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.

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

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)

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

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.)

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.)

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.)

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)

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.)

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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:

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

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

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

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

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

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.)

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.)

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.)

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

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

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.)

Airports: 58 (2025)

Heliports: 2 (2025)

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)

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