The landlocked country of Paraguay is divided in two by the River Paraguay, which runs north-south down the centre. The eastern part consists of low, green hills and plains. Most of the country’s towns and cities, including the capital, Asunción, are in this region. To the west of the River Paraguay lies the Gran Chaco, a vast scrubland plain which extends into Bolivia in the north and Argentina in the south. Much of the Chaco (known as Chaco Boreal in Paraguay) is dry, bleak and virtually uninhabited. Paraguay has a subtropical climate: summers are hot and wet, while winters are mild.

People

Nearly all Paraguayans live in the east. The capital, Asunción, is the only large city. Most Paraguayans are mestizo: descended from a mixture of Spanish and the native Guaraní people. Although only a handful of Guaraní tribes remain, the Guaraní language is spoken by nearly all Paraguayans, with Spanish as the country's joint official language.

Mennonites

Among the few inhabitants of the Chaco region are several thousand Mennonites, descendants of Central European peoples who fled persecution in Russia and Germany in the 1930s. They are Evangelical Christians; most live a traditional lifestyle, farming and raising cattle for their milk, meat and skins.

Farming

Compared to its neighbours, Brazil and Argentina, Paraguay is still a fairly poor country. Farming is very important. The country is a major producer of soya beans, which are grown on land cleared of rainforest and exported, mainly to China.

While Paraguay is a landlocked country, its ports are able to access the Atlantic Ocean via the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway. Stretches of the Paraguay river are being straightened and deepened to enable the passage of vessels shipping exported produce. 

Dams

Hydro-electric power is generated at two enormous dams on the Rio Paraná: Itaipú (shared with Brazil) and Yacyretá (between Paraguay and Argentina). Itaipú Dam is one of the largest hydro-electric projects in the world; much of the electrical power it produces is exported by Paraguay to Brazil.

Facts about Paraguay

Area 397,302 sq km

Population 6,218,879 (2024 estimate)

Highest point Cerro Peró 842 m (2762 ft)

Capital Asunción, metro area population 2,346,168

Other major cities Ciudad del Este (pop. 546,643)

Languages Spanish, Guaraní

Religions Christian (Roman Catholic) 90%, Christian (Protestant) 6%, others and none 4%

Ethnicity mestizo (mixed Spanish / Native American) 95%, Native American and others 5%

Currency Paraguayan guaraní

Chief exports soya beans, electrical power, maize, beef, vegetable oils, wood products, leather