Paraguay
A landlocked nation with a rich indigenous heritage and a resilient history.
Paraguay, whose official name is the Republic of Paraguay, sits landlocked in central South America. Its neighbors are Bolivia to the northwest and north, Brazil to the northeast and east, and Argentina to the southeast, south, and west. Though it has no coastline, the country reaches the Atlantic Ocean through the Paraná–Paraguay Waterway, a shared system of navigable channels. Politically, Paraguay operates as a unitary presidential republic, with a capital district and seventeen departments. Asunción serves as both the capital and the largest city. The nation traces its independence from Spain to the year 1811.
Quick Facts
- Official name
- Republic of Paraguay
- Languages
- Spanish, Guarani
- Demonym
- Paraguayan
- Capital
- Asunción
- Religion year
- 2020
- Religion
- 95.5% Christianity
- 87.4% Catholicism
- 8.1% other Christian, 4.1% no religion, 0.4% other
Facts from the source article.
Background
The indigenous Guaraní had been living in eastern Paraguay for at least a millennium before the arrival of Spanish conquistadores in 1524. The city of Asunción was founded in 1537 as the first capital of the Governorate of the Río de la Plata within the Spanish Empire. During the 17th century, Paraguay was the center of Jesuit missions. After the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767, Paraguay became a peripheral colony.
Following independence from Spain, Paraguay was ruled by a series of authoritarian governments, ending with the disastrous Triple Alliance War (1864–1870), during which the country lost half its prewar population and around 25–33% of its territory. Paraguay prevailed in the Chaco War with Bolivia (1932-1935). It subsequently came under a succession of military dictators, culminating in the 35-year regime of Alfredo Stroessner, overthrown in 1989 by an internal military coup, marking the beginning of Paraguay's current democratic era.
Did You Know?
- The majority of Paraguay's 6 million people are mestizo, and more than 90% of the population speak various dialects of the Guarani language alongside Spanish.
- In a 2014 Positive Experience Index, Paraguay ranked as the 'world's happiest place', and in 2024, placed 24th in the World Happiness Report.
- The origin of the name Paraguay is uncertain; one version suggests it means 'feather crown of waters' in Guaraní.
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