Growing internet access is accelerating changes in consumption, payments and entertainment in Paraguay. In 2025, about 85% of the population used the internet, according to a report by the National Statistics Institute (INE), the government body responsible for the country’s official statistics.
E-commerce is among the fastest-growing segments. Data from the Paraguayan Chamber of Payment Methods (CPMP) indicate that the number of transactions increased ninefold in five years: there were 4.45 million in 2022, and the projection for 2026 exceeds 40 million.
Consumer behavior has also changed. Eight out of 10 Paraguayans who shop online place orders with local stores and use digital tools, including artificial intelligence, to research and compare products. The annual E-Commerce Data Library for Latin America survey indicates that food and beverages account for 40% of the items most sold in Paraguayan stores. Another 64% is divided equally between household appliances and subscriptions to services such as Netflix, YouTube and Spotify.
Among foreign platforms, AliExpress led the country in visits in 2025, with more than 7 million. Amazon and Ikea followed, with 1 million visitors each. The figures show the coexistence of an expanding local retail sector and the strong presence of international marketplaces.
In finance, technology is expanding the use of digital wallets and QR-code payments, low-cost alternatives especially for micro and small businesses. Digital lending models such as crowdlending and factoring are also advancing, aimed at financing small and medium-sized businesses and groups with less access to the traditional system.
Law No. 7,503, which establishes the National Payments System, expanded the supervision of the Central Bank of Paraguay (BCP) over financial technology companies and established interoperability as a central pillar of the system. In practice, the rule seeks to enable communication between different platforms and encourage competition, although the size of the Paraguayan market still limits its regional participation. The sector represents 0.98% of Latin America’s fintech market, compared with 24% for Brazil, 20% for Mexico and 13% for Colombia, according to data attributed to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Gambling and sports betting have also gained ground in the digital environment. The National Gambling Commission (Conajzar), the state body that licenses and oversees the sector, began expressly considering the online channel in the regulatory framework. Operators say that matches involving the Paraguayan national team could increase activity by up to 30% during the 2026 World Cup, but this estimate is a commercial projection, not an independent measurement.
For Diego García, president of the Paraguayan Fintech Chamber, the change has already altered the routine of businesses: “Today, it is unthinkable to depend exclusively on cash or to consider a physical store the only way to buy a product.”