Population and Demographics

Ethnically, culturally and socially, Paraguay has one of the most homogeneous populations in Latin America. About 95% of the people are mestizos of mixed Spanish and Guaraní Indian descent. About 75% of all Paraguayans can speak Spanish. Guaraní and Spanish are both official languages. Small groups of Ethnic Italians, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Arabs, Brazilians and Argentines settled in Paraguay have to an extent retained their respective languages and culture - particularly the Brazilians.

Paraguay's population is distributed unevenly throughout the country. About 56% of Paraguayans live in urban areas. The vast majority of the people live in the eastern region near the capital and largest city, Asuncion, which accounts for 10% of the country's population. The Chaco, which accounts for about 60% of the territory, is home to less than 2% of the population.

The country is predominantly Roman Catholic, with some Mennonite and other Protestant minorities.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 6,506,464
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
  • 15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
  • 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 21.3 years
  • Male: 21.1 years
  • Female: 21.6 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.45%
  • Birth Rate: 29.1 births/1,000 population
  • Death Rate: 4.49 deaths/1,000 population
  • Net Migration Rate: -0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 75.1 years
  • Male: 72.56 years
  • Female: 77.78 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 3.89 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 0.5%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 15,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%
  • Other 5%
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic 90%
  • Mennonite and other Protestant 10%
• Languages:
  • Spanish (official)
  • Guarani (official)
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 94%
  • Male: 94.9%
  • Female: 93%