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.

Land boundaries: 1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

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)

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

Geography
Note: no natural harbors on west coast

Population: 9,097,636 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)

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

Birth rate: 37 births/1000 population (1990)

Death rate: 9 deaths/1000 population (1990)

Net migration rate: - 3 migrants/1000 population (1990)

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

Infant mortality rate: 61 deaths/1000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth: 60 years male, 65 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate: 5.1 children born/woman (1990)

Literacy: 50%

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

Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986

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

Suffrage: universal at age 18, compulsory for literates, voluntary 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: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

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 Thomas F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34,024; telephone p502o (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

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 about 20% of GDP and 15% of the labor force. The economy has reentered a slow-growth phase, but is hampered by political uncertainty. In 1988 the economy grew by 3.7%, the third 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 36.9% in 1986 to 15% in 1989.

Agriculture products: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy and contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal crops--sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock--cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (1988 est.)

Labor force:

Unemployment rate: 13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)

Budget: revenues $771 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital expenditures of $188 million (1988)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: coffee 38%, bananas 7%, sugar 7%, cardamom 4%
Partners: US 29%, 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 38%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador

Debt external: $3.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1--3.3913 (January 1990), 2.8261 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500 (1987), 1.875 (1986), 1.000 (1985; note--black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 807,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced, 280 kWh per capita (1989)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1% of GDP, or $115 million (1990 est.)

Airports: 451 total, 391 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Pipelines: crude oil, 275 km

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

Disputes international: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are under way

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial eradication of opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments