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

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Background: The Maya 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 internal conflict.


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Location: Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Geographic coordinates: 15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map reference: Central America and the Caribbean

Area
Total: 108,889 km²
Land: 107,159 km²
Water: 1,730 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 1,667 km
Border countries: (4) Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km

Coastline: 400 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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

Terrain: two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands

Elevation
Highest point: Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 759 m

Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 41.2% (2018 est.)
Forest: 33.6% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.2% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,375 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 835 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 603.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 1.886 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 127.91 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Geography


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Population
Distribution: the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas: 17,703,190 (2022 est.)
Growth rate: 1.58% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line: 59.3% (2014 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guatemalan(s)
Adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)

Languages: Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna); note - the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna (2018 est.)
Major language samples:

Religions: Roman Catholic 41.7%, Evangelical 38.8%, other 2.7%, atheist 0.1%, none 13.8%, unspecified 2.9% (2018 est.)

Demographic profile: 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 country's 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 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 close to three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations.

Age structure
0-14 years: 33.68% (male 2,944,145/female 2,833,432)
15-24 years: 19.76% (male 1,705,730/female 1,683,546)
25-54 years: 36.45% (male 3,065,933/female 3,186,816)
55-64 years: 5.41% (male 431,417/female 496,743)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 363,460/female 442,066) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 60.9
Youth dependency ratio: 53
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.9
Potential support ratio: 12.7 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 23.2 years
Male: 22.6 years
Female: 23.8 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.58% (2022 est.)

Birth rate: 22.34 births/1000 population (2022 est.)

Death rate: 4.91 deaths/1000 population (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -1.66 migrant(s)/1000 population (2022 est.)

Population distribution: the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas

Urbanization
Urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
International agreements party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 23.59 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.78 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 10.7 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 20.6 years (2014/15 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 95 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 26.18 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 29.51 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 22.69 deaths/1000 live births (2022 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.91 years
Male: 70.88 years
Female: 75.04 years (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.62 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 60.6% (2014/15)

Drinking water source
Improved:
Unimproved:

Current health expenditure: 6.2% of GDP (2019)

Physicians density: 1.24 physicians/1000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density: 0.4 beds/1000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved:
Unimproved:

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2021 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vector borne diseases: dengue fever and malaria

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 21.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 10.9% (2020 est.)
Male: 20.1% (2020 est.)
Female: 1.6% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.4% (2014/15)

Education expenditures: 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 80.8%
Male: 85.3%
Female: 76.7% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 11 years
Male: 11 years
Female: 10 years (2019)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 4.6%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 4%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 5.7% (2019 est.)


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
Conventional short form: Guatemala
Local long form: Republica de Guatemala
Local short form: Guatemala
Etymology: the Spanish conquistadors used many native Americans as allies in their conquest of Guatemala; the site of their first capital (established in 1524), a former Maya settlement, was called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of trees" or "forested land", but which the Spanish pronounced "Guatemala"; the Spanish applied that name to a re-founded capital city three years later and eventually it became the name of the country

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Guatemala City
Geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the Spanish conquistadors used many native Americans as allies in their conquest of Guatemala; the site of their first capital (established in 1524), a former Maya settlement, was called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of trees" or "forested land", but which the Spanish pronounced "Guatemala"; the Spanish applied that name to a re-founded capital city three years later and eventually it became the name of the country

Administrative divisions: 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

Dependent areas

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by agreement of 10 or more deputies of Congress, by the Constitutional Court, or by public petition of at least 5,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Congress membership and approval by public referendum, referred to as "popular consultation"; constitutional articles such as national sovereignty, the republican form of government, limitations on those seeking the presidency, or presidential tenure cannot be amended; amended 1993

Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descentonly: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (since 14 January 2020); Vice President Cesar Guillermo CASTILLO Reyes (since 14 January 2020)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections and appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms); election last held on 16 June 2019 with a runoff on 11 August 2019 (next to be held in June 2023)
Election results:

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (160 seats; 128 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies in the country's 22 departments and 32 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed party-list proportional representation vote, using the D'Hondt method; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 16 June 2019 (next to be held on June 2023)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UNE 52, VAMOS 17, UCN 12, VALOR 9, BIEN 8, FCN-NACION 8, SEMILLA 7, TODOS 7, VIVA 7, CREO 6, PHG 6, VICTORIA 4, Winaq 4, PC 3, PU 3, URNG 3, PAN 2, MLP 1, PODEMOS 1; composition - men 129, women 31, percent of women 19.4%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 13 magistrates, including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - the court president also supervises trial judges countrywide; note - the Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad of Guatemala resides outside the country's judicial system; its sole purpose is the interpretation of the constitution and to see that the laws and regulations are not superior to the constitution (consists of 5 titular magistrates and 5 substitute magistrates)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates elected by the Congress of the Republic from candidates proposed by the Postulation Committee, an independent body of deans of the country's university law schools, representatives of the country's law associations, and representatives of the Courts of Appeal; magistrates elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges - 1 elected by the Congress of the Republic, 1 by the Supreme Court, 1 by the president of the republic, 1 by the (public) University of San Carlos, and 1 by the Assembly of the College of Attorneys and Notaries; judges elected for renewable, consecutive 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term
Subordinate courts: Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts

Political parties and leaders: Bienestar Nacional or BIEN [Fidel REYES LEE]
Citizen Prosperity or PC [Hernan MEJIA and Jorge GARCIA SILVA]
Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Rodolfo NEUTZE]
Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS [Felipe ALEJOS]
Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG-MAIZ or URNG [Walter FELIX]
Humanist Party of Guatemala or PHG [Rudio MERIDA]
Movement for the Liberation of Peoples or MLP [Thelma CABRERA and Vincenta JERONIMO]
Movimiento Semilla or SEMILLA [Samuel PEREZ Alvarez]
National Advancement Party or PAN [Manuel CONDE]
National Convergence Front or FCN-NACION [Javier HERNANDEZ]
National Unity for Hope or UNE [Sandra TORRES and Jorge VARGAS]
Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Carlos ROJAS and Sofia HERNANDEZ] (dissolved 16 December 2021)
PODEMOS [Jose LEON]
Political Movement Winaq or Winaq [Sonia GUTIERREZ Raguay]
Value or VALOR [Zury RIOS and Lucrecia MARROQUIN]
Vamos por una Guatemala Diferente or VAMOS [Alejandro GIAMMATTEI]
Victory or VICTORIA [Abraham RIVERA and his four sons Amilcar, Juan, Manuel, and Edgar]
Vision with Values or VIVA [Armando Damian CASTILLO Alvarado]

International organization participation: BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), 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, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alfonso Jose QUINONEZ LEMUS (since 17 July 2020)
In the us chancery: 2,220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 745-4,953
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
In the us email address and website: 
infoembaguateeuu@minex.gob.gt
In the us consulate(s)general: Atlanta, Chicago, Del Rio (TX), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence (RI), Raleigh (NC), San Bernardino (CA), San Francisco, Seattle
In the us consulate(s): Lake Worth (FL), Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ)
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador William W. POPP (since 13 August 2020)
From the us embassy: Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zone 10, Guatemala City
From the us mailing address: 3,190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC 20,521-3,190
From the us telephone: [502] 2,326-4,000
From the us FAX: [502] 2,326-4,654
From the us email address and website:

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) 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 represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity
Note: one of only two national flags featuring a firearm, the other is Mozambique

National symbols: quetzal (bird); national colors: blue, white

National anthem
Name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
Lyrics and 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

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 3 (2 cultural, 1 mixed)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 86.3% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 9.7% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 12.3% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: -0.2% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 18.8% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -26.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 13.3% (2017 est.)
Industry: 23.4% (2017 est.)
Services: 63.2% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: sugar cane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, melons, potatoes, milk, plantains, pineapples, rubber

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2017 est.)

Labor force: 6.664 million (2017 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 31.4%
By occupation industry: 12.8%
By occupation services: 55.8% (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 4.6%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 4%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 5.7% (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line: 59.3% (2014 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income:

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 1.6%
Highest 10: 38.4% (2014)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $8.164 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $9.156 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 10.8% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt:

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 0.78% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

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:
Partners: United States 33%, El Salvador 12%, Honduras 8%, Mexico 5%, Nicaragua 5% (2019)
Commodities: bananas, raw sugar, coffee, cardamom, palm oil (2019)

Imports:
Partners: United States 36%, China 12%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 5% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicines, cars, delivery trucks (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 92% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 99% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 85% (2019)
Installed generating capacity: 5.185 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 10,793,650,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: $2.19 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 1.141 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission distribution losses: 1.587 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 39.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 2.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 38% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 17% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 2.28 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 2.376 million metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 10,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 112,600 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 6,700 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 86.1 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 1,162 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 10,810 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 97,900 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 19.041 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 5.037 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 14.004 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 19.411 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,272,467 (2020 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 20,390,671 (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2020 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: 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 (2019)

Internet
Country code: .gt
Users total: 8,429,167 (2020 est.)
Users percent of population: 50% (2020 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 612,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: Army of Guatemala (Ejercito de Guatemala): Land Forces (Fuerzas de Tierra), Naval Forces (Fuerzas de Mar), and Air Force (Fuerza de Aire); Ministry of Government (Interior): National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil; includes paramilitary units) (2022)

Military service age and obligation: all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible for military service; in practice, most of the force is volunteer, however, a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds being conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 1 to 2 years; women may volunteer (2022)
Note: as of 2017, women comprised up to 10% of the active military

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 145,795 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 110,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TG

Airports
Total: 291 (2021)
With paved runways total: 16
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 4
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 4 (2021)
With unpaved runways total: 275
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 77
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 195 (2021)

Heliports: 1 (2021)

Pipelines: 480 km oil (2013)

Railways
Total: 800 km (2018)
Narrowgauge: 800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge
Note: despite the existence of a railway network, all rail service was suspended in 2007 and no passenger or freight train currently runs in the country (2018)

Roadways
Total: 17,440 km (2020)
Paved: 7,458 km (2020)
Unpaved: 9,982 km (2020) (includes 4,548 km of rural roads)

Waterways: 990 km (2012) (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season)

Merchant marine
Total: 9
By type: oil tanker 1, other 8 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla


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Disputes international: Guatemala-Belize: Demarcated but insecure boundary due to Guatemala’s claims to more than half of Belizean territory.  Line of Adjacency operates in lieu of an international boundary to control influx of Guatemalan squatters onto Belizean territory. Smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation and debt bondage are all problems. Belize lacks resources to detect and extradite impoverished Guatemalan peasants squatting in Belizean rain forests in the remote border areas. 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, but this vote was suspended indefinitely. At present, Belize and Honduras 12-nm territorial sea claims close off Guatemalan access to Caribbean in the Bahia de Amatique. Maritime boundary remains unresolved pending further negotiation.

Guatemala-Mexico: Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US.

Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 243,000 (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2021)

Illicit drugs: a major transit country for illegal drugs destined for the United States with increasing cultivation originating from Guatemala; farmers  cultivate opium poppy and cannabis