The 2025 AlTi Global Social Progress Index (SPI), a comprehensive tool that measures key drivers of social development, identifies Paraguay as the country with the largest growth in social progress in Latin America and the Caribbean since 2011. The report notes that Paraguay’s SPI score rose by 6.83 points during this period, representing the highest gain in the region.
The AlTi Global SPI focuses exclusively on non-economic aspects of social performance, measuring progress across three key dimensions: Basic Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. In the 2025 edition, Paraguay ranks 73rd globally with a score of 68.71, classified as an “Improving Country” for having raised its score by more than 0.25 points between 2023 and 2024.
About the 2025 AlTi Global SPI
The 2025 AlTi Global SPI measures 57 indicators of social and environmental progress across 170 countries, representing more than 99% of the world’s population. Since 2011, the Index has tracked how nations meet their citizens’ basic needs, establish the foundations for wellbeing, and create opportunities for all individuals to reach their potential.
This year’s edition reveals that global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has slowed. However, it also highlights opportunities for recovery, particularly through private investment in areas that drive meaningful social change. The report identifies four key areas where private capital can make a difference: a healthier world, rebuilding rights and freedoms, sustainability opportunity, and gender equity.
Social progress and growth in Latin America
Latin America and the Caribbean is the only region in the world to record an increase in social progress in 2024. This growth was mainly due to a recovery in Rights and Voice, which was a positive change after years of stagnation. Despite this progress, the region’s overall progress has been gradual, with an increase of only 3.31 points between 2011 and 2023.
Within the region, Chile (79.49), Uruguay (79.26), and Costa Rica (79.02) lead with the highest scores on the SPI. Paraguay stands out as the regional leader in progress, with an increase of 6.83 points since 2011, followed by Bolivia (6.20), and Guyana (6.11).
Paraguay’s growth in detail
According to the AlTi Global SPI, Paraguay’s three dimensions, Basic Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity, are all classified as “performing within the expected range.”
In terms of Basic Need, Paraguay’s strongest area is water and sanitation. Nutrition and medical care also perform well, though maternal mortality remains slightly below expectations. Housing meets expectations overall, but household air pollution and the use of clean cooking fuels underperform. Safety is the weakest area, with significant challenges in transportation-related injuries, interpersonal violence, and public perceptions of safety.
In Foundations of Wellbeing, environmental quality performs strongly, exceeding expectations. However, waste recovery requires attention. Information and communications perform as expected, but basic education and health fall below standards. The report highlights that areas needing improvement are primary school enrolment, access to quality education, and equal healthcare.
The Opportunity dimension highlights strong results in freedom of assembly and political rights. Although, corruption perception and equality among social groups require progress. The Inclusive society sector shows strong community support but needs improvement in equal access. In Advanced Education, academic freedom, high-quality universities, and women’s higher education perform as expected
Important considerations
The AlTi Global SPI explains that, while economic growth is correlated with high social progress, economic growth alone is not enough. Countries with similar Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita can have very different levels of social progress. The report warns that growth without social progress is a real risk and “GDP is not the destiny.”
The full report is available on The Social Progress Imperative’s website.
Read more: Paraguay’s Business Summit 2025: Boosting Tourism And Economic Growth.
