If you lived in Paraguay instead of New Zealand, you would:

Health

be 46.6% less likely to die by suicide

New Zealand has a suicide rate of 11.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Paraguay, it is 6.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 8.0 years less

In New Zealand, the average life expectancy is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 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 73.6% less spent on your healthcare

New Zealand spends $5,576 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Paraguay spends $1,469 as of 2023.

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have 15.3% less access to essential health services

New Zealand scores 85 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Paraguay scores 72 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 85.8% less money

New Zealand has a GDP per capita of $49,591 as of 2025, while in Paraguay, the GDP per capita is $7,027 as of 2025.

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Life

have 78.9% more children

In New Zealand, there are approximately 11.0 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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be 8.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In New Zealand, approximately 7.0 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 3.6 times more likely to die during infancy

In New Zealand, approximately 4.0 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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Basic Needs

be 12.8% less likely to have internet access

In New Zealand, approximately 93.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Paraguay, about 81.6% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 32.2% less on education

New Zealand spends 5.2% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Paraguay spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

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spend 16.9% less on healthcare

New Zealand spends 10.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 8.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 4.6 times more likely to be murdered

New Zealand has a homicide rate of 1.5 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In Paraguay, that number is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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be 3.2 times more likely to die in a road accident

In New Zealand, road accidents kill 6.6 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Paraguay, they kill 21.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 77.1% less strain on fresh water

New Zealand withdraws 8% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Paraguay withdraws 2% as of 2022.

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find 66.1% less home broadband

New Zealand has 38.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Paraguay has 12.9 as of 2023.

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use 70.1% less electricity

New Zealand uses 7,989 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Paraguay uses 2,389 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

emit 80.7% less CO2

New Zealand emits 6.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Paraguay emits 1.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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be 2.1 times more likely to die from air pollution

In New Zealand, air pollution causes 12.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Paraguay, it causes 25.0 as of 2019.

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Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021). 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 New Zealand? See an in-depth size comparison.

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