Paraguay: general information about country, happiness index 2024

World Happiness Report for Paraguay 2024

  • Overall Happiness Rank Paraguay: 57
  • Happiness Score Paraguay:5.977

Happiness is a subjective concept that has long been debated by philosophers, psychologists, and economists alike. However, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in quantifying happiness and using it as a measure of a nation’s overall well-being. This is where the concept of the Happiness Index comes into play.

What is the Happiness Index?

The Happiness Index is a measure that attempts to quantify the overall happiness and life satisfaction of a country’s population. It is based on the idea that traditional economic indicators, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), do not fully capture the overall well-being of a society. The Happiness Index takes into account various factors that contribute to an individual’s sense of happiness and life satisfaction, including social support, freedom to make life choices, healthy life expectancy, and perceptions of corruption.

How is the Happiness Index Calculated?

The Happiness Index is calculated through a combination of subjective and objective data. The primary source of data is the Gallup World Poll, which is a survey conducted in over 160 countries. The survey asks respondents to rate their overall life satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible life.

In addition to the life satisfaction score, the Happiness Index also takes into account the following factors:

  1. GDP per capita: This is a measure of a country’s economic output and standard of living.
  2. Social support: This factor measures the extent to which individuals have supportive relationships and love in their lives.
  3. Healthy life expectancy: This is a measure of the number of years an individual is expected to live in good health.
  4. Freedom to make life choices: This factor measures the extent to which individuals are able to make decisions about their lives without external constraints.
  5. Generosity: This factor measures the extent to which individuals engage in charitable activities and donate to others.
  6. Perceptions of corruption: This factor measures the extent to which individuals perceive their society to be free from corruption.

These factors are weighted and combined to produce an overall Happiness Index score for each country.

What Does the Happiness Index Affect?

The Happiness Index has significant implications for policymaking and societal well-being. Countries with higher Happiness Index scores are generally considered to have better overall quality of life and well-being for their citizens. This can have positive impacts on various aspects of society, including:

  1. Economic productivity: Happier individuals tend to be more productive and engaged in their work, which can contribute to a country’s economic growth.
  2. Public health: Higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction are associated with better physical and mental health outcomes, which can reduce healthcare costs and improve overall well-being.
  3. Social cohesion: Societies with higher levels of happiness tend to have stronger social bonds and lower levels of conflict and crime.
  4. Environmental sustainability: Happier individuals may be more likely to engage in environmentally-friendly behaviors and support policies that promote sustainability.

By focusing on the factors that contribute to happiness and well-being, policymakers can develop strategies to improve the overall quality of life for their citizens. The Happiness Index provides a valuable tool for measuring progress and identifying areas where improvements can be made.

Short information

  • Abbreviation of Paraguay. PY.

    Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America.

  • Paraguay is a representative democratic republic with a president as the head of state.
  • The country has a rich cultural heritage, with influences from indigenous Guarani traditions as well as Spanish colonialism.
  • Paraguay is known for its unique traditional music and dance, including the polka and the Paraguayan harp.
  • Paraguay – Overview

    Early History and Ancient Civilizations

    The region that is now Paraguay has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence of human settlements dating back to around 1000 BC. The indigenous Guarani people were the dominant group in the area before the arrival of European colonizers. The Guarani were a semi-nomadic people who practiced agriculture and lived in large communal houses.

    Kingdoms and Empires

    Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, there were no significant kingdoms or empires in the territory of modern-day Paraguay. The Guarani people lived in small, decentralized communities and did not develop large-scale political structures.

    Colonial Period

    Paraguay was colonized by the Spanish in the 16th century. The first permanent Spanish settlement was founded in 1537 by Juan de Salazar y Espinosa, who established the city of Asunción. The colonization process was marked by conflicts with the indigenous Guarani population and the establishment of Jesuit missions, which aimed to convert the native people to Christianity.

    Independence and Modern Era

    Paraguay gained independence from Spain in 1811, after a series of uprisings led by José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia. The country experienced a period of relative isolation under the dictatorships of Francia and later, Carlos Antonio López and Francisco Solano López. In the late 19th century, Paraguay was devastated by the War of the Triple Alliance against Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, which resulted in a significant loss of territory and population. The 20th century saw periods of political instability, including the Chaco War with Bolivia (1932-1935) and the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner (1954-1989).

    Current Political Situation

    Paraguay is a presidential republic with a multi-party democratic system. The current president is Mario Abdo Benítez, who was elected in 2018. The main political parties are the conservative Colorado Party and the center-left Authentic Radical Liberal Party.

    International Relations

    Paraguay maintains friendly relations with its neighbors and is a member of several regional organizations, including MERCOSUR (Southern Common Market) and UNASUR (Union of South American Nations). The country has no major international conflicts.

    Human Development and Economy

    Paraguay has a developing economy largely based on agriculture, livestock, and hydroelectric power generation. Major industries include food processing, textiles, and construction. The country has made progress in reducing poverty and improving access to education and healthcare in recent years.

    Cultural Highlights

    Paraguay has a rich cultural heritage influenced by its indigenous Guarani roots and Spanish colonial history. The Guarani language is widely spoken, and the country is known for its traditional music, handicrafts, and cuisine. Notable cultural contributions include the nanduti lace and the traditional drink tereré.

    Challenges and Opportunities

    Paraguay faces challenges related to corruption, inequality, and infrastructure development. Opportunities exist in expanding the agricultural sector, promoting sustainable tourism, and leveraging the country’s strategic location and membership in regional trade blocs.

Main facts

1. Location

Paraguay is a landlocked country located in the heart of South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and west, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest.

2. Map References

Paraguay is situated in the central region of South America.

3. Area – Comparative

Paraguay has an area of 406,752 square kilometers (157,048 square miles), making it slightly smaller than the U.S. state of California.

4. Land Boundaries and Border Countries

Paraguay shares land borders with the following countries:

5. Coastline

Paraguay is landlocked, with no coastline.

6. Maritime Claims

As a landlocked country, Paraguay has no maritime claims.

7. Climate

Paraguay has a subtropical to temperate climate, with relatively hot and humid summers and mild winters. The climate varies from subtropical in the Paranaense region to semiarid in the western Chaco region.

8. Terrain

The terrain of Paraguay is characterized by grassy plains and low hills in the east, with marshes and jungles in the west. The central region of the country is dominated by the Paraná River and its tributaries.

9. Elevation Extremes

The highest point in Paraguay is Cerro Peró, at an elevation of 842 meters (2,762 feet), located in the eastern part of the country. The lowest point is the confluence of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers, at an elevation of 46 meters (151 feet).

10. Natural Resources

Paraguay’s major natural resources include hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, and limestone.

11. Major Bodies of Water

The principal water bodies in Paraguay are the Paraná River, which forms the eastern border with Argentina and Brazil, and the Paraguay River, which flows through the center of the country. Other significant rivers include the Pilcomayo River, shared with Argentina, and the Apa River, shared with Brazil.

12. Natural Hazards

The main natural hazards in Paraguay include local flooding caused by heavy rainfall, occasional droughts, and minor seismic activity.

13. Geography – Notes

Paraguay is divided into two distinct geographic regions: the Paranaense region in the east, characterized by fertile plains and subtropical forests, and the Chaco region in the west, a vast semi-arid lowland with sparse vegetation. The country’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture and hydroelectric power generation.

  • Forest Area (% of land area): 37.70%. This is the percentage of a country’s total land area that is covered by natural or planted forests.
  • Co2 Emissions: 7,407. CO2 emissions refer to the release of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes.
  • Agricultural Land( %). 55.10%. Agricultural land refers to the share of land area that is arable and used for cultivating crops or raising livestock.
  • Geographic Coordinates:  -23.442503-58.443832.
  • Capital: The capital of Paraguay is  Asunción
  • Major Cities:
    • Asunción (population: 525,294)
    • Ciudad del Este (population: 320,872)
    • San Lorenzo (population: 227,876)
    • Luque (population: 207,411)
  • Population: 7,044,636
  • Area(Km2): 406752
  • Population Density( P/Km²):18. This is the number of people living per square kilometer of land area in a given region or country.
  • Calling Code:595
  • Official Language(s):Paraguay is Spanish (95%) and Guarani (5%).
  • Currency: PYG

Main Economic Indicators

Paraguay’s economy is a market economy that is highly dependent on agriculture, especially the production and export of soybeans, beef, and cereals. It has a GDP of around $40 billion, making it one of the smaller economies in South America. Key economic challenges include high income inequality, corruption, and a large informal sector. Notable economic policies have focused on promoting foreign investment and trade liberalization.

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) for Paraguay:

  • 2021: 6.8% (Source: Central Bank of Paraguay)
  • 2020: 2.8% (Source: Central Bank of Paraguay)

Credit Ratings

Credit ratings for Paraguay (as of May 2023):

  • Fitch: BB
  • Moody’s: Ba1
  • Standard & Poor’s: BB+

GDP – Composition by Sector of Origin

Composition of Paraguay’s GDP by sector (2021 estimates):

  • Agriculture: 18.2%
  • Industry: 25.8%
  • Services: 56%

Key Agricultural and Industrial Products

Major agricultural products of Paraguay:

  • Soybeans, corn, wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton, cassava, beef, pork, poultry

Major industrial products of Paraguay:

  • Cement, beverages, wood products, steel, base metals, textiles

Labor Force

Total labor force in Paraguay (2021 estimate): 3.5 million

Paraguay ranks 97th globally in terms of labor force size.

Current Account Balance

Current account balance for Paraguay:

  • 2021: -$1.1 billion (Source: Central Bank of Paraguay)
  • 2020: $0.5 billion (Source: Central Bank of Paraguay)

Paraguay ranks 141st globally in terms of current account balance.

Exports and Imports

Total exports for Paraguay (2021): $12.9 billion

Major export partners: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Russia, Netherlands

Main exports: soybeans, electricity, meat, cereals, vegetable oils

Total imports for Paraguay (2021): $13.2 billion

Major import partners: China, Brazil, Argentina, United States, Germany

Main imports: machinery, vehicles, electronics, plastics, chemicals

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold for Paraguay (as of December 2022):

  • Foreign exchange reserves: $9.7 billion
  • Gold reserves: 8.1 tonnes
  • GDP (Current US$):$38,145,288,940. It represents a country’s gross domestic product measured in current US dollars. Higher values indicate a larger economy and economic output.
  • Tax Revenue (% of GDP): 10.00%. It refers to the amount of tax revenue collected by the government, expressed as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). Higher values indicate a higher tax burden relative to the size of the economy.
  • Total Tax Rate (% of commercial profits): 35.00%. This is the sum of all taxes payable by businesses, expressed as a percentage of their commercial profits. Higher values indicate a higher tax burden on businesses.
  • Gasoline Price. $1.04. It refers to the cost of one liter or gallon of gasoline/petrol. Higher values indicate more expensive gasoline prices for consumers and businesses.
  • Minimum wage. $1.55. It refers to the lowest legally mandated hourly wage that employers must pay their workers. Higher values indicate a higher minimum level of pay for low-wage workers.
  • Unemployment Rate (%): 4.81%. It represents the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate more joblessness in the economy.

Social Indicators

National Identity

Nationality (noun): Paraguayan(s)

Nationality (adjective): Paraguayan

Ethnic Groups

Major ethnic groups:
– Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian descent) – 95%
– Other – 5% (includes indigenous groups like Guarani, as well as small populations of Europeans, Africans, Brazilians, and Argentines)

Religions

Religious affiliations:
– Roman Catholic – 89.6%
– Protestant – 6.2%
– Other Christian – 1.1%
– Other or unspecified – 1.9%
– None – 1.2%

Age Structure

Age distribution:
– 0-14 years: 24.71%
– 15-64 years: 67.57%
– 65 years and over: 7.72%

Dependency Ratios

Dependency ratios:
– Total dependency ratio: 47.8
– Youth dependency ratio: 39.2
– Elderly dependency ratio: 8.6

Median Age

Median age:
– Total: 27.9 years
– Male: 27.2 years
– Female: 28.7 years

Lifestyle Indicators

Relevant statistics:
– Obesity rate: 22.7% of the adult population (BMI ≥ 30)
– Alcohol consumption: 7.2 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year
– Tobacco use: 16% of adults
– Maternal mortality ratio: 84 deaths per 100,000 live births
– Infant mortality rate: 17.6 deaths per 1,000 live births

  • Life Expectancy at Birth: 74.1. Life Expectancy at Birth refers to the estimated average number of years a newborn is expected to live based on current mortality rates. Higher values indicate better health outcomes and living conditions in a country or region.
  • Literacy Rate (% of adults): 94.6%. It refers to the percentage of the population aged 15 and above who can read and write with understanding of a short simple statement about their everyday life. Higher literacy rates indicate better educational attainment within a population.
  • Birth Rate:20.57. Birth Rate is the total number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher birth rates indicate a larger share of the population being born each year.
  • Death Rate:8. Death Rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given year. Higher death rates indicate more people dying annually within a population.
  • Fertility Rate: 2.43. Fertility Rate is the average number of children a woman would have over her reproductive years based on current birth rates. Higher fertility rates indicate larger family sizes and population growth.
  • Internet Users (% of population): 62.1%. Internet Users (% of population) refers to the percentage of the total population in a country or region that has access to and uses the internet. Higher values indicate greater internet penetration and connectivity among the population.
  • Urban Population: 4,359,150. Urban Population refers to the percentage or number of people living in urban areas or cities within a country or region. Higher urban population values indicate greater urbanization and concentration of people in cities compared to rural areas.
  • Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure):36.50%. Out of Pocket Health Expenditure (% of total health expenditure) represents the portion of total health care costs that individuals pay directly out of their own pockets, rather than being covered by insurance or government programs. Higher values indicate greater personal financial burden for health care expenses.

Infrastructure and Services

Military and Security Forces

Paraguay’s military consists of the Paraguayan Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force. There are no elite tactical units or foreign legions. The National Police is responsible for maintaining internal security, along with the National Republican Guard, a paramilitary force under the Ministry of Interior.

Military Expenditures

Paraguay’s military spending as a percentage of GDP over the last five years is as follows:

  • 2018: 1.1%
  • 2019: 1.2%
  • 2020: 1.3%
  • 2021: 1.2%
  • 2022: 1.1%

Paraguay’s military spending ranks relatively low globally, at around 100th in the world.

Personnel Strengths

The total active-duty military personnel in Paraguay is around 16,000, with the following breakdown:

  • Army: 11,000
  • Navy: 1,000
  • Air Force: 4,000

The National Republican Guard has approximately 3,500 personnel.

Military Equipment Inventories and Acquisitions

Paraguay’s military hardware includes a mix of domestically produced and imported equipment, primarily from Brazil, Argentina, and the United States. Key assets include:

  • Armored vehicles (light tanks, armored personnel carriers)
  • Artillery (mortars, towed and self-propelled howitzers)
  • Transport and training aircraft
  • Patrol boats and riverine craft

There are no major ongoing or announced future military acquisition programs.

Military Service Age and Obligation

Military service in Paraguay is voluntary for both men and women. The age range for voluntary enlistment in the armed forces is 18-30 years old. There is no mandatory military service requirement.

Military Deployments

Paraguay has no current significant overseas military deployments. It contributes a small contingent to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Strategic Military Notes

Paraguay’s defense strategy focuses on border security, counternarcotics operations, and disaster response within its national territory. The country has no overseas security commitments or military alliances. Paraguay participates in regional security cooperation initiatives through organizations like UNASUR and MERCOSUR.

  • Armed Forces Size: 15650. Armed Forces Size refers to the total number of active personnel serving in a country’s military forces, including the army, navy, air force, and other branches. Higher values indicate a larger military presence and personnel.
  • Physicians per Thousand: Number of doctors per 1,000 people is 1.35
  • Population: Labor Force Participation (%): 72.10%. This is the percentage of the total population aged 15 and older that is economically active, meaning they are either employed or actively seeking employment. Higher values indicate a greater proportion of the working-age population engaged in the labor force.

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