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.

Area
Total: 108,890 km²
Land: 108,430 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Tennessee

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

Coastline: 400 km

Maritime claims
Continental shelf: not specific
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Disputes: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun

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

Population: 9,784,275 (July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)

Nationality: noun - Guatemalan(s; adjective - Guatemalan

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

Languages:

Religions:

Birth rate: 34 births/1000 population (1992)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1992)

Net migration rate: -2 migrants/1000 population (1992)

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
Current issues note: no natural harbors on west coast

Infant mortality rate: 56 deaths/1000 live births (1992)

Life expectancy at birth: 61 years male, 66 years female (1992)

Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1992)

Literacy: 55% (male 63%, female 47%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala

Government type: republic

Capital: Guatemala

Administrative divisions:

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
Congress:
President: runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held 11 November 1995); results - Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9%
Communists:

Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch:

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)

International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation:
US:

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 family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 26% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in private hands, accounts for about 18% of GDP and 12% of the labor force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and fifth consecutive years of mild growth. Inflation at 40% in 1990-91 was more than double the 1987-89 level.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $11.7 billion, per capita $1,260; real growth rate 3% (1991 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 26% of GDP; most important sector of economy and contributes two-thirds of 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: growth rate NA; accounts for 18% of GDP

Labor force: 2,500,000; agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)
Organized labor: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate: 6.7%, with 30-40% underemployment (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.05 billion; expenditures $1.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $270 million (1989 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.16 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
Commodoties: coffee 26%, sugar 13%, bananas 7%, beef 2%
Partners: US 39%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras

Imports: $1.66 billion (c.i.f., 1990)
Commodoties: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
Partners: US 40%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.0854 (January 1992), 5.0289 (1991), 2.8161 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500 (1987; note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)

Electricity
Production: 802,600 kW capacity; 2,461 million kWh produced, 266 kWh per capita (1991)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $113 million, 1% of GDP (1990)

Airports:

Pipelines: crude oil 275 km

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

Merchant marine:
Civil air: 8 major transport aircraft

Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments