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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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| page last updated on January 29, 2013 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees. In January 2012, Guatemala assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.
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Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
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15 30 N, 90 15 W
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total: 108,889 sq km
country comparison to the world: 107
land:
107,159 sq km
water:
1,730 sq km
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slightly smaller than Tennessee
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total: 1,687 km
border countries:
Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km
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400 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
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mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
note:
highest point in Central America
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petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
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arable land: 13.22%
permanent crops:
5.6%
other:
81.18% (2005)
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2,000 sq km (2003)
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111.3 cu km (2000)
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total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%)
per capita:
160 cu m/yr (2000)
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numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms
volcanism:
significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m) has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana
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deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
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party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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no natural harbors on west coast
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| People and Society ::Guatemala |
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noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective:
Guatemalan
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Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)
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Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%
note:
there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca
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Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
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Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America. It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue in the long term because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations.
Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960-1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.
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14,099,032 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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0-14 years: 37.4% (male 2,684,966/ female 2,587,063)
15-64 years:
58.6% (male 4,006,895/ female 4,253,546)
65 years and over:
4% (male 262,968/ female 303,594) (2012 est.)
population pyramid: 
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total: 20.4 years
male:
19.7 years
female:
21.1 years (2012 est.)
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1.948% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
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26.48 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
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4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
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-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
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urban population: 49% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 1.075 million (2009)
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.87 male(s)/female
total population:
0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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120 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 64
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total: 25.16 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 78
male:
27.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
22.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 71.17 years
country comparison to the world: 142
male:
69.29 years
female:
73.14 years (2012 est.)
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3.18 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
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5.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 120
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0.9 physicians/1,000 population (1999)
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0.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)
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improved:
urban: 89% of population
rural: 73% of population
total: 81% of population
unimproved:
urban: 11% of population
rural: 27% of population
total: 19% of population
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0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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62,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
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2,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
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degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease:
dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease:
leptospirosis (2009)
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17.7% (2002)
country comparison to the world: 42
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3.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 125
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
69.1%
male:
75.4%
female:
63.3% (2002 census)
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total: 11 years
male:
11 years
female:
10 years (2007)
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conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form:
Guatemala
local long form:
Republica de Guatemala
local short form:
Guatemala
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constitutional democratic republic
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name: Guatemala City
geographic coordinates:
14 37 N, 90 31 W
time difference:
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa
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15 September 1821 (from Spain)
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Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
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31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended 25 May 1993; reinstated 5 June 1993; amended November 1993
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civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; the Congress ratified Statute of Rome on 18 January 2012, and ICCt jurisdiction entered into force on 23 February 2012
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18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police may not vote by law and are restricted to their barracks on election day
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chief of state: President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 11 September 2011; runoff held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held in September 2015)
election results:
Otto PEREZ MOLINA elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Otto PEREZ MOLINA 53.7%, Manuel BALDIZON 46.3%
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unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members elected through a party list proportional representation system)
elections:
last held on 11 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2015)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PP 26.62%, UNE-GANA 22.67%, UNC 9.50%, LIDER 8.87%, CREO 8.67%, VIVA-EG 7.87%, Winaq-URNG-ANN 3.23%, PAN 3.12%, FRG 2.74%, PU 2.70%, other 3.59%; seats by party - PP 57, UNE-GANA 48, LIDER 14, UCN 14, CREO 12, VIVA-EG 6, PAN 2, Winaq-URNG-ANN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, VICTORIA 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 2 March 2012 - PP 62, LIDER 25, UCN 18, Independents 12, CREO 11, GANA 9, UNE 8, VIVA 3, EG 3, PAN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, Winaq 1, URNG 1, VICTORIA 1
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Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges and five alternate judges are elected by Congress for concurrent five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members are elected by Congress to serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)
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Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Rodolfo NEUTZE]; Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector Alfredo NUILA Ericastilla]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Luis Fernando PEREZ]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ]; National Unity for Hope or UNE; National Welfare or Bien [Fidel REYES Lee]; Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]; New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]; Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]; Unionista Party or PU [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]; Victoria (Victory) [Abraham RIVERA]; Winaq [Rigoberta MENCHU]
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Alliance Against Impunity or AI (which includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), and Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)); Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF (which includes among others the Agrarian Chamber (CAMAGRO) and the Industry Chamber of Guatemala (CIG)); Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (Camara de Comercio); International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala or CICIG; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Movimiento PRO-Justicia
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BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon
chancery:
2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 745-4953
FAX:
[1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general:
Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco
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chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold A. CHACON
embassy:
7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address:
DPO AA 34024
telephone:
[502] 2326-4000
FAX:
[502] 2326-4654
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three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and purity
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quetzal (bird)
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name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
lyrics/music:
Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
note:
adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911
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Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for 13% of GDP and 38% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include coffee, sugar, bananas, and vegetables. The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006 spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accountingfor more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line and 13% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up 38% of the population, averages 73% and extreme poverty rises to 28%. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income equivalent to nearly two-fifths of exports or one-tenth of GDP. Economic growth fell in 2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets dropped and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession. The economy gradually recovered in 2010-12.
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$78.42 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$76.06 billion (2011 est.)
$73.23 billion (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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$50.3 billion (2012 est.)
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3.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
3.9% (2011 est.)
2.9% (2010 est.)
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$5,200 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$5,200 (2011 est.)
$5,100 (2010 est.)
note:
data are in 2012 US dollars
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agriculture: 13%
industry:
23.8%
services:
63.2% (2012 est.)
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5.571 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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agriculture: 38%
industry:
14%
services:
48% (2011 est.)
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4.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
3.5% (2010 est.)
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54% (2011 est.)
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lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%:
42.4% (2006)
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55.1 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 11
55.8 (1998)
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14.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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revenues: $5.799 billion
expenditures:
$7.091 billion (2012 est.)
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11.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
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-2.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
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29.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
29.8% of GDP (2011 est.)
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4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
6.2% (2011 est.)
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6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
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13.6% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
13.43% (31 December 2011 est.)
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$7.854 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$7.506 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$21.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$20.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$18.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
$18.31 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$NA
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sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
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4.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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-$2.039 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
-$1.523 billion (2011 est.)
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$9.864 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
$10.55 billion (2011 est.)
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coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
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US 37.9%, El Salvador 10.5%, Honduras 6.8%, Mexico 5.1% (2011)
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$15.57 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$15.37 billion (2011 est.)
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fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products
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US 40.4%, Mexico 11.6%, China 8.2%, El Salvador 4.5% (2011)
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$6.311 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$6.184 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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$16.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$15.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
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quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -
7.88 (2012 est.)
7.7854 (2011 est.)
8.0578 (2010 est.)
8.1616 (2009)
7.5895 (2008)
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calendar year
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8.146 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
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8.161 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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193.3 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
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525.6 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
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2.673 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
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58.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
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0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
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29.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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12.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
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10,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
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12,620 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194
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83.07 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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1,132 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
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80,810 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
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4,162 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
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|
|
|
|
|
68,910 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
|
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|
|
|
2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
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12.97 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
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| Communications ::Guatemala |
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1.626 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 65
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|
|
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|
20.716 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 47
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|
general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala
domestic:
state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 150 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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4 privately-owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately-owned radio stations (2007)
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|
.gt
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|
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|
357,552 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 60
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|
|
|
2.279 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
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| Transportation ::Guatemala |
|
|
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|
291 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 24
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|
total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m:
3
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
5
under 914 m:
4 (2012)
|
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|
total: 276
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
2
914 to 1,523 m:
79
under 914 m:
194 (2012)
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1 (2012)
|
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oil 480 km (2010)
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|
|
total: 332 km
country comparison to the world: 118
narrow gauge:
332 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
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|
total: 14,095 km
country comparison to the world: 124
paved:
4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways)
unpaved:
9,232 km (2000)
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|
990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 66
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Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
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National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG), Guatemalan Navy (Marina Nacional, includes Marines), Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG) (2009)
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all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months; women can serve as officers (2009)
|
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|
|
males age 16-49: 3,165,870
females age 16-49:
3,371,217 (2010 est.)
|
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|
|
males age 16-49: 2,590,843
females age 16-49:
2,926,544 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
male: 171,092
female:
168,151 (2010 est.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 165
|
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| Transnational Issues ::Guatemala |
|
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|
annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States
|
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IDPs: undetermined (three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; drug cartel and gang violence) (2011)
|
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|
major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem
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