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

Health

be 54.6% less likely to die by suicide

Switzerland has a suicide rate of 14.0 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Paraguay, it is 6.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

live 10.4 years less

In Switzerland, the average life expectancy is 84 years (83 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 3.1 times more likely to be obese

In Switzerland, 11.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Paraguay, that number is 34.7% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 86.1% less spent on your healthcare

Switzerland spends $10,602 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Paraguay spends $1,469 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 13.0% fewer doctors per person

Switzerland has 44.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Paraguay has 38.9 as of 2022.

View global rankings →

have 16.3% less access to essential health services

Switzerland scores 86 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Paraguay scores 72 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 93.9% less money

Switzerland has a GDP per capita of $114,769 as of 2025, while in Paraguay, the GDP per capita is $7,027 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

have 2.3 times more children

In Switzerland, there are approximately 8.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Paraguay, there are 19.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 11.6 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Switzerland, approximately 5.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Paraguay, 58.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 4.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In Switzerland, approximately 3.4 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.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 16.2% less likely to have internet access

In Switzerland, approximately 97.3% of the population has internet access as of 2025. In Paraguay, about 81.6% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 27.4% less on education

Switzerland spends 4.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2022. Paraguay spends 3.5% of total GDP on education as of 2024.

View global rankings →

spend 28.5% less on healthcare

Switzerland spends 11.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Paraguay, that number is 8.4% of GDP as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 11.3 times more likely to be murdered

Switzerland has a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Paraguay, that number is 6.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 39.8% less likely to feel safe walking alone at night

In Switzerland, 72% of people feel safe walking alone at night as of 2021. In Paraguay, that number is 43% as of 2019.

View global rankings →

be 8.8 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Switzerland, road accidents kill 2.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Paraguay, they kill 21.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

live with 71.7% less strain on fresh water

Switzerland withdraws 6% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Paraguay withdraws 2% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

find 72.6% less home broadband

Switzerland has 47.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Paraguay has 12.9 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

use 66.4% less electricity

Switzerland uses 7,117 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Paraguay uses 2,389 kWh as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Environment

emit 69.1% less CO2

Switzerland emits 3.8 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Paraguay emits 1.2 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 2.5 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Switzerland, air pollution causes 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Paraguay, it causes 25.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →


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.
Read more

How big is Paraguay compared to Switzerland? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Paraguay or Switzerland. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.