Guatemala

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guatemala as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGuatemala

Area108,890 km2

Populationas each edition published it

9.1 million July 1990 · 18.26m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.63% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 63.99 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.1 children per woman 1990 · 1.97 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

61 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 23.4 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 4.2% in 1993

Geography

14 fields

Land useshare of 108,890 km2

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

Total area

108,890km2

land area: 108,430 km2Comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee

Coastline

400km

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,687km total

Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Disputes

claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are under way

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

Environment

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms;
deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution

People

14 fields

Population

9,097,636

(July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

37Death

Ethnic divisions

Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European ancestry) 56%Indian 44%

Literacy

50%

Nationality

noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan

Religion

predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant, traditional Mayan

Language

Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Labor force

2,500,000; 57.0% agriculture, 14.0% manufacturing, 13.0% services, 7.0% commerce, 4.0% construction, 3.0% transport, 0.8% utilities, 0.4% mining (1985)

Government

Republic

18 fields

National Congress, 100 seats, elected 3 November 1985one dot, one seat

DCG 51UCN 22MLN 12PDCN/PR 11PSD 2PNR 1CAN 1

Percent of vote

DCG 38.7%UCN 20.2%PDCN/PR 13.8%MLN/PID 12.6%CAN 6.3%PSD 3.4%PNR 3.2%PUA/FUN/MEC 1.9%

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

Legal system

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

Executive branch

president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) 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)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo;
National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge Carpio Nicolle;
National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario Sandoval Alarcon;
Social Action Movement (MAS), Jorge Serrano Elias;
Revolutionary Party (PR) in coalition with National Renewal Party (PNR), Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario Solarzano Martinez;
National Authentic Center (CAN), Mario David Garcia;
United Anti-Communist Party (PUA), Leonel Sisniega;
Emerging Movement for Harmony (MEC), Louis Gordillo;
Democratic Party of National Cooperation (PDCN), Adan Fletes;
Democratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar Rivas;
Nationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel Giron

Suffrage

universal at age 18, compulsory for literates, voluntary for illiterates President--last held on 3 December 1985 (next to be held 3 November 1990);
results--Mario Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo (DCG) 38.7%, Jorge Carpio Nicolle (UCN) 20.2%, Jorge Serrano Elias (PDCN/PR) 14.8%;
National Congress--last held on 3 November 1985 (next to be held 3 November 1990);
results--DCG 38.7%, UCN 20.2%, PDCN/PR 13.8%, MLN/PID 12.6%, CAN 6.3%, PSD 3.4%, PNR 3.2%, PUA/FUN/MEC 1.9%;
seats--(100 total) DCG 51, UCN 22, MLN 12, PDCN/PR 11, PSD 2, PNR 1, CAN 1

Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT); main radical left guerrilla groups--Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA), Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), and PGT dissidents

Other political or pressure groups

Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and Labor Action (UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC)

Member of

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

Ambassador Rodolfo ROHRMOSER V;
Chancery at 2220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 745-4952 through 4954;
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 34024);
telephone [502] (2) 31-15-41

Flag

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

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.

17 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$10.8billion

per capita $1,185; real growth rate 1.3% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

(1989)

Unemployment rate

13%

with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)

External debt

$3.0billion

(December 1989 est.)

Exports $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1988)commodities, where a share is given

coffee

38%bananas

7%sugar

7%cardamom

; partners--US 29%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy

Budget

Revenues

$771 millionExpenditures

$957 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $188 million (1988)

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.

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

Industrial production

growth rate 3.5% (1988 est.)

Electricity

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

Industries

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

Agriculture

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

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

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $869 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $7.7 billion

Currency

quetzal (plural--quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

9 fields

Airports, 451 total, 391 usable

permanent-surface runways

11runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

3runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Highways

26,429Railroads

870Inland waterways

260

Highways: ; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel, and 12,140 unimproved · Railroads: , single track; 780 km government owned, 90 km privately owned · Inland waterways: ; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season

fairly modern network centered in Guatemala pcityo;
97,670 telephones;
stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave;
connection into Central American Microwave System;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Army, Navy, Air Force

3 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49

2,028,875fit for military service

1,327,374reach military age (18) annually

107,251

Defense expenditures

1%of GDP

or $115 million (1990 est.)

Branches