay is the sixth - largest soybean producer in the world, second - largest producer of stevia, second - largest producer of tung oil, sixth - largest exporter of corn, tenth - largest exporter of wheat and 8th largest exporter of beef. The market economy is distinguished by a large informal sector, featuring re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Nonetheless, over the last 10 years the Paraguayan economy diversified dramatically, with the energy, auto parts and clothing industries leading the way. The country also boasts the third most important free commercial zone in the world : Ciudad del Este, trailing behind Miami and Hong Kong. A large percentage of the population, especially in rural areas, derives its living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. The economy grew rapidly between 2003 and 2013 as growing world demand for commodities combined with high prices and favorable weather to support Paraguay 's commodity - based export expansion. In 2012, Paraguay 's government introduced the MERCOSUR ( FOCEM ) system in order to stimulate the economy and job growth through a partnership with both Brazil and Argentina. Industry and manufacturing BBVA Paraguay The mineral industry of Paraguay produces about 25 % of the country 's gross domestic product ( GDP ) and employs about 31 % of the labor force. Production of cement, iron ore, and steel occurs commonly throughout Paraguay 's industrial sector. The growth of the industry was further fueled by the maquila industry, with large industrial complexes located in the eastern part of the country. Paraguay put in place many incentives aimed to attract industries to the country. One of them is the so - called `` Maquila law '' by which companies can relocate to Paraguay, enjoying minimal tax rates. In the pharmaceutical industry, Paraguayan companies now meet 70 % of domestic consumption and have begun to export drugs. Paraguay is quickly supplanting foreign suppliers in meeting the country 's drug needs. Strong growth also is evident in the production of edible oils, garments, organic sugar, meat processing, and steel. In 2003 manufacturing made up 13.6 % of the GDP, and the sector employed about 11 % of the working population in 2000. Paraguay 's primary manufacturing focus is on food and beverages. Wood products, paper products, hides and furs, and non-metallic mineral products also contribute to manufacturing totals. Steady growth in the manufacturing GDP during the 1990s ( 1.2 % annually ) laid the foundation for 2002 and 2003, when the annual growth rate rose to 2.5 %. Social issues This section needs to be updated. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ( April 2014 ) Various poverty estimates suggest that 30 -- 50 % of the population is poor. In rural areas, 41.20 % of the people lack a monthly income to cover basic necessities, whereas in urban centers this figure is 27.6 %. The top 10 % of the population holds 43.8 % of the national income, while the lowest 10 % has 0.5 %. The economic recession has worsened income inequality, notably in the rural areas, where the Gini coefficient has risen from 0.56 in 1995 to 0.66 in 1999. More recent data ( 2009 ) show that 35 % of the Paraguayan population is poor, 19 % of which live in extreme poverty. Moreover, 71 % of the latter live in rural areas of the country. Similarly, land concentration in the Paraguayan countryside is one of the highest in the globe : 10 % of the population controls 66 % of the land, while 30 % of the rural people are landless. In the immediate aftermath of the 1989 overthrow of Stroessner, some 19,000 rural families occupied hundreds of thousands of acres of unused lands formerly held by the dictator and his associates by mid-1990, but many rural poor remained landless. This inequality has caused a great deal of tensions between the landless and land owners. Social issues of the indigenous Literacy rates are extremely low among Paraguay 's indigenous population, who have an illiteracy rate of 51 % compared to the 7.1 % rate of the general population. Only 2.5 % of Paraguay 's indigenous population has access to clean drinking water and only 9.5 % have electricity. Demographics Main articles : Demographics of Paraguay and Immigration to Paraguay See also : List of most common surnames in Paraguay hide This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. ( Learn how and when to remove these template messages ) This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( April 2014 ) This section possibly contains inappropriate or misinterpreted citations that do not verify the text. Please help improve this article by checking for citation inaccuracies. ( April 2014 ) Paraguay population density ( people per km ) Population Year Million 1950 1.5 2000 5.3 2016 6.7 Population pyramid 2016 Paraguay 's population is distributed unevenly through the country, with the vast majority of people living in the eastern region near the capital and largest city, Asunción, which accounts for 10 % of the country 's population. The Gran Chaco region, which includes the Alto Paraguay, Boquerón and Presidente Hayes Department, and accounts for about 60 % of the territory, is home to less than 2 % of the population. About 56 % of Paraguayans live in urban areas, making Paraguay one of the least urbanized nations in South America. For most of its history, Paraguay has been a recipient of immigrants, owing to its low population density, especially after the demographic collapse that resulted from the Paraguayan War. Small groups of ethnic Italians, Germans, Russians, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Arabs, Ukrainians, Poles, Jews, Brazilians, and Argentines have also settled in Paraguay. Paraguay has also been a haven for communities persecuted for the religious faith, like the Bruderhof who were forced to leave England in 1941 because of their pacifist beliefs. Many of these communities have retained their languages and culture, particularly the Brazilians, who represent the largest and most prominent immigrant group, at around 400,000. Many Brazilian Paraguayans are of German, Italian and Polish descent. There are an estimated 63,000 Afro - Paraguayans, comprising 1 % of the population. A gathering in Caacupé There is no official data on the ethnic composition of the Paraguayan population, as the Department of Statistics, Surveys and Censuses of Paraguay does not ask about race and ethnicity in census surveys, although it does inquire about the indigenous population. According to the census of 2002, the indigenous people made up 1.7 % of Paraguay 's total population. Traditionally, the majority of the Paraguayan population is considered mixed ( mestizo in Spanish ). HLA - DRB1 polymorphism studies have shown the genetic distances between Paraguayans and Spanish populations were closer than between Paraguayans and Guaranis. Altogether these results suggest the predominance of the Spanish genetic in the Paraguayan population. According to the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects, Paraguay has a population of 6,725,308, 95 % of which are mestizo ( mixed European and Amerindian ) and 5 % are labelled as `` other '', which includes members of indigenous tribal groups. They are divided into 17 distinct ethnolinguistic groupings, many of which are poorly documented. Paraguay has one of the most prominent German communities in South America, with some 25,000 German - speaking Mennonites living in the Paraguayan Chaco. German settlers founded several towns as Hohenau, Filadelfia, Neuland, Obligado and Nueva Germania. Several websites that promote German immigration to Paraguay claim that 5 -- 7 % of the population is of German ancestry, including 150,000 people of German - Brazilian descent. Religion Main article : Religion in Paraguay Main Catholic Chapel in Concepción, Paraguay Christianity, particularly Roman Catholicism, is the dominant religion in Paraguay. According to the 2002 census, 89.9 % of the population is Catholic, 6.2 % is Evangelical Protestant, 1.1 % identify with other Christian sects, and 0.6 % practice indigenous religions. A U.S. State Department report on Religious Freedom names Roman Catholicism, evangelical Protestantism, mainline Protestantism, Judaism ( Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform ), Mormonism, and the Bahá'í Faith as prominent religious groups. It also mentions a large Muslim community in Alto Paraná ( as a result of Middle - Eastern immigration, especially from Lebanon ) and a prominent Mennonite community in Boquerón. Languages Main article : Languages of Paraguay Paraguay is a bilingual nation. Both Spanish and Guaraní are official languages. The Guarani language is a remarkable trace of the indigenous Guaraní culture that has endured in Paraguay, which is generally understood by 95 % of the population. Guaraní claims its place as one of the last surviving and thriving of South American indigenous national languages. In 2015, Spanish was spoken by about 87 % of the population, while Guaraní is spoken by more than 90 %, or slightly more than 5.8 million speakers. 52 % of rural Paraguayans are bilingual in Guaraní. While Guaraní is still widely spoken, Spanish is generally given a preferential treatment in government, business, media and education as one of South America 's lingua francas. Languages of Paraguay Languages percent Guaraní 90 % Spanish 87 % Largest cities Largest cities or towns in Paraguay ( 2002 DGEEC census ) Rank Name Department Pop. Rank Name Department Pop. Asunción Ciudad del Este Asunción Capital District 512,112 11 Mariano Roque Alonso Central 65,229 San Lorenzo Luque Ciudad del Este Alto Paraná 222,274 12 Pedro Juan Caballero Amambay 64,592 San Lorenzo Central 204,356 13 Villa Elisa Central 53,166 Luque Central 170,986 14 Caaguazú Caaguazú 48,941 5 Capiatá Central 154,274 15 Coronel Oviedo Caaguazú 48,773 6 Lambaré Central 119,795 16 Hernandarias Alto Paraná 47,266 7 Fernando de la Mora Central 113,560 17 Presidente Franco Alto Paraná 47,246 8 Limpio Central 73,158 18 Itauguá Central 45,577 9 Ñemby Central 71,909 19 Concepción Concepción 44,070 10 Encarnación Itapúa 67,173 20 Villarrica Guairá 38,961 Culture Main articles : Music of Paraguay and Cinema of Paraguay Paraguay 's cultural heritage can be traced to the extensive intermarriage between the original male Spanish settlers and indigenous Guaraní women. Their culture is highly influenced by various European countries, including Spain. Therefore, Paraguayan culture is a fusion of two cultures and traditions ; one European, the other, Southern Guaraní. More than 93 % of Paraguayans are mestizos, making Paraguay one of the most homogeneous countries in Latin America. A characteristic of this cultural fusion is the extensive bilingualism present to this day : more than 80 % of Paraguayans speak both Spanish and the indigenous language, Guaraní. Jopara, a mixture of Guaraní and Spanish, is also widely spoken. Ovecha Ragué Festival This cultural fusion is expressed in arts such as embroidery ( ao po'í ) and lace making ( ñandutí ). The music of Paraguay, which consists of lilting polkas, bouncy galopas, and languid guaranias is played on the native harp. Paraguay 's culinary heritage is also deeply influenced by this cultural fusion. Several popular dishes contain manioc, a local staple crop similar to the yuca also known as Cassava root found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, as well as other indigenous ingredients. A popular dish is sopa paraguaya, similar to a thick corn bread. Another notable food is chipa, a bagel - like bread made from cornmeal, manioc, and cheese. Many other dishes consist of different kinds of cheeses, onions, bell peppers, cottage cheese, cornmeal, milk, seasonings, butter, eggs and fresh corn kernels. The 1950s and 1960s were the time of the flowering of a new generation of Paraguayan novelists and poets such as José Ricardo Mazó, Roque Vallejos, and Nobel Prize nominee Augusto Roa Bastos. Several Paraguayan films have been made. Inside the family, conservative values predominate. In lower classes, godparents have a special relationship to the family, since usually, they are chosen because of their favorable social position, in order to provide extra security for the children. Particular respect is owed them, in return for which the family can expect protection and patronage. Sports Main article : Sport in Paraguay Sport in Paraguay is an important part the country 's national culture. Football is the most popular sport, and basketball is also very popular. Other sports such as volleyball, futsal, swimming and tennis are also popular. Additional Paraguayan sports and pastimes include rugby union, chess, motorsport, golf and rowing. Education Main article : Education in Paraguay See also : List of universities in Paraguay and List of schools in Paraguay Literacy was about 93.6 % and 87.7 % of Paraguayans finish the 5th grade according to UNESCO 's last Educational Development Index 2008. Literacy does not differ much by gender. A more recent study reveals that attendance at primary school by children between 6 and 12 years old is about 98 %. Primary education is free and mandatory and takes nine years. Secondary education takes three years. Main universities in Paraguay include : National University of Asunción ( public and founded in 1889 ) Autonomous University of Asunción ( private and founded in 1979 ) Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción ( private and run by the church ). Universidad Americana ( private ). Universidad del Pacífico ( private and founded in 1991 ). The net primary enrollment rate was at 88 % in 2005. Public expenditure on education was about 4.3 % of GDP in the early 2000s. Health Main article : Health in Paraguay Average life expectancy in Paraguay is rather high given its poverty : as of 2006, it was 75 years, equivalent to far wealthier Argentina, and the 8th highest in the Americas according to World Health Organization. Public expenditure on health is 2.6 % of GDP, while private health expenditure is 5.1 %. Infant mortality was 20 per 1,000 births in 2005. Maternal mortality was 150 per 100,000 live births in 2000. The World Bank has helped the Paraguayan government reduce the country 's maternal and infant mortality. The Mother and Child Basic Health Insurance Project aimed to contribute to reducing mortality by increasing the use of selected life - saving services included in the country 's Mother and Child Basic Health Insurance Program ( MCBI ) by women of child - bearing age, and children under age six in selected areas. To this end, the project also targeted improving the quality and efficiency of the health service network within certain areas, in addition to increasing the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare 's ( MSPBS ) management. See also Paraguay portal Latin America portal Bibliography of Paraguay Index of Paraguay - related articles Outline of Paraguay Notes Jump up ^ The reverse side of the National Seal of Paraguay : Jump up ^ The reverse side of the Flag of Paraguay : References Jump up ^ Central Intelligence Agency ( 2016 ). `` Paraguay ''. The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia : Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 1 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Latinobarómetro 1995 - 2017 : El Papa Francisco y la Religión en Chile y América Latina '' ( PDF ) ( in Spanish ). January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018. Jump up ^ Reed, Richard K. ( 1 May 1995 ). `` Prophets of Agroforestry : Guaraní Communities and Commercial Gathering ''. University of Texas Press -- via Google Books. ^ Jump up to : `` Paraguay ''. World Economic Outlook Database, October 2018. International Monetary Fund. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018. Jump up ^ `` Gini Index ''. World Bank. Retrieved 15 September 2018. Jump up ^ `` 2018 Human Development Report '' ( PDF ). United Nations Development Programme. 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018. Jump up ^ `` Paraguay -- Constitution, Article 140 About Languages ''. International Constitutional Law Project. Retrieved 3 December 2007. ( see translator 's note ) Jump up ^ `` 8 LIZCANO '' ( PDF ). Convergencia.uaemex.mx. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` En el corazón de Sudamérica ''. ABC. Retrieved 12 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Paraguay : cómo Asunción se convirtió en `` madre '' de más de 70 ciudades de Sudamérica hace 480 años ``. BBC ( London, UK ). Link : https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-40920828 Jump up ^ Caraman, Philip ( 1976 ) : `` The lost paradise : the Jesuit Republic in South America '', New York : Seabury Press. Jump up ^ `` World 's Happiest Country ? Would You Believe Paraguay ? '', published by NBC News ( USA ), May 21, 2014. Link : https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/worlds-happiest-country-would-you-believe-paraguay-n110981 Jump up ^ `` Global Misery Worst Since Records Began, Poll Finds '', published by Newsweek ( USA ), 14 September 2018. Link : https://www.newsweek.com/global-misery-worst-records-began-poll-finds-1121134 Jump up ^ Sacks, Richard S. `` Early explorers and conquistadors ''. In Hanratty & Meditz. ^ Jump up to : `` Paraguariae Provinciae Soc. Jesu cum Adiacentibg. Novissima Descriptio '' ( A Current Description of the Province of the Society of Jesus in Paraguay with Neighboring Areas ). World Digital Library ( in Latin ). 1732. Jump up ^ War of The Triple Alliance, War of the Pacific. Retrieved 14 November 2010 Jump up ^ Romero, Simon. `` In Paraguay, Indigenous Language With Unique Staying Power ''. The New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Carlos Antonio López '', Library of Congress Country Studies, December 1988. URL accessed 30 December 2005. Jump up ^ Stearns, Peter N ( ed. ). Encyclopedia of World History ( 6 ed. ). The Houghton Mifflin Company / Bartleby.com. Page 630 Jump up ^ Cunninghame Graham 1933, p. 39 - 40. Jump up ^ Cunninghame Graham 1933, p. 41 - 42. Jump up ^ Robert Cowley, The Reader 's Encyclopedia to Military History. New York, New York : Houston Mifflin, 1996. Page 479. Jump up ^ Hooker, T.D., 2008, The Paraguayan War, Nottingham : Foundry Books, ISBN 1901543153 Jump up ^ Thompson 1869, p. 10. Jump up ^ The Blanco Party of Uruguay, hardline right wing and reactionary at those days, was in the Uruguayan Government during the outbreak of the war and were allies of the Paraguayan Government. See the classic book of the Blanco Leader Luis Alberto de Herrera ( 1927 ) : `` El Drama del 65 - La Culpa Mitrista '', pp. 11 - 33. Bareiro y Ramos Editors. Montevideo, Uruguay Jump up ^ Sir Richard Francis Burton : `` Letters from the Battlefields of Paraguay '', p. 76 -- Tinsley Brothers Editors -- London ( 1870 ) -- Burton, as a witness of the conflict, marks this date ( 12 -- 16 October 1864 ) as the real beginning of the war. He writes ( and it 's the most logic account, considering the facts ) : The Brazilian Army invades the Banda Oriental, despite the protestations of President López, who declared that such invasion would be held a `` casus belli ''. Jump up ^ Pomer, León ( 2008 ) : `` La Guerra del Paraguay : Estado, Política y Negocios '' ( in Spanish ), pp. 240 - 241. Buenos Aires : Editorial Colihue. Jump up ^ Hooker, T.D., 2008, `` The Paraguayan War ''. Nottingham : Foundry Books, pp. 105 -- 108. ISBN 1901543153 Jump up ^ The classical view asserts that Francisco Solano López 's expansionist and hegemonic views are the main reason for the outbreak of the conflict. The traditional Paraguayan view, held by the `` lopistas '' ( supporters of Solano López, both in Paraguay and worldwide ), affirms that Paraguay acted in self - defense and for the protection of the `` Equilibrium of the Plate Basin ''. This view is usually contested by the `` anti-lopistas '' ( also known in Paraguay as `` legionarios '' ), who favoured the `` Triple Alliance ''. Revisionist views, both from right and left wing national - populists, put a great emphasis on the influence of the British Empire in the conflict, a view that is discarded by a majority of historians. Jump up ^ Rubinsein, W.D. ( 2004 ). Genocide : a history. Pearson Education. p. 94. ISBN 0 - 582 - 50601 - 8. Jump up ^ Hipólito Sanchez Quell : `` Los 50.000 Documentos Paraguayos Llevados al Brasil ''. Ediciones Comuneros, Asunción ( 2006 ). 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Jump up ^ Subsecretaria De Estado De Economia -- ¿ Qué Es Focem ?. Economia.gov.py. Retrieved on 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ ÂżQuĂŠ es Maquila ? Ministerio de Industria y Comercio -- Paraguay. Mic.gov.py. Retrieved on 18 June 2016. Jump up ^ `` Paraguay '' ( PDF ). Lcweb2.loc.gov. Retrieved 2 May 2010. Jump up ^ 2003 Census Bureau Household Survey ^ Jump up to : $ ( w. time ). `` En Paraguay, disminuyó la pobreza entre 2003 y 2009 -- ABC Color ''. Abc.com.py. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ Marió ; et al. ( 2004 ). `` Paraguay : Social Development Issues for Poverty Alleviation '' ( PDF ). World Bank report. Retrieved 18 June 2007. ^ Jump up to : `` Paraguay ''. Pan-American Health Organization. ( retrieved 12 July 2011 ) ^ Jump up to : `` World Population Prospects : The 2017 Revision ''. ESA.UN.org ( custom data acquired via website ). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 10 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` A Life of the Land, Cut Short ''. The American Conservative. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 27. Jump up ^ `` Bruderhof Communities - GAMEO ''. gameo.org. Retrieved 2018 - 02 - 27. Jump up ^ Paraguay Information and History. National Geographic. Jump up ^ San Alberto Journal : Awful Lot of Brazilians in Paraguay, Locals Say. The New York Times. 12 June 2001. Jump up ^ `` Afro - Paraguayan ''. Joshua Project. U.S. Center for World Mission. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2008. Jump up ^ `` Dirección General de Estadísticas, Encuestas y Censos ''. Dgeec.gov.py. Retrieved 2 May 2010. Jump up ^ CAPÍTULO III. Características Socio - Culturales y étnicas, pp. 39ff in Paraguay. Situación de las mujeres rurales ( 2008 ) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Jump up ^ Benitez, O ; Loiseau, P ; Busson, M ; Dehay, C ; Hors, J ; Calvo, F ; Durand Mura, M ; Charron, D ( 2002 ). `` Hispano - Indian admixture in Paraguay studied by analysis of HLA - DRB1 polymorphism ''. Pathologie - biologie. 50 ( 1 ) : 25 -- 9. doi : 10.1016 / s0369 - 8114 ( 01 ) 00263 - 2. PMID 11873625. Jump up ^ Antonio De La Cova ( 28 December 1999 ). `` Paraguay 's Mennonites resent ' fast buck ' outsiders ''. Latinamericanstudies.org. Retrieved 2 May 2010. Jump up ^ Jonathan Ross. `` Allgemeines über Paraguay ''. PY : Magazin-paraguay.de. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Information um und zu Paraguay `` Kategorie `` Paraguay24 -- Die Geschichte unserer Auswanderung ''. Paraguay24.de. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ Miran Blanco ( 24 March 2007 ). `` Paraguay Auswandern Einwandern Immobilien Infos für Touristen, Auswanderer Asuncion Paraguay ''. Auswandern-paraguay.org. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Paraguay -- Immobilien -- Auswandern -- Immobilienschnδppchen, Hδuser, und Grundstόcke um Villarrica ''. My-paraguay.com. Retrieved 5 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Paraguay -- Auswandern -- Immobilien -- Reisen ''. PARAGUAY1.DE. Retrieved 19 October 2012. Jump up ^ The Latin American Socio - Religious Studies Program / Programa Latinoamericano de Estudios Sociorreligiosos ( PROLADES ) PROLADES Religion in America by country Jump up ^ `` Paraguay religion ''. State.gov. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010. Jump up ^ Paraguayan Guaraní, Ethnologue Jump up ^ Paraguay. `` The Languages spoken in Paraguay ''. Studycountry.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Languages of Paraguay ''. VisitParaguay.net. Retrieved 21 April 2017. Jump up ^ SIMON ROMERO ( 12 March 2012 ). `` In Paraguay, Indigenous Language With Unique Staying Power - The New York Times ''. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2017. 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External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paraguay. Wikinews has news related to : Paraguay Government Chief of State and Cabinet Members National Department of Tourism ( in Spanish ) Ministry of Finance with economic and Government information, available also in English ( in Spanish ) Paraguay Photos General information Paraguay from the Encyclopædia Britannica `` Paraguay ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Paraguay at UCB Libraries GovPubs Paraguay at Curlie Paraguay profile from the BBC News Wikimedia Atlas of Paraguay Geographic data related to Paraguay at OpenStreetMap Key Development Forecasts for Paraguay from International Futures News media La Rueda -- Weekly reviews ( in Spanish ) ABC Color ( in Spanish ) Última Hora ( in Spanish ) La Nación ( in Spanish ) Paraguay.com ( in Spanish ) Ñanduti ( in Spanish ) Trade World Bank Summary Trade Statistics Paraguay Travel Paraguay Convention & Visitor 's Bureau Paraguay.com : Tradition, Culture, Maps, Tourism Paraguay travel guide from Wikivoyage Tourism in Paraguay, information, pictures and more. Turismo.com.py ( in Spanish ) Paraguay articles History Guaraní people Governorate of New Andalusia Jesuit reduction José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia Paraguayan War First Civil War Chaco War Second Civil War 1954 coup d'état El Stronato 1989 coup d'état 2012 political crisis 2017 political crisis Geography Cities Climate Environmental issues Fauna Flora National parks World Heritage Sites Politics Administrative divisions Departments Districts Congress Chamber of Deputies Senate Constitution Elections Foreign relations Human rights LGBT International rankings Military Political parties Presidents Economy Agriculture Companies Energy Central Bank Guaraní ( currency ) Science and technology Stock Exchange Telecommunications Internet domain Transport Society Demographics Education Health Crime Immigration Indigenous peoples Languages LGBT List of Paraguayans Religion Women Culture Cinema Cuisine Literature Media Music Public holidays Sport Symbols Anthem Coat of arms Flag Tourism Outline Index Bibliography Portal related articles Heads of state of Paraguay Yegros Rodríguez de Francia Yegros Rodríguez de Francia Ortiz Medina Roque Alonzo C.A. López F.S. López Rivarola Machaín Rivarola Jovellanos Gill Uriarte Bareiro Saguier Caballero Escobar J.G. González M. Morínigo Egusquiza Aceval Carvallo Escurra Gaona Báez Ferreira González Navero Gondra Jara Rojas Peña González Navero Schaerer M. Franco Montero Gondra Eusebio Ayala Eligio Ayala Riart Eligio Ayala Guggiari Eusebio Ayala R. Franco Paiva Estigarribia H. Moríñigo Frutos J.N. González Rolón Molas Chávez Romero Stroessner Rodríguez Wasmosy Cubas González Macchi Duarte Frutos Lugo Franco Cartes Abdo Benítez Italics indicate acting, interim or provisional role. Divisions and cities of Paraguay Administrative subdivisions Departments ( 17 ) Alto Paraguay Alto Paraná Amambay Boquerón Caaguazú Caazapá Canindeyú Central Concepción Cordillera Guairá Itapúa Misiones Ñeembucú Paraguarí Presidente Hayes San Pedro Capital District ( 1 ) Asunción Largest cities Asunción Ciudad del Este San Lorenzo Luque Capiatá Lambaré Fernando de la Mora Limpio Ñemby Encarnación Mariano Roque Alonso Pedro Juan Caballero Villa Elisa Metropolitan areas Gran Asunción Gran Ciudad del Este Elections and referendums in Paraguay Elections 1928 1943 1948 1950 1953 1954 1958 1960 1963 1967 1968 1973 1977 1978 1991 1998 2000 2003 2008 2013 2018 Referendums 1938 1940 2011 List of wars involving Paraguay Wars Paraguayan War ( 1864 -- 1870 ) Paraguayan Civil War ( 1922 ) Chaco War ( 1932 -- 1935 ) Paraguayan Civil War ( 1947 ) Countries and dependencies of South America Sovereign states Entire Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela In part France French Guiana Dependencies Falkland Islands / South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands UK Andean Community of Nations Members Bolivia Colombia Ecuador Peru Associate members Argentina Brazil Chile Paraguay Uruguay Venezuela Observers Mexico Panama Union of South American Nations Members Full Members Bolivia Ecuador Guyana Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Suspended Members Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Paraguay Peru Summits 2008 2009 Ecuador 2009 Argentina 2011 2012 2013 2014 Topics Cusco Declaration Constitutive Treaty President Pro Tempore Secretary General Bank of the South South American Parliament Initiative for Infrastructure Integration of South America Mercosur Andean Community Mercosur Mercosul ( Southern Common Market ) Politics Treaty of Asunción Protocol of Ouro Preto Visa policies Members Full Members Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Venezuela ( suspended ) Associated States Bolivia ( in process of accession ) Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Peru Suriname Observers Mexico New Zealand Institutions Parliament Currencies Argentine peso Brazilian real Paraguayan guaraní Uruguayan peso Venezuelan bolívar Integration Citizenship Vehicle registration plates Organization of American States ( OAS ) Members Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Barbados Brazil Belize Bahamas Bolivia Canada Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Paraguay Peru St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines St. Kitts and Nevis Suriname Trinidad and Tobago United States Uruguay Venezuela Organization Secretariat for Political Affairs Secretariat for Multidimensional Security General Assembly Inter-American Commission of Women Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Inter-American Court of Human Rights Pan American Union Building Politics Charter Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man American Convention on Human Rights Pan-American Conference Summits of the Americas Americas Pan American Sports Organization WorldCat Identities BNF : cb11865260j ( data ) GND : 4044601 - 3 HDS : 3397 ISNI : 0000 0001 2308 8111 LCCN : n79066597 NARA : 10035731 NDL : 00569041 NKC : ge130368 VIAF : 139099883 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paraguay&oldid=866526510 '' Categories : Paraguay Countries in South America 1811 establishments in South America Former Spanish colonies Landlocked countries Member states of Mercosur Member states of the United Nations Republics Spanish - speaking countries and territories States and territories established in 1811 Hidden categories : CS1 Spanish - language sources ( es ) CS1 Latin - language sources ( la ) Articles with Spanish - language external links Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Spanish - language text Articles containing Guarani - language text Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the flag caption or type parameters Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010 Articles with unsourced statements from September 2008 Articles with unsourced statements from March 2010 Wikipedia articles needing clarification from April 2012 All articles with vague or ambiguous time Vague or ambiguous time from June 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from June 2018 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2013 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2014 Vague or ambiguous time from February 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from March 2012 Wikipedia articles in need of updating from April 2014 All Wikipedia articles in need of updating Articles needing additional references from April 2014 All articles needing additional references Articles lacking reliable references from April 2014 All articles lacking reliable references Articles with multiple maintenance issues All accuracy disputes Articles with disputed statements from April 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from May 2014 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2006 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles with Curlie links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from January 2018 Articles with permanently dead external links Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with HDS identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with NARA identifiers Wikipedia articles with NDL identifiers Wikipedia articles with NKC identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikinews Wikivoyage Languages Acèh Адыгабзэ Afrikaans Alemannisch አማርኛ Ænglisc Aragonés Arpetan Asturianu Avañe'ẽ Aymar aru Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - 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Question: if you are from paraguay what are you called
Answer: Paraguayan