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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

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): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 33.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 23.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 3,375 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: 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 (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 (2,552 m) 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; see note 2 under 'Geography - note'

Geography
Note note 1: despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast
Note note 2: Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes


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Population
Total: 18,255,216 (2024 est.)
Male: 9,050,684
Female: 9,204,532
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
Growth rate: 1.49% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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) (2018 est.)
Major-language sample(s): ; La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish); The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna

Religions: Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 31.5% (male 2,925,079/female 2,819,927)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 5,688,500/female 5,839,958)
65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 437,105/female 544,647)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 49.8 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 24.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 24.2 years
Female: 25.4 years

Population growth rate: 1.49% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 21.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate

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

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 94 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.5 years (2024 est.)
Male: 71.5 years
Female: 75.6 years

Total fertility rate: 2.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source
Urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 9% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 31.1% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 14.4% (2021 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.3% (2024 est.); 2.4% (2023 est.); 3.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

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' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called 'Quauhtemallan' by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means 'land of the eagle' but that the Spanish probably pronounced 'Guatemala'

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, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán, Zacapa

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

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

Suffrage

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Head of government: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: 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)
Most recent election date: 25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023
2023: Bernardo ARÉVALO de León elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 21%; Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (SEMILLA) 15.6%, Manuel CONDE Orellana (VAMOS) 10.4%; Armando CASTILLO Alvarado (VIVA) 9.6%, other 43.4%; percent of vote in second round - Bernardo ARÉVALO de León 60.9%, Sandra TORRES 39.1%
2019: Alejandro GIAMMATTEI elected president; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 25.5%, Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 14%, Edmond MULET (PHG) 11.2%, Thelma CABRERA (MLP) 10.4%, Roberto ARZU (PAN-PODEMOS) 6.1%, other 32.8%; percent of vote in second round - Alejandro GIAMMATTEI 58%, Sandra TORRES 42%
Expected date of next election: June 2,027
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 160 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: mixed system
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 6/25/2023
Parties elected and seats per party: Let’s Go for a Different Guatemala (Vamos) (39); National Unity of Hope Party (UNE) (28); Seed Movement (Semilla) (23); Cabal (18); Vision with Values (VIVA) (11); Other (41)
Percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Expected date of next election: June 2,027

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (left 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), a scroll with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain), a pair of crossed rifles, and a pair of crossed swords; a laurel wreath frames the objects

National symbols

National anthem
Title: 'Himno Nacional de Guatemala' (National Anthem of Guatemala)
Lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
History: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem and it was not discovered until 1911; anthem has four verses with four separate choruses at the end of each verse -- all are official, and the anthem is sung in its entirety when performed in Guatemala

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 3.7% (2024 est.); 3.5% (2023 est.); 4.2% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.7% (2024 est.); 3.5% (2023 est.); 4.2% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 88% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -31.5% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Industry: 21.7% (2024 est.)
Services: 61.8% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: 2% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 7.575 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.3% (2024 est.); 2.4% (2023 est.); 3.1% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.3% (2024 est.); 2.4% (2023 est.); 3.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $16.603 billion (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $17.349 billion (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal 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: $17.997 billion (2024 est.); $17.342 billion (2023 est.); $18.141 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $35.576 billion (2024 est.); $33.056 billion (2023 est.); $33.943 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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
Installed generating capacity: 4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 99.1% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 97.7%
Access electrification - rural areas: 98.2%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 18.546 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.31 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 16.232 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 1.94 million (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 20.6 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 921,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

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: 58 (2025)

Heliports: 2 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 800 km (2018)
Narrow gauge: 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

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 9 (2023)
By type: oil tanker 1, other 8

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs