If you lived in Paraguay instead of Benin, you would:

Health

live 13.0 years longer

In Benin, the average life expectancy is 61 years (60 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 10.7 times more spent on your healthcare

Benin spends $138 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Paraguay spends $1,469 as of 2023.

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have 18.0 times more doctors per person

Benin has 2.2 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Paraguay has 38.9 as of 2022.

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have 89.5% more access to essential health services

Benin scores 38 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Paraguay scores 72 as of 2021.

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be 10.7% less likely to die by suicide

Benin has a suicide rate of 7.1 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Paraguay, it is 6.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.8 times more likely to be obese

In Benin, 12.2% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 34.7% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

make 4.2 times more money

Benin has a GDP per capita of $1,658 as of 2025, while in Paraguay, the GDP per capita is $7,027 as of 2025.

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be 3.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Benin, 1.6% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Paraguay, that number is 4.8% as of 2025.

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Life

be 88.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Benin, approximately 518.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Paraguay, 58.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 84.6% more likely to be literate

In Benin, the literacy rate is 51.4% as of 2022. In Paraguay, it is 94.9% as of 2024.

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be 67.9% less likely to die during infancy

In Benin, approximately 45.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Paraguay, on the other hand, 14.5 children do as of 2024.

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have 41.0% fewer children

In Benin, there are approximately 33.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Paraguay, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 75.1% more likely to have access to electricity

In Benin, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (70% in urban areas, and 44% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Paraguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Benin, approximately 34.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Paraguay, about 81.6% do as of 2024.

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be 43.1% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Benin, approximately 70% of people have access to drinking water (76% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 2.5 times more on healthcare

Benin spends 3.3% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Paraguay, that number is 8.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 15.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Benin, road accidents kill 24.8 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Paraguay, they kill 21.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 46.0 times more home broadband

Benin has 0.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Paraguay has 12.9 as of 2023.

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use 20.8 times more electricity

Benin uses 115 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Paraguay uses 2,389 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 87.8% more strain on fresh water

Benin withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Paraguay withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 67.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Benin, air pollution causes 77.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Paraguay, it causes 25.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.4 times more CO2

Benin emits 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Paraguay emits 1.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Paraguay: At a glance

Paraguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 397,302 sq km. 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 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.
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How big is Paraguay compared to Benin? See an in-depth size comparison.

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