Historically, themigratory history ofParaguay has been ambiguous, since it has had periods of large scale emigration as well as small waves of immigrants, primarily fromEurope.[1]
Although the majority of people mostly descended from Native Americans, Paraguay considers itself as amestizo country, the result of small scale intermarriage with Europeans (mostly ofSpanish origin). Unlike neighbouring countries likeArgentina orBrazil, Paraguay did not attract massive numbers of immigrants. However, during the 19th century the country suffered adevastating 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 theOld World, in search of a better life and peace. Among European groups in the country, this includes those of Spanish, German (many of them beingMennonites), Italian, French and Slavic origin. Other groups included these of Levantine/Arabs roots (mostly Christian Lebanese and Syrians) and East Asians (such as the Chinese and Japanese), among others.[2]
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.[3]
The first Europeans to arrive in what is now Paraguayan territory were Spaniards who left a palpable cultural heritage even today.
The government ofCarlos Antonio López was marked by a period of international openness including immigration and attracting settlers to populate the country.
Geographically, Paraguay can be divided into two parts: TheChaco or Western Region, and the Eastern Region, whereAsunción 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 thedepartments ofPresidente Hayes,Boquerón, andAlto Paraguay (also known inEnglish as Upper Paraguay).
The colonisation of the Chaco began with the founding of several colonies, including Nueva Burdeos (French:Nouvelle-Bordeaux, present-dayVilla Hayes), which was founded by French immigrants. The first settlers came to this colony through the port of Asunción in 1856.[4] In the years 1927, 1930 and 1947, three waves ofGerman-speaking Mennonites originally Russia came fromCanada and theSoviet 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 ofMennonites in Paraguay.[5]
The table below obviously only shows the official numbers in individual immigrants. Most of the oftenGermanBrasiguayos, 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 (1,778 people) and from Russia in 1930 and 1932 (ca. 2,000) and in 1947 (ca. 4,500 via Germany) are not in the table.[6]
| Place of origin | 1870-1879 | 1880-1889 | 1890-1899 | 1900-1909 | 1910-1919 | 1920-1929 | 1930-1939 | 1940-1949 | 1950-1959 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguayan returnees | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 193 | 105 | 111 | 0 | 0 |
| Argentina | 0 | 4,895 | 18 | 364 | 1,122 | 100 | 141 | 512 | 2,036 |
| Brazil | 0 | 530 | 0 | 29 | 44 | 0 | 12 | 77 | 474 |
| Uruguay | 0 | 198 | 0 | 59 | 68 | 40 | 12 | 43 | 188 |
| Bolivia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 75 |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 6 | 37 | 3 | 35 | 9 | 60 | 385 |
| Canada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 99 |
| Rest of theAmericas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 36 | 136 |
| Total from the Americas | 0 | 5,623 | 24 | 546 | 1,434 | 281 | 298 | 671 | 3,393 |
| Italy | 0 | 824 | 251 | 1,115 | 973 | 37 | 41 | 238 | 580 |
| Spain | 0 | 321 | 9 | 809 | 1,494 | 37 | 73 | 159 | 1,287 |
| France | 0 | 228 | 10 | 124 | 111 | 15 | 109 | 63 | 148 |
| Germany | 0 | 467 | 11 | 479 | 811 | 814 | 1,038 | 186 | 661 |
| United Kingdom | 800 | 39 | 28 | 35 | 31 | 9 | 8 | 84 | 160 |
| Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 318 | 137 | 533 | 50 | 32 |
| Russia | 0 | 53 | 0 | 99 | 252 | 46 | 515 | 288 | 319 |
| Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 46 | 14 | 12 | 168 | 80 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 85 | 137 | 96 | 30 | 38 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 527 | 126 | 90 |
| Poland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 8,079 | 461 | 188 |
| Rest ofEurope | 0 | 146 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 44 | 332 | 279 | 480 |
| Total from Europe | 800 | 2,078 | 313 | 2,834 | 4,135 | 1,368 | 11,363 | 2,132 | 4,063 |
| Syria Lebanon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 17 | 75 |
| Rest of theWestern Asia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Total from Western Asia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 54 | 20 | 75 |
| Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 533 | 161 | 4,085 |
| Rest ofEast Asia | 0 | 73 | 78 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 72 |
| Total from East Asia | 0 | 73 | 78 | 0 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4,157 |
| Mennonites | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1,876 | 381 | 4,258 | 7 |
| Total of immigrants | 0[7]-800 | 4,808[7]-7,774 | 415-3,743[7] | 3,420-7,115[7] | 5,700-6,306[7] | 3,264[7]-3,529 | 12,629-20,141[7] | 7,280-7,555[7] | 10,044[7]-11,665 |
| Paraguayan population | ? | 239,774 | ? | 490,719 | 651,040 | 843,905 | 987,824 | 1,259,826 | 1,816,890 |
