Map of Guatemala | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a guerrilla war.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries:

Coastline: 400 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specific
Extended economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Elevation

Natural resources: crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Land use: 12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 12% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 32% other; includes 1% irrigated

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: no natural harbors on west coast


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Population: 9,116,877 (July 1989), growth rate 2.4% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Guatemalan(s; adjective - Guatemalan

Ethnic groups: 56% Ladino (mestizo - mixed Indian and European ancestry), 44% Indian

Languages: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Religions: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant, traditional Mayan

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 36 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 64 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 63 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 50%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala

Government type: republic

Capital: Guatemala

Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento; Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quezaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; Constitution came into effect 1966 but suspended following March 1982 coup; Constituent Assembly elected in July 1984 completed drafting new Constitution and other electoral laws in June 1985

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal over age 18, compulsory for literates, optional for illiterates

Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government - President Mario Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo (since 14 January 1986; Vice President Roberto CARPIO Nicolle (since 14 January 1986)

Legislative branch: Army, Navy, Air Force

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: CACM, CCC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB - Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, IWC - International Wheat Council, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: Ambassador Rodolfo ROHRMOSER V; Chancery at 2,220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 745-4,952 through 4,954; there are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco; US - Ambassador James H. MICHEL; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34,024; telephone Õ502å (2) 31-15-41

Flag description: 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) 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 and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Industry accounts for 15% of the labor force and about 20% of GDP. The economy has reentered a slow-growth phase, but is hampered by political uncertainty. In 1988 the economy grew by 4.0%, the second consecutive year of mild growth. Government economic reforms introduced since 1986 have stabilized exchange rates and have helped to stem inflationary pressures. The inflation rate has dropped from 26% in 1986 to 12% in 1988.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, cardamom; an illegal producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade

Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 3.0% (1987 est.)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 12-15%, with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $1.1 billion; expenditures $1.35 billion, including capital expenditures of $195 million (1989 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: coffee 40%, cotton 7%, cardoman 5%, bananas 4%
Partners: US 41%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy

Imports: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
Partners: US 39%, Mexico, Japan, FRG, El Salvador

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $3.2 billion (December 1988)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 2.700 (May 1989), 2.705 (1988), 2.500 (1987), 1.875 (1986), 1.000 (1985; black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)


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Electricity
Capacity: 803,000 kW capacity; 2,543 million kWh produced, 290 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $116.6 million, 9% of central government budget (FY89)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 470 total, 398 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil, 275 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season

Merchant marine: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are underway

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs