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.

Map reference:

Area
Total: 108,890 km²
Land: 108,430 km²

Land boundaries:
Continental shelf: the outer edge of the continental shelf
Exclusive 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: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Land use
Arable land: 12%
Permanent crops: 4%
Meadows and pastures: 12%
Forest and woodland: 40%
Other: 32%

Irrigated land: 780 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 10,446,015 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.63% (1993 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guatemalan(s)
Adjective: Guatemalan

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

Languages:

Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan

Population growth rate: 2.63% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 36.19 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 7.74 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: -2.18 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

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: 55.6 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.99 years
Male: 61.46 years
Female: 66.65 years (1993 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 55%
Male: 63%
Female: 47%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
Conventional short form: Guatemala
Local long form: Republica de Guatemala
Local short form: 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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica)

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

International organization participation:

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Juan Jose CASO-FANJUL
In the us telephone: (202) 745-4,952 through 4,954
In the us consulates general:
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn MCAFEE (since 28 May 1993)
From the us embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
From the us mailing address: APO AA 34,024
From the us telephone: 502 (2) 31-15-41
From the us fax: 502 (2) 318,855

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. In 1992 growth picked up to 4% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold.

Real gdp growth rate: 4.2% (1992)

Real gdp per capita: $1,300 (1992 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 26% of GDP; most important sector of economy; 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:

Labor force: 2.5 million
By occupation agriculture: 60%
By occupation services: 13%
By occupation manufacturing: 12%
By occupation commerce: 7%
By occupation construction: 4%
By occupation transport: 3%
By occupation utilities: 0.8%
By occupation mining: 0.4% (1985)

Unemployment rate: 6.5% (1991 est.), with 30-40% underemployment

Budget: revenues $604 million; expenditures $808 million, including capital expenditures of $134 million (1990 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $1.3 billion (f.o.b., 1992)
Commodoties: coffee 26%, sugar 13%, bananas 7%, beef 3%
Partners: US 36%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras

Imports: $1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1992)
Commodoties: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles

Exchange rates: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 5.2850 (December 1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991), 2.8161 (1989), 2.6196 (1988; note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)

Electricity
Production: 847,600 kW capacity; 2,500 million kWh produced, 260 kWh per capita (1992)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% of GDP (1993)

Airports: 474
Usable: 418
With permanentsurface runways: 11
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 21

Pipelines: crude oil 275 km

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

Merchant marine:

Disputes international: border with Belize in dispute; negotiations to resolve the dispute have begun

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