The Human Truth Foundation

Paraguay (Republic of Paraguay)

http://www.humantruth.info/paraguay.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#paraguay

Paraguay
Republic of Paraguay
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index99th best
CapitalAsuncion
Land Area 397 300km21
LocationSouth America, The Americas
Population7.0m2
Life Expectancy70.26yrs (2017)3
GNI$12 349 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesPY, PRY, 6005
Internet Domain.py6
CurrencyGuarani (PYG)7
Telephone+5958

1. Overview

#venezuela

Paraguay achieved its independence from Spain in 1811. In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70) - between Paraguay and Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay - Paraguay lost two-thirds of all its adult males and much of its territory. The country stagnated economically for the next half century. Following the Chaco War of 1932-35 with Bolivia, Paraguay gained a large part of the Chaco lowland region. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER ended in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, Paraguay has held relatively free and regular presidential elections since the country's return to democracy.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverLittle-visited and little-known, landlocked Paraguay is a country surrounded by South America´s `big boys´, but there´s a warm welcome and much to experience here. Paraguay is a country much misunderstood. Despite its location at the heart of the continent, it is all too often passed over by travelers who wrongly assume that a lack of `mega-attractions´ means there´s nothing to see. Instead, it´s ideal for those keen to get off the gringo trail for a truly authentic South American experience.

Paraguay is a country of remarkable contrasts: it is rustic and sophisticated, extremely poor and obscenely wealthy; it boasts exotic natural reserves and massive human-made dams; it is a place where horses and carts pull up beside luxury automobiles, artisans´ workshops abut glitzy shopping centers, and Jesuit ruins in rural villages lie just kilometers from sophisticated colonial towns. The steamy subtropical Atlantic Forest of the east is a stark contrast to the dry, spiny wilderness of the Chaco, location of the isolated Mennonite colonies.

While Paraguayans are more used to visits from their bordering neighbors, they are relaxed, kind and welcoming to anyone.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Paraguay National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
102Jordan0.720
103Dominica0.720
104Libya0.718
105Paraguay0.717
106St Lucia0.715
107Palestine0.715
The Americas Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
93S. Africa$12 948
94Suriname$12 672
95Sri Lanka$12 578
96Paraguay$12 349
97Barbados$12 306
98Peru$12 246
The Americas Avg$16 628
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
96El Salvador88.1
97St Kitts & Nevis88.5
98Antigua & Barbuda88.7
99Paraguay89.3
100Ghana89.4
101Bahamas89.6
The Americas Avg81.6
World Avg86.1
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Paraguay's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Paraguay's population is predicted to rise to 8.67 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.87. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
103Hong Kong7.4m
104Laos7.1m
105Bulgaria7.1m
106Paraguay7.0m
107Lebanon6.9m
108Libya6.7m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
114Iraq70.4
115Solomon Islands70.3
116Suriname70.3
117Paraguay70.3
118Egypt70.2
119Mexico70.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
114Malta1.28
115Syria2.81
116Bosnia & Herzegovina1.13
117Paraguay2.87
118Hong Kong1.12
119Israel2.91
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
88India12.5
89Bolivia12.7
90Nicaragua13.1
91Paraguay13.2
92Iran13.4
93Samoa13.7
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
115Zimbabwe2.4%
116Swaziland2.4%
117Ecuador2.4%
118Paraguay2.4%
119Uruguay2.3%
120Mauritius2.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
78Ecuador8.3%
79Poland8.3%
80Afghanistan8.1%
81Paraguay7.9%
82Russia7.9%
83Mali7.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #Paraguay #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
61El Salvador66.9
62Seychelles67.0
63Namibia69.7
64Paraguay70.5
65Armenia71.6
66Montenegro71.8
The Americas Avg74.2
World Avg87.7
q=199.

Paraguay does relatively well in ensuring human rights and freedom, compared to many other countries. Paraguay does the second-best when it comes to its nominal commitment to Human Rights20. It does better than average in commentary in Human Rights Watch reports21, speed of uptake of HR treaties22, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms23 (but bad for The Americas) and in LGBT equality24 (but low for The Americas). Along with 11 others, Paraguay signed the Lima Declaration in 2017, condemning "the assault on democratic order and the systematic violation of human rights in Venezuela"25.

But, things could still be better. Paraguay does worse than average in its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice26, supporting press freedom27, opposing gender inequality28 and in freethought29. Human Rights in Paraguay are under sustained attack from Catholic lobby groups and traditionalist Christians supported by US Conservative Christians. In particular, they are succeeding in preventing women's rights, and have reversed some movements towards LGBT tolerance30.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Paraguay's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #Paraguay #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to The Americas (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Antigua & Barbuda75.6
2Brazil82.1
3Cuba82.4
4Canada83.5
5Barbados85.1
...
18St Vincent & Grenadines96.8
19Dominica98.0
20Panama98.1
21Paraguay98.4
22Chile99.1
23Suriname100.0
24Colombia100.3
The Americas Avg96.2
q=35.
Health (2020)31,32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank31,32
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
113Dominica98.0
114Panama98.1
115Kazakhstan98.1
116Paraguay98.4
117Niue98.7
118Serbia98.9
119Chile99.1
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives31. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau31.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean31, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa31.

For more, see:

Health:

Paraguay does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Paraguay comes in the best 20 for its suicide rate33. It does better than average in its smoking rate34 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance35. Paraguay doesn't do so well in other areas. Paraguay does worse than average for its alcohol consumption rate36, its average life expectancy11, its fertility rate14, its adolescent birth rate28 and in its immunizations take-up37. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% between 1976 and 2016.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
114Iraq70.4
115Solomon Islands70.3
116Suriname70.3
117Paraguay70.3
118Egypt70.2
119Mexico70.2
The Americas Avg72.58
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)36
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita36
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
105Antigua & Barbuda7.0
106Niue7.0
107China7.2
108Paraguay7.2
109Mongolia7.4
110Albania7.5
The Americas Avg6.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
114Malta1.28
115Syria2.81
116Bosnia & Herzegovina1.13
117Paraguay2.87
118Hong Kong1.12
119Israel2.91
The Americas Avg2.29
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)34
Pos.Higher is worse34
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
40Central African Rep. 178
39Guinea-Bissau 175
38Nigeria 173
37Paraguay 166
36Gambia 166
35Zambia 165
The Americas Avg 457
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate (2013)33
Pos.
Per 100k33
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
4Jordan0.2
5Maldives0.7
...
15Venezuela6.5
16Malta6.9
17Greece7
18Paraguay7.1
19St Vincent & Grenadines7.3
20Guatemala7.3
The Americas Avg13.57
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
66Georgia66
67Belarus67
68Brunei68
69Paraguay69
70Latvia70
71Liberia71
The Americas Avg94.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)38
Pos.Lower is better
%38
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
83Barbados52.4
84Papua New Guinea52.9
85Bosnia & Herzegovina53.3
86Paraguay53.5
87Kazakhstan53.6
88Azerbaijan53.6
The Americas Avg57.4
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)28
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100028
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
117Uruguay56.1
118Costa Rica56.5
119Seychelles57.4
120Paraguay57.4
121Ethiopia58.4
122Palestine58.6
The Americas Avg56.6
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)37
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %37
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
129Colombia88.4
130Kiribati88.4
131Netherlands88.1
132Paraguay88.1
133Bosnia & Herzegovina88.0
134Sierra Leone87.7
The Americas Avg91.3
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Paraguay's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #religion #religiosity #research #science #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to The Americas (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Canada21.6
2USA29.3
3Argentina43.8
4Chile51.6
5Barbados54.2
...
31St Vincent & Grenadines90.3
32Jamaica97.8
33St Lucia97.8
34Paraguay104.4
35El Salvador111.1
36Guatemala111.7
37Suriname114.4
The Americas Avg81.7
q=41.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
138Marshall Islands102.8
139Algeria103.4
140Samoa103.4
141Paraguay104.4
142Turkmenistan105.3
143Guinea-Bissau106.0
144Zambia107.9
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Research and Development (2016)
Pos.Higher is better
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2939
2Israel4.1139
3Japan3.5839
4Finland3.1739
5Sweden3.1639
...
108Philippines0.1140
109Myanmar (Burma)0.1141
110Peru0.1042
111Paraguay0.0943
112Congo, DR0.0844
113Indonesia0.0845
The Americas Avg0.47
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education (2018)46
Pos.Higher is better46
1Luxembourg100.0%
2Estonia100.0%
3Austria100.0%
4Canada100.0%
5Finland100.0%
...
113Indonesia48.8%
114Congo, (Brazzaville)48.8%
115Iraq48.0%
116Paraguay47.8%
117Nicaragua47.5%
118Maldives47.1%
The Americas Avg63.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling (2021)47
Pos.Higher is better
Years47
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
108Panama13.1
109Suriname13.0
110Belize13.0
111Paraguay13.0
112Gabon13.0
113Vietnam13.0
The Americas Avg14.2
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
152Sierra Leone152
153Cambodia153
154Zambia154
155Paraguay155
156Tanzania156
157Equatorial Guinea157
The Americas Avg99.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
51USA53
52Bosnia & Herzegovina54
53Greece56
54Paraguay56
55Lebanon57
56Panama61
The Americas Avg65.4
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ (2006)49
Pos.Higher is better49
1Hong Kong108
2Singapore108
3S. Korea106
4Japan105
5Taiwan105
...
81Iran84
82Pakistan84
83Panama84
84Paraguay84
85Morocco84
86Saudi Arabia84
The Americas Avg85.3
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)50
Pos.Higher is better50
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
100Iran49%
101Tunisia48%
102Moldova48%
103Paraguay47%
104Fiji47%
105Tonga47%
The Americas Avg56.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)51
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio51
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
82Philippines0.0
83Macedonia0.0
84Pakistan0.0
85Paraguay0.0
86Chile0.0
87US Virgin Islands0.0
The Americas Avg3.36
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

Paraguay has a consistently awful long-term record on corruption.

World Giving Index (2013-2021)52
Pos.Lower is better52
1Myanmar (Burma)2.7
2New Zealand4.0
3USA4.7
4Australia4.9
5Indonesia9.0
...
87Botswana74.2
88Namibia75.0
89Senegal76.0
90Paraguay77.3
91Mozambique79.0
92Vietnam79.8
The Americas Avg58.4
World Avg67.9
q=160.
Corruption (2022)53
Pos.Higher is better
Points53
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
134Djibouti30.0
135Papua New Guinea30.0
136Gabon29.0
137Paraguay28.0
138Russia28.0
139Mali28.0
The Americas Avg42.97
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness (2018)54
Pos.Higher is better54
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
4Iceland7.5
5Switzerland7.5
...
61Cyprus5.8
62Bolivia5.8
63Estonia5.7
64Paraguay5.7
65Peru5.7
66Kosovo5.7
The Americas Avg6.05
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity and Culture (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
138Algeria138
139Azerbaijan139
140Paraguay140
141Sri Lanka141
142Malawi142
The Americas Avg80.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
151Suriname151
152Gabon152
153Iraq153
154Paraguay154
155Grenada155
156Venezuela156
The Americas Avg100.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index (2021)55
Pos.Lower is better55
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
72Bosnia & Herzegovina1.97
73Oman1.98
74Jamaica1.99
75Paraguay2.00
76Kyrgyzstan2.00
77Liberia2.00
The Americas Avg2.13
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
27Netherlands27
28Mongolia28
29Rwanda29
30Paraguay30
31Jordan31
32India32
The Americas Avg82.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)35
Pos.Lower is better
Rank35
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
79Algeria79
80Ecuador80
81Kuwait81
82Paraguay82
83Sierra Leone83
84Israel84
The Americas Avg91.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)56
Pos.Lower is better
Score56
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
...
86Nicaragua2.95
87Jordan3.09
88Italy3.11
89Paraguay3.12
90Bahrain3.20
91Tanzania3.27
The Americas Avg2.16
World Avg2.78
q=150.

9. The Natural Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)57
Pos.Higher is better
%57
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
167Myanmar (Burma)-25.9
168Cambodia-26.9
169Chad-27.3
170Paraguay-27.6
171Timor-Leste (E. Timor)-29.0
172Mali-29.5
The Americas Avg-00.2
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)58
Pos.Higher is better58
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
102Samoa54.5
103Suriname54.2
104Sao Tome & Principe54.0
105Paraguay53.9
106El Salvador53.9
107Fiji53.1
The Americas Avg58.8
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency (2014)59
Pos.Higher is better59
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
4Colombia17.54
5Ireland17.54
...
39Azerbaijan10.87
40Netherlands10.75
41Mexico10.64
42Paraguay10.53
43Chile10.42
44Lithuania10.42
The Americas Avg10.78
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
45Malawi1994 May 03
46Samoa1994 May 10
47India1994 May 19
48Paraguay1994 May 25
49Hungary1994 May 25
50Brazil1994 May 29
The Americas Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment (2011)60
Pos.Higher is better
%60
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
4Trinidad & Tobago74.5%
5Costa Rica74.2%
...
9S. Korea70.7%
10Colombia70.3%
11Bolivia69.3%
12Paraguay68.9%
13Mexico67.0%
14Nicaragua67.0%
The Americas Avg58.6%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)61
Pos.Higher is worse61
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
...
110Azerbaijan13.90
109Indonesia13.90
108Uzbekistan13.90
107Paraguay13.80
106Honduras13.30
105Mongolia13.10
The Americas Avg12.03
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) (2017)62
Pos.Lower is better
%62
1Ukraine25.0
2Belarus25.4
3Slovenia25.4
4Czechia25.9
5Moldova25.9
...
134Benin47.8
135Guatemala48.3
136Costa Rica48.3
137Paraguay48.8
138Congo, (Brazzaville)48.9
139Colombia49.7
The Americas Avg45.2
World Avg38.1
q=152.
Multidimensional Poverty (2018)63
Pos.Lower is better
Severity63
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
4Turkmenistan.001
5Jordan.002
...
26Belize.017
27Ecuador.018
28Jamaica.018
29Paraguay.019
30Vietnam.019
31Egypt.019
The Americas Avg.045
World Avg.154
q=101.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #Paraguay #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
4Switzerland9
5Denmark9
...
51USA53
52Bosnia & Herzegovina54
53Greece56
54Paraguay56
55Lebanon57
56Panama61
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)64
Pos.Higher is better
%64
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
4Czechia61
5Estonia49
...
70Tajikistan2
71Turkmenistan2
72Indonesia2
73Paraguay1
74Nicaragua1
75Bolivia1
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below65:

Christian96.9%
Muslim0.1%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion1.7%
Jew0.1%
Unaffiliated1.1%

It appears that when asked "What religion are you" many give pollsters the 'correct' answer despite how they actually feel, and despite what they actually believe. Although 99% of the populace say they belong to a religion, only 56% say that they are religious when the question is phrased as "Is religion an important part of your daily life?".

For more on this phenomenon, see:

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1% (2002 census)66.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Although Paraguay's constitution states that "the State is independent of religion"67, the Catholic Church is also named as a cooperative partner in Articles 24 and 8930. Conservative Catholics have great influence over politics to the extent that they damage democracy and human rights, especially women's rights and LGBT tolerance. With support of US Christian organisations, they managed ban the teaching of tolerance in schools, with the Minister for Education swearing that he would "burn any books that contained so-called gender ideology"30.

Links: