Mennonites in Paraguay

As of 2010, there are 80,000 to 60,000 conservative Russian Mennonites living in Paraguay. 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.^[2]

Major colonies

There are two major Mennonite concentrations in Paraguay. The first one in the Gran Chaco region, and the second one in Eastern Paraguay.^[3]

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 Braziguayans and Argentines another 5%.^[4]

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.^[5]

See also

• Mennonites in Netherlands
• Mennonites in Mexico
• Mennonites in France
• Mennonites in Belize
• Mennonites in Bolivia

References