More than 85% of the Paraguayan population aged 10 and over, used the internet in 2025, according to new data. The National Institute of Statistics (Instituto Nacional de Estadística, or INE) released the findings to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day, earlier this May. The report draws upon the results of the 2025 Permanent Continuous Household Survey (EPHC), providing an updated overview of internet access and usage throughout the country.
The comprehensive data indicates that, overall, 85.4% of individuals aged 10 and above are now online. These statistics offer important insight into the nation’s evolving digital landscape and highlight areas where connectivity is most prevalent.
Gender and age demographics in digital usage
A detailed analysis of the survey results reveals a slight variance in internet usage between genders. According to the report, women demonstrated a higher rate of adoption, with 86.8% having used the internet. In comparison, the corresponding figure for men was 83.9% . This shows a modest but distinct gap, with female usage rates slightly outpacing those of their male counterparts.
Furthermore, internet use varies significantly across different age groups, with young adults showing the highest levels of engagement. The 25 to 29 age bracket registered the peak usage rate at 97.1%. Individuals aged 30 to 34 followed closely behind with a 96.0% usage rate.
The 15 to 19 age group also reported very high connectivity at 92.5%. In contrast, the youngest demographic surveyed, children between 10 and 14 years old, had a usage rate of 55.9%. For the population aged 35 and over, a substantial 83.2% were internet users.
A persistent urban and rural connectivity gap
The report also underscores the continuing disparity in internet access between Paraguay’s urban and rural areas. Connectivity remains substantially more prevalent in urban centres, where 88.2%of the population reported using the internet. Conversely, in rural regions, the figure was considerably lower, standing at 77.8%. This difference of 10.4 percentage points indicates an ongoing digital divide that separates the country’s more densely populated areas from its remote communities.
This geographical trend is further reflected in the data at a departmental level. The capital, Asunción, registered the highest rate of internet usage in the nation, with 90.9% of its population online. Following the capital, the departments of Central and Alto Paraná also showed high levels of connectivity, at 89.8% and 89.2% respectively.
In comparison, other departments such as Itapúa and Caaguazú reported usage rates of 83.1% and 79.9%. The lowest levels of internet utilisation were observed in the departments of Caazapá, at 78.7%, and San Pedro, with a rate of 75.1%, highlighting the regional challenges in achieving uniform digital access. Earlier in 2026, the first Starlink internet access points went live in Paraguay’s Chaco area.
Global context and report methodology
The release of this data on World Telecommunication and Information Society Day aligns with the global objectives of the occasion. The day was proclaimed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with the aim of promoting equitable access to digital technologies. Its purpose is to help bridge the digital divide that exists between countries and among different sectors of the population worldwide, making information more accessible to all.
To ensure accuracy, the National Institute of Statistics clarified the scope of the survey. The published percentages do not include data from the departments of Boquerón and Alto Paraguay. Additionally, figures relating to indigenous communities and individuals residing in collective housing were not incorporated into this report.
The INE also added that the weighting factors used in the survey were adjusted to align with the new national population estimates and projections based on the 2025 revision, ensuring the data reflects the most current demographic information available.
