Is there an expat community in Paraguay?

Estimated expat populations:

• **Americans**: 3,000-5,000
• **Brazilians**: 300,000+ (historical migration)
• **Germans**: 10,000+ (Mennonite colonies + recent)
• **Koreans**: 5,000+
• **Argentines**: 50,000+
• **Europeans (various)**: 5,000+

Growing communities:

• Digital nomads (post-2020 boom)
• Tax-motivated relocators
• Retirees
• Entrepreneurs
• Crypto community

Concentrated in Asunción:

• **Villa Morra**: Highest expat density
• **Carmelitas**: Young professionals, nomads
• **Recoleta**: Families, established expats
• **Las Mercedes**: Families

Outside Asunción:

• **Encarnación**: Small retirement community
• **Filadelfia** (Chaco): Mennonite colonies
• **Ciudad del Este**: Business-focused

**Facebook Groups** (Most Active):

• "Expats in Paraguay"
• "Americans in Paraguay"
• "Digital Nomads Paraguay"
• "Asunción Expat Community"

**WhatsApp Groups**:

• Ask in FB groups for invites
• Neighborhood-specific groups
• Interest-based groups

**In-Person Meetups**:

• Expat happy hours (check FB groups)
• Language exchange events
• Coworking space communities
• Sports leagues

**Organizations**:

• American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham)
• Various national clubs (German, Korean, etc.)
• Rotary Club
• Church communities

**Positives**:

• Tight-knit, everyone knows everyone
• Welcoming to newcomers
• Mix of short-term and long-term expats
• Helpful with local knowledge
• Diverse backgrounds and interests

**Challenges**:

• Small pool (less diverse than larger destinations)
• Some cliques form
• Can feel limited after time
• Not everyone connects

Beyond expat bubble:

• Language exchange (practice Spanish/English)
• Sports clubs
• Professional networking
• Neighbors and colleagues
• Through work or business

Paraguayans are generally:

• Friendly and welcoming
• Family-oriented
• Curious about foreigners
• Patient with Spanish learners

- AmCham events

• Startup/entrepreneur meetups
• Professional associations
• Industry-specific networks

For those interested:

• English-speaking churches exist
• Catholic (majority of Paraguay)
• Evangelical churches growing
• Jewish community small but present
• Other faiths represented

Common expat activities:

• Golf (several courses)
• Tennis clubs
• Hash House Harriers (running group)
• Restaurant/bar scene
• BBQ gatherings
• Weekend trips

- Expat blogs and forums

• YouTube channels about Paraguay
• Podcasts from expats
• Reddit communities

Paraguay's expat community is:

• ✅ Welcoming and helpful
• ✅ Tight-knit
• ✅ Growing
• ❌ Small compared to Mexico, Portugal, Thailand
• ❌ Limited dating pool for singles
• ❌ May feel insular after years

**Best for**:

• Those who make effort to connect
• People comfortable with smaller community
• Those who also connect with Paraguayans