Paraguay

As one of the few landlocked nations in the world, Paraguay doesn't see much movement in or out of the country. As a result, most people are of Guaraní indigenous and European descent. In fact, the presence of the Guaraní is so dominant that their language can be more popular than Spanish, though most people are bilingual, notwithstanding a population of German speakers in the West. The overwhelming majority of the people are Roman Catholic. Development is found mostly in the east of the country, around big cities like the capital, Asunción. Still, urbanization is far less extreme than in nearby countries. The economy struggled immensely in the late 1900s but saw unprecedented growth thanks to the export of soybeans and various meats. This was all thanks to the rivers in the south which were used to ship out products. Accordingly, hydroelectricity is also a notable industry, as the country operates an array of dams. There is also a massive wage gap between socioeconomic classes and impressively low taxes. Overall, healthcare in Paraguay is subpar. There are many outbreaks of age-old diseases like measles and dysentery, and infant mortality rates are high. Vaccines are not administered often, especially in rural areas, and a minority of the population has health insurance. Education is obligatory from 7 to 13, and a handful of quality schools exist in Asunción. There are great disparities between urban and rural schools, a general shortage of facilities, and teachers can be of low quality. In Paraguay, Godparents play a large role in children's lives, and they assume varying responsibilities for them. Chipa, made with cheese and egg, is a popular soup, while maté is consumed as a beverage. Beef plates are also prevalent dishes. One well-known holiday is Caacupé, a festival for the Virgin of Miracles. Also, on August 1, an assortment of Guaraní foods are consumed to fend off bad omens. Paraguay's music scene revolves around sentimental ballads with a slow rhythm. The Guaraní people also have a foothold on Paraguayan art with their trademark folk art style. A variety of libraries and museums can be found in Asunción showcasing Paraguayan culture. The wildlife in Paraguay is very unique too due to the country's geography. Jaguars are commonplace in the mountainous nation, and there are roughly 1,000 species of birds. Snakes and panthers also prowl the Paraguayan jungles thanks to dense layers of vegetation.