Paraguay Facts and Figures

a close up of guaranies, paraguayan money

Facts About Paraguay

Here you will find our Paraguay facts and figures, including; population data, languages spoken, currency and exchange rate, government system and leaders, chambers of commerce, and much more.

Population	6,862,812 (July 2016 est.)
Gross Domestic Product PPP (GDP)	$64.12 billion (2016 est.)
GDP Per Capita	$9,400 (2016 est.)
Inflation Rate	4.3% (2016 est.)
Currency	Paraguayan guaraní
Exchange Rate Versus U.S. Dollar	5,689.1 (2016 est.) guaraní per U.S. dollar
Languages	Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
Capital	Asunción
Capital City Population	23.56 million (2015)
Time Zone	GMT – 4 (One hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Seasons (Climate)	subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west
International Dialing Code	595
Electricity	220V-240V (Plug type: CEE7/4, CEE7/16, Schuko)
System of Government	presidential republic
Name and Party Affiliation of Current Leader	President Horacio Cartes (Since August 2013), Asociacion Nacional Republicana – Colorado Party or ANR
Sales Tax	10%
Restrictions on Foreign Ownership of Property	N/A
Local Chamber of Commerce	Chamber of Commerce of Paraguay Estrella 550, Encarnación, Asunción, Paraguay T : (21) 493-321 F : (21) 440-817 W : www.ccparaguay.com.py
American Chamber of Commerce	Paraguayan-American Chamber of Commerce 25 de Mayo 2090 esq. Mayor Bullo. Barrio Ciudad Nueva Tel.: (+59521) 222 160 Asunción, Paraguay Email : info@pamcham.com.py
Primary Exports	soybeans, livestock feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, wood, leather
Special Benefits for Foreign Residents or Retirees	N/A
National Airline	LATAM (https://www.latam.com/es_py/)

Official Language

The official language of Paraguay is Spanish, but it is the only South American country where the indigenous language, in this case Guarani, is still widely spoken. Most Paraguayans speak both, and talk a version of Spanish amongst themselves that is often incomprehensible to other Spanish speakers. However, when talking to foreigners, they invariably and automatically switch to “normal” Spanish. English is not so widely spoken. You will find quite a few English-speaking professionals and businesspeople, especially in the capital and in Ciudad del Este. However, when you venture out onto the street, or if you want to deal with government agencies like immigration, it pays to have at least some basic Spanish.