Immigration to Paraguay


Historically, the migratory history of Paraguay has been ambiguous, since it has had periods of large scale emigration as well as small waves of immigrants, primarily from Europe.
Although the majority of people mostly descended from Native Americans, Paraguay considers itself as a mestizo country, the result of small scale intermarriage with Europeans. Unlike neighbouring countries like Argentina or Brazil, Paraguay did not attract massive numbers of immigrants. However, during the 19th century the country suffered a devastating war that greatly reduced its population, having to rise from the ashes and repopulate their territory with large birthrates.
During the 20th century, Paraguay became a recipient of immigrants, especially Europeans fleeing wars occurring in the Old World, in search of a better life and peace. Among European groups in the country, this includes those of Spanish, German, Italian, French and Slavic origin. Other groups included these of Levantine/Arabs roots and East Asians, among others.
Today, immigration to Paraguay has not ceased, but the places of origin of the newcomers have changed. According to the 2002 census, 84,2% of immigrants in Paraguay come from Brazil and Argentina.

History

The first Europeans to arrive in what is now Paraguayan territory were Spaniards who left a palpable cultural heritage even today.
The government of Carlos Antonio López was marked by a period of international openness including immigration and attracting settlers to populate the country.

Settlement in the Paraguayan Chaco

Geographically, Paraguay can be divided into two parts: The Chaco or Western Region, and the Eastern Region, where Asunción is located, as well as the other main cities of the country.
The Chaco is the largest region by area with about 60% of the total territory but, on the other hand, it is the least populated region being home to less than 2% of the total population. Because of this, one of the main goals of the government of Paraguay was to populate this vast and immense region, which comprises the departments of Presidente Hayes, Boquerón, and Alto Paraguay.
The colonisation of the Chaco began with the founding of several colonies, including Nueva Burdeos, which was founded by French immigrants. The first settlers came to this colony through the port of Asunción in 1856. In the years 1927, 1930 and 1947, three waves of German-speaking Mennonites originally Russia came from Canada and the Soviet Union to the Chaco and started three colonies there. In the 2020s about a third of the Chaco population belongs to these Chaco Mennonites who are an important part of the population of Mennonites in Paraguay.

Figures

The table below obviously only shows the official numbers in individual immigrants. Most of the often German Brasiguayos, who came as early as around the year 1900 are not included. Also some 8,300 German speaking Mennonites who came from Canada in 1927 and from Russia in 1930 and 1932 and in 1947 are not in the table.
Place of origin1870-18791880-18891890-18991900-19091910-19191920-19291930-19391940-19491950-1959
Paraguayan returnees0005119310511100
Argentina04,895183641,1221001415122,036
Brazil05300294401277474
Uruguay019805968401243188
Bolivia00040081375
United States00637335960385
Canada00000102099
Rest of the Americas000240536136
Total from the Americas05,623245461,4342812986713,393
Italy08242511,1159733741238580
Spain032198091,49437731591,287
France0228101241111510963148
Germany0467114798118141,038186661
United Kingdom800392835319884160
Austria0011223181375335032
Russia05309925246515288319
Belgium0001546141216880
Switzerland0032285137963038
Czech Republic000004452712690
Poland00000348,079461188
Rest of Europe01460141444332279480
Total from Europe8002,0783132,8344,1351,36811,3632,1324,063
Syria
Lebanon		000002521775
Rest of the Western Asia0001542230
Total from Western Asia0001544542075
Japan00025005331614,085
Rest of East Asia073780127001872
Total from East Asia07378012700184,157
Mennonites000001,8763814,2587
Total of immigrants0-8004,808-7,774415-3,7433,420-7,1155,700-6,3063,264-3,52912,629-20,1417,280-7,55510,044-11,665
Paraguayan population?239,774?490,719651,040843,905987,8241,259,8261,816,890