2025 country profile

How democratic is
Paraguay?

Paraguay scores 47.9 out of 100 and ranks 112 of 179 in our independent 2025 democracy measure. Its lowest-scoring test is political equality. Explore the evidence and history below.

Democracys.org beta estimate, derived from V-Dem v16. A measure of political institutions and conditions—not a percentage of democracy or a judgment of people.

Printable country brief Compare this country

DEMOCRACYS SCORE

47.9out of 100Major democratic constraints

2025 rank112 of 179

10-year change−2.4

25-year change+1.0

Source-bound range38.8–55.9

Weakest areaEquality

The source-bound range is an uncertainty guide, not a confidence interval for this combined score. How to read the range →

SCORE HISTORY

Paraguay, 1975–2025

The shaded area is a plain-language uncertainty guide. Treat small score differences cautiously.

About uncertainty

BEYOND THE NUMBERS

What changed on the ground?

A documented development to help interpret the institutions behind the score.

2024 context · Freedom House assessment

An opposition senator’s removal raised due-process concerns

The Senate expelled a prominent opposition member over alleged administrative misconduct. Rights groups criticized the procedure, and protests followed. The democratic issue is whether legislative discipline follows fair rules or can be used to weaken scrutiny by removing a critical voice from elected office.

Read the country report · Freedom in the World 2025

AI-assisted source summary · not independently expert-reviewed

What this context does—and does not—explain

This is a selected development, not a complete political history. Its date may differ from the selected comparison period. It is not evidence that one event caused a particular number of points, and it may describe progress even when this index declines.

The scores use V-Dem. The narrative summarizes a separate assessment by Freedom House, whose definitions and coverage differ. Neither organization endorses this website. The summary is AI-assisted, source-linked, and has not received independent country-expert review. Source checked October 5, 2026.

Why democracy measures can disagree →

UNDERSTAND THE CHANGE

What drove the score?

2015–2025 · the measured story

The score for Paraguay fell 2.4 points, from 50.3 to 47.9 between 2015 and 2025. 1 of the five areas improved while 4 worsened, so the headline combines competing movements. Rights and checks contributed the largest downward push in the score calculation.

Read the political context ↓

Largest influence on the calculation

Rights and checks

The evidence points toward weaker civil liberties, equality before the law, or constraints on executive power.

Area score: 66.2 → 58.6
Approx. contribution to overall change: −1.3 points

Moving in the other direction

Political equality

The evidence rates the distribution of political influence, rights, and access across social groups more favorably.

Area score: 27.4 → 29.4
Approx. contribution to overall change: +0.5 points

These contributions explain the calculation—not the causes. The five area scores combine several indicators; they do not identify which individual law, election, or event changed.

When did the biggest shifts appear?

The largest year-to-year movements within this period. These are changes in annual estimates, not precise dates of political events.

2018–2019+1.4 points
The overall score rose from 51.5 to 52.9. Public reasoning supplied the largest upward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2022–2023−1.3 points
The overall score fell from 52.0 to 50.7. Public reasoning supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.
2023–2024−1.6 points
The overall score fell from 50.7 to 49.1. Rights and checks supplied the largest downward contribution to that year’s calculated change.

Highest published score in this window: 52.9 in 2019. Small differences may fall within the source’s uncertainty.

See all five areas and how contributions are calculated

Changes in inputs versus contributions to the overall score
Area	2015	2025	Input change	Approx. contribution
Rights and checks	66.2	58.6	−7.6	−1.3
Participation	57.1	51.5	−5.6	−1.1
Political equality	27.4	29.4	+2.0	+0.5
Public reasoning	47.2	45.3	−1.9	−0.4
Elections	59.3	58.1	−1.2	−0.2

We change the five inputs from their starting to ending values in every possible order, then average each area’s effect on the formula. This distributes the formula’s interactions (a Shapley allocation). It is a mathematical attribution, not a causal estimate.

Inputs and published scores are rounded, so contributions are approximate and may not add exactly to the displayed total. No significance test is implied. Read the full scoring method →

BENEATH THE SCORE

Five dimensions of democracy

The headline score cannot show where a political system is strong or constrained. These five tests can. Each has equal weight in the beta standard.

Free and fair elections

Can people choose their leaders through broad voting rights, honest elections, free political groups, and open public debate?

58.1

Rights and checks on power

Are basic freedoms protected, laws applied fairly, courts independent, and leaders prevented from abusing power?

58.6

Public participation

Can people shape public life through civic groups, direct voting, and meaningful local and regional government?

51.5

Public reasoning

Do leaders explain decisions, consult the public, answer opposing arguments, and consider the common good?

45.3

Political equality

Do different social groups have equal rights, access, resources, and a real chance to influence political power?

29.4

HOW TO READ THIS PROFILE

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.

The score breakdown identifies which parts of the measure changed most. The country report adds documented political context. Together they help explain the institutions at stake—but they do not prove that a specific event produced a specific number of points.

Why this score differs from other democracy indices →

What a declining score can—and cannot—tell us about democratic backsliding

A recent improvement can coexist with a long-term decline. Always compare the dates, check the linked source, and consider developments the selected narrative does not cover.

ANNUAL DATA

Paraguay score table

Download Paraguay CSV

Year	Score	Source-bound range	Elections	Rights & checks	Participation	Reasoning	Equality
2025	47.9	38.8–55.9	58.1	58.6	51.5	45.3	29.4
2024	49.1	40.5–57.5	58.1	62.0	51.7	45.3	31.8
2023	50.7	41.5–58.6	57.6	69.5	53.1	48.5	29.7
2022	52.0	43.6–60.1	57.8	71.1	53.6	52.6	30.0
2021	52.8	44.1–60.8	57.8	70.6	54.2	54.4	31.3
2020	52.2	43.7–60.2	57.8	68.8	54.5	54.4	30.1
2019	52.9	44.6–61.2	58.5	67.7	55.5	58.9	28.9
2018	51.5	43.0–59.5	58.3	67.5	55.6	52.9	28.3
2017	50.5	41.8–59.0	59.6	65.9	56.1	47.3	28.7
2016	50.1	41.9–58.4	58.9	66.1	56.8	47.2	27.1
2015	50.3	42.1–58.6	59.3	66.2	57.1	47.2	27.4
2014	49.7	41.4–57.4	59.5	65.3	56.5	46.4	26.5
2013	49.4	40.7–56.9	58.5	64.6	56.5	46.3	26.5
2012	57.0	49.7–65.6	60.8	77.4	60.2	62.1	30.6
2011	59.7	52.1–67.7	63.0	78.5	61.6	64.2	35.9
2010	59.7	52.4–67.5	63.9	78.5	57.7	67.4	35.9
2009	59.7	51.8–67.1	63.1	78.5	57.8	67.9	36.1
2008	59.2	52.3–67.5	62.0	78.3	59.3	66.1	35.2
2007	51.8	43.6–60.0	59.5	71.9	55.4	49.9	28.2
2006	51.3	43.0–59.3	59.5	69.3	55.4	49.9	27.9
2005	50.3	42.1–58.3	59.5	68.1	55.4	49.9	25.3
2004	50.2	42.1–58.3	59.5	68.1	55.4	49.9	25.0
2003	49.0	40.5–56.7	56.5	68.1	55.4	45.8	25.3
2002	47.1	39.1–55.3	54.0	68.0	55.4	42.9	22.6
2001	46.9	38.2–54.8	54.0	68.0	53.7	42.9	23.0
2000	46.9	38.2–54.8	54.0	68.0	53.7	42.9	23.0
1999	45.9	37.3–53.8	53.5	67.4	53.3	42.9	20.6
1998	45.3	36.5–53.0	53.2	67.9	53.3	41.8	19.4
1997	45.2	36.5–52.9	52.7	67.9	53.3	41.8	19.4
1996	45.2	36.3–52.7	52.3	67.9	53.3	41.8	19.4
1995	45.1	36.4–52.7	51.8	67.9	53.3	41.8	19.4
1994	44.8	36.4–52.6	51.8	67.9	53.3	41.8	18.7
1993	44.6	36.0–52.3	51.2	66.3	53.3	41.9	19.0
1992	42.4	33.7–49.7	48.1	67.3	50.1	41.9	15.5
1991	36.2	28.5–43.4	40.1	42.5	48.2	41.9	14.9
1990	32.1	23.8–39.0	38.4	42.5	32.4	41.9	12.2
1989	14.4	8.9–18.4	19.1	19.7	18.3	8.0	9.4
1988	10.9	6.5–14.1	16.7	12.6	16.7	3.1	9.5
1987	10.8	6.3–13.8	16.6	12.6	16.7	3.1	8.9
1986	10.3	5.9–13.3	16.4	11.6	16.7	2.3	9.5
1985	10.0	5.7–12.9	16.4	11.0	16.7	2.3	8.8
1984	10.0	5.7–12.9	16.3	11.0	16.7	2.3	8.8
1983	10.2	5.8–13.1	16.3	11.0	16.7	2.3	9.5
1982	10.2	5.8–13.1	16.2	11.0	16.7	2.3	9.5
1981	10.1	5.8–13.0	16.2	11.0	16.7	2.3	9.0
1980	10.2	5.8–13.1	16.2	11.0	16.7	2.3	9.5
1979	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.0	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1978	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.0	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1977	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.0	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1976	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.1	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1975	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.1	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1974	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.1	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1973	9.9	5.7–12.8	16.1	10.1	16.7	2.3	9.0
1972	9.8	5.6–12.7	16.1	10.1	16.8	2.3	8.6
1971	9.8	5.6–12.7	16.1	10.1	16.8	2.3	8.6
1970	9.8	5.6–12.7	16.1	10.1	16.8	2.3	8.6
1969	9.6	5.4–12.4	16.1	10.1	16.8	2.3	7.4
1968	9.5	5.3–12.2	15.9	10.1	16.6	2.3	7.4
1967	9.9	5.5–12.6	15.9	10.5	16.6	3.0	7.4
1966	9.9	5.5–12.5	15.9	10.5	16.6	3.0	7.5
1965	9.7	5.4–12.2	15.9	9.2	16.6	3.0	7.5
1964	9.7	5.4–12.2	15.9	9.2	16.6	3.0	7.5
1963	9.6	5.4–12.2	15.6	9.2	16.6	3.0	7.5
1962	9.4	5.3–12.0	14.9	9.2	16.3	3.0	7.5
1961	8.9	4.8–11.4	11.6	9.2	16.3	3.0	7.5
1960	7.8	4.1–10.2	8.4	7.1	16.3	3.0	6.8
1959	8.3	4.4–10.8	9.5	8.4	16.3	3.0	7.0
1958	9.4	5.2–12.2	11.7	12.3	16.3	3.0	7.0
1957	9.5	5.3–12.3	11.8	12.4	16.7	3.0	7.0
1956	9.4	5.1–12.1	11.8	12.4	16.7	3.0	6.6
1955	9.4	5.1–12.1	11.8	12.4	16.7	3.0	6.6
1954	9.3	4.9–11.8	12.7	12.8	16.7	3.5	4.8
1953	12.6	7.7–16.2	15.3	14.3	17.4	11.6	6.1
1952	12.9	7.9–16.7	15.4	14.3	17.4	13.3	6.1
1951	12.9	7.9–16.7	15.4	14.3	17.4	13.3	6.1
1950	12.8	7.8–16.7	15.4	14.3	17.4	13.3	5.8
1949	12.8	7.8–16.7	15.5	14.3	17.4	13.3	5.8
1948	12.0	6.9–15.4	14.3	13.6	18.4	9.8	5.8
1947	11.6	6.7–14.9	12.8	9.2	21.5	10.6	6.2
1946	14.1	8.7–18.1	14.4	10.8	21.5	17.3	8.3
1945	12.2	7.2–15.8	14.1	10.6	21.5	9.5	7.6
1944	12.2	7.2–15.8	14.1	10.6	21.5	9.5	7.6
1943	11.9	6.9–15.4	12.1	10.6	21.5	9.5	7.6
1942	11.5	6.6–15.0	10.4	10.6	21.5	9.5	7.6
1941	11.5	6.6–15.0	10.4	10.6	21.5	9.5	7.6
1940	12.4	7.4–15.9	11.4	11.6	24.9	9.5	7.6
1939	15.4	9.2–19.5	19.8	21.3	17.6	14.6	6.7
1938	15.6	9.3–19.6	19.6	18.7	21.0	14.6	7.0
1937	13.9	7.8–17.6	15.9	15.9	17.6	14.6	7.0
1936	13.6	8.0–17.5	14.0	14.4	17.6	17.1	6.6
1935	16.4	10.2–21.0	20.9	24.3	17.6	17.1	6.0
1934	16.4	10.2–21.0	20.9	24.3	17.6	17.1	6.0
1933	16.4	10.0–20.8	20.9	24.3	17.6	17.1	6.0
1932	16.4	10.0–20.7	20.9	24.3	17.6	17.1	6.0
1931	16.4	10.0–20.6	21.5	24.3	17.6	16.6	6.0
1930	16.4	10.0–20.6	21.5	24.3	17.6	16.6	6.0
1929	16.3	9.8–20.4	21.7	24.3	17.6	16.6	5.7
1928	16.7	10.1–20.9	21.7	24.3	17.6	18.5	5.7
1927	16.7	10.0–20.8	21.7	24.3	17.6	18.5	5.7
1926	16.7	10.0–20.8	21.7	24.3	17.6	18.5	5.7
1925	16.7	10.0–20.8	21.7	24.3	17.6	18.5	5.7
1924	16.7	10.0–20.8	21.7	24.3	17.6	18.5	5.7
1923	14.8	8.7–18.7	20.9	21.2	17.6	14.0	4.8
1922	14.9	8.8–18.9	20.9	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.8
1921	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1920	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1919	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1918	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1917	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1916	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1915	14.7	8.6–18.7	21.0	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1914	14.7	8.6–18.7	20.9	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1913	14.7	8.6–18.7	20.9	21.1	18.0	14.0	4.3
1912	14.3	8.5–18.3	19.7	20.9	17.1	14.0	4.3
1911	14.2	8.2–18.1	19.5	20.9	17.1	14.0	4.3
1910	14.4	8.4–18.3	20.7	20.9	17.1	14.0	4.3
1909	14.4	8.4–18.3	20.7	20.9	17.1	14.0	4.3
1908	12.7	7.2–16.3	17.5	13.8	17.1	14.0	4.3
1907	14.4	8.5–18.5	20.7	20.7	17.1	14.0	4.3
1906	14.4	8.5–18.5	20.7	20.7	17.1	14.0	4.3
1905	14.4	8.5–18.5	20.7	20.7	17.1	14.0	4.3
1904	14.2	8.0–17.8	20.9	19.7	16.9	14.0	4.3
1903	14.3	8.4–18.3	21.3	19.6	17.2	14.0	4.3
1902	14.2	8.5–18.2	21.3	19.6	17.2	14.0	4.0
1901	14.2	8.5–18.2	21.3	19.6	17.2	14.0	4.0
1900	14.2	8.5–18.2	21.3	19.6	17.2	14.0	4.0

CITE THIS PROFILE

Source and attribution

Democracys.org (2026), “Paraguay Democracy Score, 1900–2025,” Democracys Standard v1.0 beta; derived from Coppedge et al. (2026), V-Dem Country-Year Dataset v16.

Open source DOI

NEARBY IN THE 2025 RANKING

#110Ivory Coast48.2 #111Philippines48.0 #113Mexico47.1 #114Iraq46.8

All rankings

How democratic isParaguay?

Paraguay, 1975–2025

An opposition senator’s removal raised due-process concerns

Rights and checks

Political equality

When did the biggest shifts appear?

Five dimensions of democracy

Free and fair elections

Rights and checks on power

Public participation

Public reasoning

Political equality

Two kinds of evidence.One clearer picture.

Paraguay score table

Source and attribution

How democratic is
Paraguay?

Two kinds of evidence.
One clearer picture.