As of 2010, there are 80,000 to 60,000 conservative Russian Mennonites living in Paraguay

Paraguay

Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...

. In addition to this there are a number of native Paraguayans (mostly Indians) who have converted to Mennonitism. Mennonites contribute heavily to the agricultural and dairy output of Paraguay. Ethnic Mennonites in Paraguay are spread across 19 colonies and in the City of Asuncion. 51% are originally from Canada, while 25% trace their origins to Russia and a further 22% to Mexico. Another 2% are descendants of immigrants from USA.

Major colonies

There are two major Mennonite concentrations in Paraguay. The first one in the Gran Chaco

Gran Chaco

The Gran Chaco is a sparsely populated, hot and semi-arid lowland region of the Río de la Plata basin, divided among eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina and a portion of the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where it is connected with the Pantanal region...

 region, and the second one in Eastern Paraguay.

Colony	Location	Established	Source	Population (1987)
Menno	West	1927	Canada	6,650
Fernheim	West	1930	Russia	3,240
Neuland	West	1947	Russia	1,330
Friesland	East	1937	Russia	720
Volendam	East	1947	Russia	690
Bergthal	East	1948	Canada	1,490
Sommerfeld	East	1948	Canada	1,860
Reinfeld	East	1966	Canada	120
Luzy Esperanza	East	1967	USA	110
Agua Azul	East	1969	USA	170
Rio Verde	East	1969	Mexico	2,490
Tres Palmas	East	1970	Mixed	220
Santa Clara	East	1972	Mexico	130
Rio Corrientes	East	1975	USA	180
Florida	East	1976	USA	100
Nueva Durango	East	1978	Mexico	2,050
Campo Alta	East	1980	Mexico / Belize	120
Manitoba	East	1983	Mexico	290
Asuncion	East	N	Mixed	750
Paraguay	Paraguay	1927	Mixed	22,710

Mennonites of Central Chaco

The Central Chaco region is most probably having the heaviest concentration of ethnic Mennonites anywhere in Latin America. Ethnic Germans (almost all of them Mennonites) formed 32% of the total population of Central Chaco as of 2005. Only the Paraguayan Indians (52%) were more numerous compared to them. Latin Paraguayans, the majority ethnic group in Paraguay constituted just 11% and Braziguayan

Brasiguayos

Brasiguayo or brasiguaio is a term referring to Brazilian migrants in Paraguay and their descendants. They typically live in the Southeastern Paraguayan departments of Canindeyú and Alto Paraná, which border with Brazil. Most emigrated from Brazil by the 1960s. They are often accused of imposing...

s and Argentines another 5%.

Mennonites have also received some criticism from human right organizations for their involvement with a number of indigenous tribes, including the Ayoreo people in Paraguay.

See also

• Mennonites in Netherlands
  Mennonite Church in the Netherlands
  The Mennonite Church in the Netherlands, or Algemene Doopsgezinde Sociëteit, is a body of Mennonite Christians in the Netherlands.The Mennonites are named for Menno Simons , a Dutch Roman Catholic priest from the Province of Friesland who converted to Anabaptism around 1536...
  
  
• Mennonites in Mexico
• Mennonites in France
  Mennonites in France
  The Mennonites in France are religious descendents of the Anabaptist movement. Anabaptists first appeared in the east of France during the early years of the Protestant Reformation. Strasbourg was a haven for all kinds of religious dissidents during this period...
  
  
• Mennonites in Belize
  Mennonites in Belize
  As of 2008, there are close to 10,000 conservative Prussian Mennonites living in Belize. In addition to this there are another 2,000 mostly Kriol and Mestizo Belizeans who have converted to Mennonitism. Mennonites living in Belize are among the most traditional and conservative amongst all the...
  
  
• Mennonites in Bolivia
  Mennonites in Bolivia
  As of 2010, there are close to 60,000 conservative Russian Mennonites living in Bolivia. In addition to this there are a number of native Bolivians who have converted to Mennonitism...