Paraguay’s publishing industry recorded significant growth in 2025, with a 10.4% year-on-year increase in registered publications. The Paraguayan ISBN Agency, operating under the National Library, logged 1,393 new publications, compared to 1,262 in the previous year. The latest figures also reveal a substantial rise in the number of author-publishers and an increased presence of indigenous languages in new books.
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique international code assigned to each edition of a book. This system is crucial for the publishing industry, as it simplifies cataloguing, distribution, and sales tracking for booksellers, libraries, and wholesalers. In Paraguay, the ISBN system is managed by the national agency based at the National Library in Asunción.
A surge in author-led publishing
One of the most notable Paraguayan publishing trends in the 2025 data is the sharp increase in author-publishers, individuals who manage and register their own works directly. This category saw a 69.7% rise, growing from 254 registrations in 2024 to 431 in 2025. Consequently, the number of unique individuals publishing their own work increased from 139 to 197.
Overall, the number of publishing entities, including authors and traditional publishers, with at least one ISBN assigned grew from 213 to 280. This expansion also had a geographical impact, with registered publications originating from 36 different cities across the country, an increase from 32 cities the previous year.
Geographical and subject matter distribution
Paraguay’s capital city Asunción remains the central hub of publishing activity, accounting for 1,008 registrations, or 72.4% of the national total. However, activity outside the capital is growing, with 385 publications registered in other cities. Lambaré, a city within the Asunción metropolitan area, saw its registrations increase from 56 to 90. Similarly, Encarnación, a significant city in the south, experienced a notable jump from 20 to 73 publications.
In terms of subject matter, the field of Literature and Rhetoric was the most prominent, with 524 registered titles. This was followed by Social Sciences, which accounted for 351 publications. The data also showed a continued preference for physical media, with 1,180 printed publications compared to 213 digital formats.
Increased linguistic diversity
The report highlights a positive trend towards greater linguistic diversity in Paraguayan publishing. Publications featuring languages other than Spanish grew by 71.3%, from 160 in 2024 to 274 in 2025. This reflects the nation’s bilingual character, where Spanish and Guaraní are both official languages and widely spoken.
Specifically, publications incorporating indigenous languages rose from 127 to 167. Guaraní, spoken by a large majority of the population, was present in 161 of these titles, up from 126 the year before. The data also recorded publications in other indigenous languages, including Aché-Guayakí, Ayoreo, and Nivaclé. Furthermore, the number of bilingual and multilingual publications more than doubled, increasing from 56 to 131.
The Paraguayan ISBN Agency continues to operate from its office at the National Library, located at De la Residentas 820, near the corner of Perú street in Asunción, with public service hours from Monday to Friday, between 12:00 and 18:00.
