Paraguay
South America · South America
Lowest taxes in South America: a flat 10% rate, dollar economy, easy residency.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Paraguay's Human Development Index
0.731
High human development#102 of 191 countries worldwide, #9 of 12 in South America.
Higher than 47% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Paraguay
Paraguay is a landlocked South American country that rarely appears on anyone's itinerary, which is part of its charm for those who seek out the overlooked. The Guaraní culture and language remain central to daily life even in the capital Asunción, giving it an indigenous quality rare in South American cities. The country's quiet pace, distinctive food, and genuine off-the-map feeling suit slow travellers rather than those with a packed agenda.
- Runs almost entirely on hydroelectric power — one of the world's largest exporters of electricity.
- Guaraní is spoken by more Paraguayans than Spanish — a rare case of an indigenous language surviving majority use.
- Only doubly landlocked country in South America — surrounded by landlocked Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil.
Quick Facts
Capital
Asunción
Languages
Guaraní, Spanish
Currency
₲ PYG
Area
396,012 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
118Mbps
Mobile
28Mbps
GDP / Capita
$7K
PPP / Capita
$20K
Inflation
4.0%
Unemployment
4.8%
Innovation (GII)
21.4
GNI / Capita
$7K
Tax Revenue
11.3%
FDI Inflows
2.4%
Education Spend
3.5%
Cost of Living
28.5
Price Level Index
71st pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.604 → 0.731 (+0.127)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Paraguay's Human Development Index?
Paraguay's Human Development Index is 0.731 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #102 of 191 countries.
Is Paraguay safe?
Paraguay scores 1.88 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #63 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Paraguay?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Paraguay at 28.5 (New York = 100); that is #24 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Paraguay?
Life expectancy at birth in Paraguay is 74.0 yrs (World Bank), ranked #96 of 195 countries.