Paraguay population pyramid 2026
Latin America and the Caribbean · South America
7,095,279 people in 2026 (projected). Paraguay has had about the same number of births each year since 2000, so the base of its pyramid has turned into a block of near-equal child bands.
- 2026 population
- 7.1Mrank 109 of 237
- Median age
- 27.3 yearsoldest rank 154
- Fertility rate
- 2.37births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Transitional6.9% age 65+
Paraguay population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Paraguay age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 28.1% of the population, while 6.9% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 64.9% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Paraguay’s age structure as transitional; the guide to population pyramid types explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 54.0: about 54 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (43.3 children and 10.6 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Paraguay’s population pyramid
A base that stopped growing
Paraguay’s fertility stayed above six children per woman until the 1960s and was still about 4.6 in 1990, later than in most of South America. It then fell quickly, to about 3.5 in 2000 and 2.7 in 2010, and is now about 2.4. Because the number of women of childbearing age was rising at the same time, the two trends cancelled out: the number of children aged 0–4 was about 680,000 in 2000 and is about 670,000 in 2026. In the 2000 pyramid every band was larger than the one above it; in 2026 the three youngest bands are almost the same width, and the classic triangle survives only above about age 35.
This is the stage at which a pyramid starts to look more like a beehive, and Paraguay’s 2026 profile is close to those of Bolivia, Nicaragua and Cambodia, all countries where fertility has fallen recently but not yet below replacement.
Emigration from the working ages
Paraguay has a long history of emigration, above all to Argentina and, since the late 1990s, to Spain. The UN estimates net emigration of about 470,000 between 1950 and 1999 and about 600,000 between 2000 and 2023, large figures for a country that had only about 5 million people at the turn of the century. The effect is visible when cohorts are followed through time: the children aged 0–4 in 2000 numbered about 680,000, while the same cohort aged 25–29 in 2026 numbers about 590,000. Mortality at those ages is low, so most of the difference reflects people who left. A slight dip at ages 20–24, born about 2002–06, sits between larger bands on either side, though it is too small to stand out as a distinct notch.
Men and women are almost evenly balanced overall, with men slightly in the majority up to about age 45 and women increasingly predominant above 60, where there are 83 men per 100 women at ages 70–74.
Growth from momentum
Even with births now flat, the population is projected to keep rising, from about 7.1 million in 2026 to 8.6 million in 2050, because the large cohorts born before 2000 are moving into older ages while relatively few people die. The population momentum guide explains the mechanism. Under the UN medium scenario Paraguay’s population peaks at about 9.3 million in 2078 (compare other countries in the population peak year ranking), and deaths do not exceed births until 2085.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Paraguay’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
Births outnumber deaths in 2026; the medium scenario projects deaths to exceed births from 2085. People aged 65 and older are projected to outnumber children under 15 by 2070.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Paraguay is projected to record 134,692 births (about 369 births a day) and 41,123 deaths, a natural increase of 93,569. Net migration adds −12,243 people, ranking #173 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 3,225,099 births, 790,411 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −601,740. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −269,775 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 77.4 years60.7 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 71.3 years55.5 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 16.6 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 15.2per 1,000 births · 77 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 18.4per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 27.6 yearssex ratio at birth 105.0
Women in Paraguay are projected to live 6.1 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 77 to 15.2 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #78 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 27.6 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Paraguay
The median age of 27.3 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 2.37 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 74.2 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,095,279 | #109 | Largest first |
| Median age | 27.3 years | #154 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 2.37 | #84 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.1% | #86 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 74.2 years | #135 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 6.9% | #148 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Paraguay
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5–9 | 677,842 | 9.6% | 346.6K / 331.2K |
| 2 | 0–4 | 668,738 | 9.4% | 342K / 326.7K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 649,986 | 9.2% | 332.3K / 317.7K |
| 4 | 15–19 | 597,544 | 8.4% | 305.1K / 292.4K |
| 5 | 25–29 | 589,483 | 8.3% | 299.2K / 290.3K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Paraguay has 3,555,750 males and 3,539,530 females. That is 100.5 males per 100 females, ranking #71 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 50.1% of the population and females for 49.9%. There are 16,220 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 79.1 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 105.0 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Paraguay has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 1,504,344 in 1950 to 7,095,279 in 2026, a change of 372%. Over the same span, median age moved from 15.9 to 27.3 years.
The under-15 share changed from 46.3% to 28.1%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.7% to 6.9%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Paraguay’s population is projected to grow by about 22%, reaching 8,640,464 in 2050. The median age changes from 27.3 to 33.5 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 5.5 percentage points to 12.4%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 21.4%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The annual UN series reaches its highest projected population of 9,287,138 in 2078. That turning point depends on the medium scenario and may move in later revisions. Compare timing across countries in the population peak ranking.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,504,344 | 15.9 | 6.49 | 58.1 | 66,919 | 17,579 | −16,306 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 1,883,514 | 15.6 | 6.50 | 60.2 | 79,901 | 19,892 | −16,811 | +2.3% |
| 1970 | 2,388,028 | 16.0 | 5.72 | 62.6 | 88,329 | 22,425 | −12,579 | +2.2% |
| 1980 | 3,053,235 | 17.6 | 5.10 | 64.6 | 110,444 | 25,877 | −2,808 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 4,035,748 | 18.2 | 4.57 | 67.3 | 138,982 | 26,118 | −4,685 | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 5,100,868 | 19.0 | 3.51 | 70.0 | 137,136 | 27,158 | −15,884 | +1.8% |
| 2010 | 5,737,972 | 22.2 | 2.69 | 72.6 | 129,358 | 29,902 | −26,169 | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 6,603,740 | 25.5 | 2.50 | 72.7 | 138,917 | 40,249 | −8,226 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 6,844,146 | 26.3 | 2.42 | 73.8 | 136,778 | 39,034 | −12,500 | +1.3% |
| 2024* | 6,929,153 | 26.6 | 2.42 | 74.0 | 136,695 | 39,474 | −12,451 | +1.2% |
| 2026* | 7,095,279 | 27.3 | 2.37 | 74.2 | 134,692 | 41,123 | −12,243 | +1.1% |
| 2030* | 7,407,618 | 28.4 | 2.29 | 74.8 | 131,254 | 44,621 | −11,736 | +1.0% |
| 2040* | 8,087,572 | 30.9 | 2.13 | 76.1 | 126,982 | 54,894 | −10,759 | +0.8% |
| 2050* | 8,640,464 | 33.5 | 2.02 | 77.5 | 124,008 | 66,214 | −9,838 | +0.6% |
| 2060* | 9,039,004 | 36.4 | 1.94 | 79.0 | 115,874 | 77,021 | −8,909 | +0.3% |
| 2070* | 9,245,164 | 38.8 | 1.88 | 80.4 | 109,250 | 89,311 | −8,306 | +0.1% |
| 2080* | 9,284,176 | 40.6 | 1.84 | 81.7 | 103,483 | 98,499 | −7,564 | -0.0% |
| 2090* | 9,209,818 | 42.4 | 1.81 | 83.0 | 96,551 | 101,120 | −7,247 | -0.1% |
| 2100* | 9,047,989 | 44.1 | 1.78 | 84.2 | 89,950 | 103,743 | −7,651 | -0.2% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 342,026 | 326,712 | 668,738 | 9.4% |
| 5–9 | 346,640 | 331,202 | 677,842 | 9.6% |
| 10–14 | 332,306 | 317,680 | 649,986 | 9.2% |
| 15–19 | 305,106 | 292,438 | 597,544 | 8.4% |
| 20–24 | 290,305 | 279,889 | 570,194 | 8.0% |
| 25–29 | 299,209 | 290,274 | 589,483 | 8.3% |
| 30–34 | 295,313 | 288,693 | 584,006 | 8.2% |
| 35–39 | 276,754 | 271,820 | 548,574 | 7.7% |
| 40–44 | 240,880 | 237,648 | 478,528 | 6.7% |
| 45–49 | 191,114 | 190,059 | 381,173 | 5.4% |
| 50–54 | 158,935 | 160,422 | 319,357 | 4.5% |
| 55–59 | 141,163 | 147,120 | 288,283 | 4.1% |
| 60–64 | 119,357 | 131,736 | 251,093 | 3.5% |
| 65–69 | 86,469 | 100,353 | 186,822 | 2.6% |
| 70–74 | 59,837 | 72,103 | 131,940 | 1.9% |
| 75–79 | 38,638 | 49,660 | 88,298 | 1.2% |
| 80–84 | 20,476 | 30,682 | 51,158 | 0.7% |
| 85–89 | 8,424 | 14,258 | 22,682 | 0.3% |
| 90–94 | 2,284 | 5,188 | 7,472 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 467 | 1,397 | 1,864 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 49 | 196 | 245 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Paraguay’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Cambodia97% overlap · median age 26.4
- Nicaragua97% overlap · median age 26.3
- Bangladesh97% overlap · median age 26.3
- Bolivia97% overlap · median age 25.5
- South Africa97% overlap · median age 28.9
- Guyana97% overlap · median age 26.5
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Paraguay.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Paraguay Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/paraguay/
MLA
“Paraguay Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/paraguay/.
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World Population Pyramid. “Paraguay Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/paraguay/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Paraguay in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Paraguay's population in 2026 is projected at 7,095,279.
What is the median age in Paraguay?
The projected median age in Paraguay in 2026 is 27.3 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Paraguay?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 2.37 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Paraguay's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 22%, from 7.1M to 8.6M.
What share of Paraguay is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 6.9% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 12.4%.
How many babies are born in Paraguay each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 134,692 births and 41,123 deaths in 2026, about 369 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 93,569.
What is life expectancy in Paraguay for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 77.4 years for women and 71.3 years for men, a gap of 6.1 years in favour of women.
Does Paraguay have more immigrants or emigrants?
Paraguay is projected to lose about 12,243 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −601,740.
What is the sex ratio in Paraguay?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 100.5 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.