Sharp fall in latest readings
According to WHO, life expectancy at birth for both sexes in Paraguay fell to 70.3 years in 2021. This marks a drop from 75.2 years in 2020, a decline of nearly five years, or about 6.5 percent in a single year. The new figure represents a sharp reversal after a previously stable trend.
Long-standing gains pushed below recent norms
Over the longer term, Paraguay’s life expectancy had hovered around 75 years on average, well above the new 70.3-year reading. The latest value is now below both the long-run and recent averages, signalling a notable setback that may affect how long people can expect to live and plan for their futures.