GeoRealityMatch
Front view of historic cathedral in Asunción, Paraguay with clear blue sky.Stunning view of the Basilica of Our Lady in Caacupé during a golden sunset.

Paraguay

South America

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingHigh development
BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and high safety.
Safety

63rd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.882lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#63 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
6.8per 100,000 people a yearHighUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
40.5Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$6,750national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.2New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
14.1years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 188% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 62% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$13K$25K$20,181 PPP$7,027Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,439 a person, $8,561 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2007, $3,212 a person, $9,179 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2008, $4,385 a person, $9,867 at PPP, inflation 10.2%2009, $3,942 a person, $9,802 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2010, $4,751 a person, $10,893 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2011, $5,805 a person, $11,442 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2012, $5,642 a person, $10,954 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $6,436 a person, $12,137 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2014, $6,652 a person, $12,607 at PPP, inflation 5%2015, $5,879 a person, $12,679 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2016, $5,775 a person, $13,329 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2017, $6,152 a person, $13,977 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2018, $6,258 a person, $14,139 at PPP, inflation 4%2019, $5,821 a person, $14,150 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $5,365 a person, $14,309 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2021, $5,975 a person, $15,401 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2022, $6,189 a person, $16,306 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2023, $6,303 a person, $17,585 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2024, $6,457 a person, $18,632 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $7,027 a person, $20,181 at PPP, inflation 4%$0$13K$25KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,439 a person, $8,561 at PPP, inflation 9.6%2007, $3,212 a person, $9,179 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2008, $4,385 a person, $9,867 at PPP, inflation 10.2%2009, $3,942 a person, $9,802 at PPP, inflation 2.6%2010, $4,751 a person, $10,893 at PPP, inflation 4.7%2011, $5,805 a person, $11,442 at PPP, inflation 8.3%2012, $5,642 a person, $10,954 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2013, $6,436 a person, $12,137 at PPP, inflation 2.7%2014, $6,652 a person, $12,607 at PPP, inflation 5%2015, $5,879 a person, $12,679 at PPP, inflation 3.1%2016, $5,775 a person, $13,329 at PPP, inflation 4.1%2017, $6,152 a person, $13,977 at PPP, inflation 3.6%2018, $6,258 a person, $14,139 at PPP, inflation 4%2019, $5,821 a person, $14,150 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2020, $5,365 a person, $14,309 at PPP, inflation 1.8%2021, $5,975 a person, $15,401 at PPP, inflation 4.8%2022, $6,189 a person, $16,306 at PPP, inflation 9.8%2023, $6,303 a person, $17,585 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2024, $6,457 a person, $18,632 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $7,027 a person, $20,181 at PPP, inflation 4%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
74.0years, at birthModerate
#96 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
79WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100HighWHO · 2023
Air pollution
16.3PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageModerateWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
4.8%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
118 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
531EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet118 MbpsVery fast
Mobile28 MbpsVery slow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Stunning view of the Basilica of Our Lady in Caacupé during a golden sunset.
How it changed

Paraguay's Human Development Index

0.756High human development

99th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 9th of 12 in South America.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #97Cuba0.762
  2. #98Dominica0.761
  3. #99Paraguay0.756
  4. #100Egypt0.754
  5. #100Jordan0.754
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.607 in 1990 to 0.756 in 2023.

0.550.680.800.75619902000201020231990: 0.6071991: 0.6131992: 0.6191993: 0.6261994: 0.6311995: 0.6371996: 0.6461997: 0.6531998: 0.6591999: 0.6642000: 0.6642001: 0.6712002: 0.6792003: 0.6732004: 0.6812005: 0.6832006: 0.6842007: 0.6902008: 0.7002009: 0.7002010: 0.7092011: 0.7152012: 0.7192013: 0.7302014: 0.7332015: 0.7372016: 0.7372017: 0.7402018: 0.7442019: 0.7472020: 0.7422021: 0.7232022: 0.7472023: 0.7560.550.680.8019902000201020231990: 0.6071991: 0.6131992: 0.6191993: 0.6261994: 0.6311995: 0.6371996: 0.6461997: 0.6531998: 0.6591999: 0.6642000: 0.6642001: 0.6712002: 0.6792003: 0.6732004: 0.6812005: 0.6832006: 0.6842007: 0.6902008: 0.7002009: 0.7002010: 0.7092011: 0.7152012: 0.7192013: 0.7302014: 0.7332015: 0.7372016: 0.7372017: 0.7402018: 0.7442019: 0.7472020: 0.7422021: 0.7232022: 0.7472023: 0.756

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
74 years2024at birthUp 2.7 years from 71.3 years in 2005
Internet users
82%2024of people onlineUp 74 points from 8% in 2006
Urban population
70%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 11 points from 59% in 2006
Births per woman
2.422024births per womanDown 0.55 from 2.97 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
59%2021of energy usedDown 8 points from 67% in 2004
Access to electricity
100%2024of people with electricityUp 5 points from 95% in 2005
Infant mortality
152024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 11 from 26 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.5 t from 0.7 t in 2005
Forest area
39%2023of land under forestDown 16 points from 54% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Lowest taxes in South America: a flat 10% rate, dollar economy, easy residency.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAsunción
  • LanguagesGuaraní, Spanish
  • CurrencyParaguayan guaraní (PYG)
  • Area396,012 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B/C/N
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Paraguay's Human Development Index?

Paraguay's Human Development Index is 0.756 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #99 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Paraguay safe?

Paraguay scores 1.88 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #63 of 161 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.