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Drought portal - Knowledge resources on integrated drought management

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Paraguay

HISTORICAL DROUGHT – Paraguay, located in South America, shares borders with Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina. The country experiences a subtropical climate. Paraguay's drought is frequently linked to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, particularly La Niña. Mild droughts occur approximately every two years, with precipitation ranging from 450 to 1 700 mm during these periods. Severe droughts have been recorded every decade since the 1960s, notably in the years 1968–1969, 1977–1979, 2008–2009, 2012–2013, and 2020–2022. In general, the western regions, including Central Chaco and the Pilcomayo River area, and the districts of Irala Fernández and Mariscal Estigarribia, are the most affected by droughts, especially from December to February. Extreme droughts, which occur on average once every 100 years, see precipitation levels between 300 and 1 100 mm.

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DROUGHT IMPACT PATHWAY – Drought has severe impacts on multiple sectors in Paraguay, including agriculture, energy, water utilities, transportation, trade, and exports. In agriculture, soybean production is acutely affected, as well as the subsistence production of small farmers and indigenous communities. Drought substantially reduces hydropower generation, leading to lower electricity exports. Reduced water levels in the Paraguay-Paraná waterway system disrupt maritime transport, causing significant interruptions in transportation and international trade. Increased incidents of wildfires threaten local ecosystems and biodiversity. Severe and prolonged droughts endanger food security and the availability of drinking and sanitation water. Indigenous peoples, rural, and agricultural communities are the most affected.

 


 

Highlights of drought vulnerability dimensions

  • 6.1 million population, with 31.0% living in rural areas (2022).
  • 30.8% of the population lives in Departamento Central, 12.5% in Alto Parana, and 7.6% in Asunción, the country’s capital (2022).
  • There is a 94% literacy rate among women compared to 95% among men (2020).
  • 17.2% incidence of multidimensional poverty in Paraguay, with the highest incidence, by departments, registered in San Pedro at 33.2%, Caazapá at 32.4%, and Concepcion at 32.3% (2023).
  • There is a 33.1% incidence of multidimensional poverty in rural areas, compared to a rate of 7.5% in urban areas.
  • Extreme poverty is highest in Canindeyú at 13.2%, followed by Caazapá (12.3%), Concepción (11.6%), San Pedro (11.5%), and Paraguarí (9.0%) (2023).
  • 9.3% extreme poverty rate in rural areas compared to 2.3% in urban areas (2023).
  • 6.1% prevalence of severe food insecurity (2020-2022).
  • 20.4% of the population is unable to afford a healthy diet (2021).
  • Indigenous population is 140,049, classified into five linguistic groups, with the largest population belonging to the Guaraní linguistic family (55.6%), followed by the Lengua Maskoy family ((23.1%) and Mataco  Mataguayo (15.2%) (2022).
  • The towns with the largest Indigenous populations include Mbya Guaraní, with a 28,278 Indigenous population, Ava Guaraní (22,705), Nivaclé (18,280), and Paĩ Tavyterã (15,705) (2022).
  • The majority of the indigenous population (88%) lives in rural areas (2022).
  • Among the Indigenous women population aged 12 to 14 years old, 3.3% are teenage mothers; aged 15-19 years old, 32.1% are mothers; and among those aged 20-24 years old, 67.9% are mothers (2022).

  • Agriculture comprises 11.3% of the GDP, and 17.4% of total employment in Paraguay (2023).
  • The eastern region has the most significant agricultural activity.
  • Working population 10 to 14 years of age: 6.7%, total; 10.8%, rural areas; 3.8%, urban areas (2021).
  • 11.4% of employed women are in agriculture, compared to 21.6% of employed men (2022).
  • 10.6% of employed women are unpaid family workers compared to 4.9% of employed men (2019)
  • 14.7% of the employed population in rural areas are unpaid family workers compared to 3.0% of the employed population in urban areas (2019).
  • 24.3% of employed women in rural areas are unpaid family workers compared to 9.3% of employed men in rural areas (2019).
  • The typical occupations among the indigenous employed workforce include unskilled jobs (38.1%), agricultural and fishing industry workers (30.1%), and officials, workers, and artisans (9.1%) (2022).
  • Labor participation rate among the indigenous population is 38.5% (2022).
  • 31.1% of employed indigenous women are farmers and agricultural and fishing workers compared to 29.8% of employed indigenous men in the same line of work (2022).
  • Paraguay has 8 810 MW hydropower capacity and generated 4.8 terawatt hours of electricity (2023).
  • Total energy supply is comprised of hydropower (41.4%), biofuels and waste (31.7%), and oil (27%) (2022).
  • Paraguay’s domestic energy production is comprised of hydropower, at 55.7%, and biofuels and waste, at 44.3% (2022)
  • Electricity generation is 99.5% from hydropower, and 0.5% from biofuels (2022).
  • The Paraguay-Paraná waterway, which runs through Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia and into the open seas, is a central transport hub in Paraguay and the region.
  • Paraguay River is the main river system in the country, navigable by deep-sea vessels from Paraná to Asunción and by medium-sized fleets from Asunción to Corumbá (Brazil).

  • Irrigated lands represent only around 1.5% of the total land, making agriculture predominantly rainfed (2017).
  • There are 7 types of irrigation systems used in Paraguay, namely: flood irrigation system, PIVOT irrigation system, self-rolling sprinkler cannon irrigation system, irrigation bar irrigation system, sprinkler irrigation system, drip irrigation system, hose irrigation system.
  • Flood irrigation is used in rice cultivation.
  • Drip irrigation system is predominantly used in family farms and in horticultural crops such as tomato, locoto, stevia, cabbage, etc.
  • 66.7% of indigenous peoples’ homes has access to electricity, and 25.3% has running water service (2022).
  • 99.6% of total population and 99.1% of rural population using at least basic sanitation services (2022).
  • 64.2% of total population and 50.7% of rural population using safely managed drinking water services (2022).
  • 94.6% of total population and 92.6% of rural population using at least basic sanitation services (2022).
  • The key government-owned ports are in Asunción, Ciudad del Este, Concepción, Pilar and Villeta (which is the largest).
  • Itaipú and Yacyretá hydropower plants represent the largest installed generation capacity in the country and are integrated with the electricity systems of Brazil and Argentina. Itaipú represents 79.1% of electricity generated, and Yacyretá represents 18.1% (2020).

  • The western region of Paraguay makes up 61% of the country’s land but only 3% of the population. The Eastern region, 39% of the land, is home to 97% of the population.
  • The Western region’s semi-arid environment contains the largest reserve of ecological resources.
  • Average annual precipitation in Paraguay varies from 1 600 mm in the Eastern region to 600 mm Chaco.
  • With average annual precipitation exceeding 1 800 mm, the Paraná River basin is the wettest area in the country
  • Surface water resources in the Eastern zone are of good quality, and the area typically has a short dry season; aquifers have a great extension and are of acceptable quality for agriculture, with considerable recharge.
  • Surface resources in Northern and western Chaco have low productivity and of unacceptable quality for agriculture during low levels due to the high concentrations of salts; underground water resources have medium productivity but limited recharge, and of acceptable quality for agriculture.
  • Surface water resources in Central Chaco are scarce, temporary, and salty; underground water resources are fossil (without recharge) and salty, with quality not acceptable for agriculture
  • About 4.5 million ha of farmland in the country, which represents 11% of the territory (2017).
  • The main rivers are the Paraguay River and Paraná River along Paraguay's east-south borders.

  • Paraguay has developed the National Drought Plan in 2020 to improve drought risk management
  • Government agencies relevant to drought risk management: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, National Emergency Secretariat, National Office to Combat Desertification and Drought, Water Council for Water Basins, Technical Secretary of Planning, National Directorate of Meteorology and Hydrology.
  • Early warning systems have been established by the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development to provide timely information and alerts about impending droughts, water shortages, and related hazards and define drought thresholds​.
  • Laws and regulations related to water, drought risk management, disaster risk reduction, climate change: Law 2615/05 (National Emergency Secretariat), Law 6123/18 (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development), Law 970/96 (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), National Climate Change Policy 2011, Law No. 5875 – National Climate Change Law, Decree No. 14,943/01 - Implements the National Climate Change Program, Law No. 5681 – Approving the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Law No. 6901 - Declaring an emergency situation due to drought throughout the territory of the Republic of Paraguay.
  • Plans and Strategies related to drought risk management, disaster risk reduction, climate change: National Climate Change Policy 2011, Agricultural Strategic Framework 2014-2018, National Risk Management and Reduction Plan 2015, National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change (ENACC) 2015, National Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2016,  National Plan for DRR and Climate Change Adaptation in the Agricultural Sector 2016-2022, National Climate Change Mitigation Plan 2017, National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Drought (PAN 2018-2030), National Water and Sanitation Plan 2018, National Gender Strategy on Climate Change 2018, National Drinking Water and Sanitation Plan (2023).

 

Ahmed, Z. 2022. In: 5 Major Ports In Paraguay. Bangalore, Marine Insight. [Cited 17 October 2024]. https://www.marineinsight.com/know-more/ports-in-paraguay/

Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. 2024. In: Emergency Events Database EM-DAT. Brussels, Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. [Cited 2 October 2024]. https://www.emdat.be/

Desantis, D. & Olmedo C. 2024. In: Paraguay's drying river stokes water tensions between fishers and farmers. London, Reuters. [Cited 3 November 2024]. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/paraguays-drying-river-stokes-water-tensions-between-fishers-farmers-2024-10-17/

FAO. 2023. Paraguay, Appeal for funds. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [Cited 17 October 2024]. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/cbb8284d-109d-451a-ab54-b96f97a84be7/content

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP & WHO. 2023. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. [Cited 17 October 2024]. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/1f66b67b-1e45-45d1-b003-86162fd35dab/content

IHA. 2024. 2024 World Hydropower Outlook: Opportunities to Advance Net Zero. London, International Hydropower Association. [Cited 3 November 2024]. https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:6ba5f8fc-5ad3-4d52-a83c-0931ce5fa119

Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Paraguay. 2024. In: Estadistica por Tema. Asunción, Gobierno del Paraguay. [Cited 31 October 2024]. https://www.ine.gov.py/

Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Paraguay. 2024. IV Censo Nacional Indígena 2022 Resultados Finales de Población y Viviendas. Fernando de la Mora, Instituto Nacional de Estadistica Paraguay. https://www.ine.gov.py/Publicaciones/Biblioteca/documento/260/Resultados%20Finales%20Censo%20Indigena
%202022.pdf

International Energy Agency. 2024. In: IEA 50 Paraguay. Paris, International Energy Agency. [Cited 3 October 2024]. https://www.iea.org/countries/paraguay

IRENA. 2021. Renewable Readiness Assessment Paraguay. Abu Dhabi, International Renewable Energy Agency. [Cited 17 October 2024]. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Sep/IRENA_RRA_Paraguay_2021.pdf

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. 2019. Bases for the National Drought Strategy in Paraguay. Republic of Paraguay. [Cited 31 October 2024]. https://www.unccd.int/country-profile-document/paraguay

Sanabria, E. & Debre, I. 2024. In: Severe drought drops water level to historic low on the Paraguay River, a regional lifeline. New York, The Associated Press. [Cited 17 October 2024]. https://apnews.com/article/paraguay-river-drought-amazon-fires-climate-change-deforestation-shortage-ce7bb22855f6ed9af43381aa246c7d30

World Bank. 2021. Climate Risk Profile: Paraguay. Washington, DC, World Bank. [Cited 31 October 2024]. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/2021-04/15726-WB_Paraguay%20Country%20Profile-WEB-2.pdf

World Bank. 2024. In: World Bank Open Data. Washington DC, World Bank. [Cited 3 October 2024]. https://data.worldbank.org/country/paraguay?view=chart


 

FOCUS on Vulnerability

Vulnerable sectors:
Energy, agriculture, mining, health

 

Vulnerable population/people:
Rural population, poor population, rural poor, agricultural communities, agricultural households, women, children, girls, refugees


Vulnerable areas/zones:
Wetlands, dambos, Muchinga province, Luapula province, Western province, Northern province, Eastern province, Central province, Copperbelt province, Chama-Lundazi, Lake Kariba, Line of Rail, Mkushi, refugee settlement areas in Mantpala, Mayukwayukwa, Meheba