Paraguay Rate of Natural Increase

Paraguay’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—remains relatively high compared to many of its South American neighbors. As of the early 2020s, Paraguay’s RNI is around 1.3% per year, reflecting a birth rate of about 16 per 1,000 people and a death rate of roughly 5 per 1,000. This is notably higher than in neighboring Argentina and Brazil, where RNIs have declined to below 0.8% and 0.6% respectively, due to lower birth rates and aging populations. In contrast, Paraguay’s youthful demographic structure and higher fertility rates sustain a more robust natural population growth. However, compared to Bolivia, which also maintains a relatively high RNI (about 1.5%), Paraguay’s rate is slightly lower. Thus, while Paraguay’s population is growing faster than Argentina’s and Brazil’s, it lags just behind Bolivia’s, highlighting regional contrasts in demographic trends driven by differing levels of development, urbanization, and social policies.

Data from US Census International Database