EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Paraguay vs Uruguay
Side-by-side comparison of Paraguay and Uruguay from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Paraguay
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 215 years
Uruguay
Latin America & Caribbean · nation age 201 years
In short
Uruguay scores 64.5 in the NationsTree Index (48th in the world) and Paraguay scores 39.1 (132nd), a gap of 25.4 points. Their trees are 6.7 m and 7.2 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Paraguay has 2.1 times the population of Uruguay. Paraguay is 2.3 times larger than Uruguay by land area. Paraguay and Uruguay have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Paraguay 7.0 million and Uruguay 3.4 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $38,315 in Uruguay and $20,181 in Paraguay (2025, international dollars). People in Uruguay live on average 4.3 years longer (78.3 vs 74.0 years).
Of 37 indicators reported by both countries, Paraguay ranks higher in the world on 9 and Uruguay on 28. Paraguay is clearly stronger in main industries, trade and economy. Uruguay is clearly stronger in tourism, institutions & safety and society & health.
As a nation, Paraguay is the older of the two (statehood since 1811, 215 years), compared with Uruguay (since 1825). Over the last five years Uruguay improved faster (direction score 63 vs 12 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Paraguay and Uruguay.
Paraguay
27.7
170th of 207
Uruguaybetter
79.4
17th of 207
Secondary enrolmentSociety & health
Paraguay
79.1%
131st of 173
Uruguaybetter
119.1%
17th of 173
GDP growthEconomy
Paraguaybetter
6.6%
24th of 210
Uruguay
1.8%
153rd of 210
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Paraguay
99.8%
126th of 215
Uruguaybetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Paraguay
48.2
141st of 207
Uruguaybetter
74.1
41st of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Paraguay overtook Uruguay in GDP (PPP) in 2023 and has stayed ahead since.
Uruguay has been ahead of Paraguay in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1991.
Uruguay has been ahead of Paraguay in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Paraguay has been ahead of Uruguay in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
ParaguayUruguay All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Paraguay | Uruguay |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 406,75261st/216 · 2024 | 176,21590th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 396,01260th/216 · 2024 | 175,01690th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 7.0 m107th/217 · 2025 | 3.4 m133rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.20%88th/217 · 2025 | -0.06%173rd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 17.5193rd/216 · 2024 | 19.4188th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 70.4%89th/217 · 2025 | 95.7%17th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 28.4%79th/217 · 2025 | 17.9%141st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.7%129th/217 · 2025 | 16.3%60th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $49.28 bn98th/210 · 2025 | $85.35 bn84th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $141.53 bn92nd/199 · 2025 | $129.68 bn93rd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $120.95 bn92nd/199 · 2025 | $110.82 bn93rd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $7,027121st/210 · 2025 | $25,21667th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $20,181105th/199 · 2025 | $38,31566th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $6,750113th/201 · 2025 | $24,02061st/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.6%24th/210 · 2025 | 1.8%153rd/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 4.0%125th/180 · 2025 | 4.7%136th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 4.8%82nd/187 · 2025 | 7.5%129th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | — | 65.3%36th/55 · 2024 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 38.2%55th/189 · 2025 | 65.6%128th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.7%68th/192 · 2025 | -3.4%116th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 11.6%64th/197 · 2025 | 6.4%98th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 32.3%45th/200 · 2025 | 16.9%149th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 19.4%22nd/192 · 2025 | 10.0%101st/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 48.1%155th/200 · 2025 | 65.2%53rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $18.32 bn92nd/182 · 2025 | $23.10 bn88th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $19.37 bn94th/182 · 2025 | $19.33 bn95th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 37.2%89th/183 · 2025 | 27.1%119th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 39.3%105th/183 · 2025 | 22.6%160th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 76.5%104th/183 · 2025 | 49.7%145th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 11.0%46th/170 · 2025 | 1.3%112th/170 · 2024 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 16.3%115th/171 · 2025 | 18.9%107th/171 · 2024 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 69.1%15th/171 · 2025 | 65.3%18th/171 · 2024 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 1.7%113th/171 · 2025 | 0.3%157th/171 · 2024 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 10.5%61st/168 · 2024 | 9.8%66th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.5%106th/191 · 2025 | -0.5%80th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.4%89th/196 · 2025 | 2.3%92nd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 1.3%109th/209 · 2021 | 1.9%97th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.07%80th/197 · 2021 | 0.01%106th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.01%81st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.27%45th/209 · 2021 | 1.91%37th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 11.5%90th/206 · 2024 | 12.4%85th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 17,30735th/183 · 2022 | 27,19023rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 1.1 m94th/194 · 2020 | 3.5 m50th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $104.0 m141st/175 · 2020 | $1.09 bn67th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.8%155th/168 · 2020 | 7.7%70th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 214,00092nd/107 · 2020 | 2.2 m49th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 74.0115th/217 · 2024 | 78.365th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 16.3106th/196 · 2024 | 7.457th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 3.8933rd/174 · 2022 | 4.6713th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.0115th/145 · 2022 | 2.473rd/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 80%145th/193 · 2024 | 94%66th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 57.2%103rd/153 · 2024 | 63.3%96th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 79.1%131st/173 · 2024 | 119.1%17th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 54.4%27th/55 · 2022 | 71.7%16th/55 · 2022 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 10.4%128th/217 · 2025 | 24.7%60th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.4%55th/193 · 2023 | 9.0%44th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 94.9%38th/98 · 2024 | 98.9%15th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 37.6%2010 | 80.0%28th/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.75699th/193 · 2023 | 0.86248th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 44.298th/108 · 2024 | 40.087th/108 · 2024 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 2.1%59th/108 · 2024 | 0.2%18th/108 · 2024 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 99.8%126th/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 64.4%98th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 58.5%75th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 81.6%98th/186 · 2024 | 92.0%45th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 12767th/210 · 2023 | 14634th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 12.9108th/208 · 2023 | 33.049th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.5085th/164 · 2022 | 2.7071st/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | 4412000 | 1,49860th/82 · 2021 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 407,865118th/161 · 2023 | 563,6322009 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 1.1668th/203 · 2024 | 2.57103rd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 58.8%38th/212 · 2021 | 57.8%41st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 15.386th/200 · 2023 | 10.952nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 36.5%91st/214 · 2024 | 11.5%162nd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,05688th/149 · 2024 | 1,95957th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 47.7126th/205 · 2025 | 70.047th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 27.7170th/207 · 2025 | 79.417th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 48.2141st/207 · 2025 | 74.141st/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 68.0104th/207 · 2025 | 88.415th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 55.096th/205 · 2025 | 65.055th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 55.2109th/205 · 2025 | 80.023rd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 6.8108th/145 · 2023 | 11.2118th/145 · 2023 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $421.1 m109th/156 · 2025 | $1.95 bn66th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%125th/156 · 2025 | 2.3%48th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.3%99th/154 · 2025 | 7.1%48th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 29,00088th/170 · 2020 | 22,000100th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.88%77th/168 · 2020 | 1.32%49th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 24.0 m85th/163 · 2025 | 1.0 m150th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 1.0 m2000 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.14%93rd/110 · 2023 | 0.70%51st/110 · 2023 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 1593rd/137 · 2024 | 1397th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 253120th/197 · 2023 | 1,06087th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Paraguay has the larger population: 7.0 m (2025) compared with 3.4 m for Uruguay (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Paraguay is larger: 406,752 km² (2024) compared with 176,215 km² for Uruguay (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Paraguay has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $141.53 bn intl. (2025) compared with $129.68 bn intl. for Uruguay (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Uruguay has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $38,315 intl. (2025) compared with $20,181 intl. for Paraguay (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Paraguay or Uruguay?
Uruguay has the higher life expectancy at birth: 78.3 years (2024) compared with 74.0 years for Paraguay (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Uruguay spends more on the military: $1.95 bn (2025) compared with $421.1 m for Paraguay (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Paraguay or Uruguay?
Uruguay: 64.5 points (48th in the world); Paraguay: 39.1 points (132nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bolivia
Costa Rica
Puerto Rico (US)
El Salvador
Guyana
HondurasSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Paraguay vs Uruguay — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/paraguay-vs-uruguay. Data as of 26 October 2026.