Ethnicity, Language, & Religion of Paraguay
Ethnicity
The overwhelming majority of people in Paraguay are mestizo, which means they are descended from both Europeans and indigenous people. Of these people, most have some Spanish blood and some Guarani blood as the people are truly a result of these two groups. The Guarani people are actually defined by language, as opposed to ethnicity, although they tend to be related ethnically as well. As almost everyone in Paraguay is both Spanish and Guarani many Paraguayans refer to themselves simply as "Guarani."
Language
Paraguay has two official languages, both Spanish and Guarani. Spanish is perhaps the more widely spoken of the two, especially in cities, but many people learn Guarani as a second language and this is a source of pride. Additionally, many native speakers of Guarani in rural areas don't learn Spanish, which makes Guarani the de facto language of communication across many parts of the country. Guarani belongs to the Tupian language family, which includes the Tupi language among others, all of which are indigenous American languages.