Life in Paraguay: Every Number That Shapes It (1800–2100)
Updated July 2026 · methodology
A child born in Paraguay in the 2020s can expect to live 75 years on an average income of 14,500 international dollars. (UN WPP / World Bank, compiled by MYRIAD)
The human story of Paraguay is etched into the transition from a society defined by scarcity to one of increased stability. A child born in Paraguay in the 2020s can expect to live 75 years on an average income of 14,500 international dollars. This shift reflects a fundamental change in the rhythm of daily existence, where the promise of longevity and improved material security has replaced the volatility of earlier eras. Behind these figures lies a landscape of families navigating a world that provides more resources and fewer threats than those faced by previous generations.
The historical arc reveals a country in motion. In the 1950s, life expectancy at birth was 51 years, while today it is 75 years. Economic indicators have shifted from 4,000 to 14,500 intl-$, mirroring a move from rural environments to urban centers, where 81 % of the population now resides. The modernization of infrastructure is evident in electricity at home, which grew from 40 to 97 %. Meanwhile, child mortality has plummeted from 180 to 16 per 1,000 births, marking a significant evolution in public health outcomes over these decades.
For someone born in Paraguay today, the trajectory is vastly different from the past. Education has expanded from 3 to 9 years of schooling, and fertility rates have adjusted from 5.9 to 2 births per woman. With internet access at 68 % and average male height rising from 165 to 171 cm, the physical and digital realities of life are transformed. Extreme poverty has fallen from 30 to 4.5 %. By engaging with our interactive tools, you can discover how these shifting variables define your own parallel lives.
🇵🇾 Every dimension below links to the full three-century series for Paraguay — and to the same series for every other country, so you can see exactly where the birth lottery placed its people.
The numbers today vs 1950
| Dimension | 1950s | 2020s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life Expectancy at Birth | 51 | 75 years | history → |
| Income per Person (GDP per capita, PPP) | 4,000 | 14,500 intl-$ | history → |
| Child Mortality (under 5) | 180 | 16 per 1,000 births | history → |
| Years of Schooling | 3 | 9 years | history → |
| Children per Woman | 5.9 | 2 births | history → |
| Living in Cities | 41 | 81 % | history → |
| Internet Access | 0 | 68 % | history → |
| Electricity at Home | 40 | 97 % | history → |
| Homicide Rate | 22 | 20 per 100,000 | history → |
| Annual Working Hours | 2,300 | 1,950 hours/year | history → |
| Average Male Height | 165 | 171 cm | history → |
| Extreme Poverty | 30 | 4.5 % | history → |
See your parallel life in Paraguay →
Questions people ask
What is life expectancy in Paraguay?
75 years in the 2020s (UN WPP / World Bank data compiled by MYRIAD).
Is Paraguay a good place to be born, statistically?
MYRIAD ranks every country by a composite of longevity, income, child survival, education and safety for each birth decade — enter your details on the homepage to see where Paraguay lands for your cohort.