Guatemala

Republic of GuatemalaRepublica de Guatemala

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guatemala as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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

Position15 30 N, 90 15 W

Area108,890 sq km

LocationMiddle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between

Populationas each edition published it

11.69 million July 1997 est. · 9.1m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.73% 1997 est. · 2.63% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

65.64 years 1997 est. · 63.99 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.89 children per woman 1997 est. · 5.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

49.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 61 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$3,460 1996 est. · $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1996 est. · 4.2% in 1993

Geography

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between | Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El | Salvador and Mexico

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Land useshare of 108,890 sq km

arable land 12%permanent crops 5%permanent pastures 24%forests and woodland 54%other 5% (1993 est.)irrigated 1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

108,890sq km

land: 108,430 sq kmwater: 460 sq kmslightly smaller than Tennessee

Coastline

400km

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitationexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

4,211m

Volcan Tajumulcolowest point : Pacific Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

1,687km

border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Location

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

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

Natural hazards

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified :: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

People

15 fields

Population

11,685,695

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.73% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

36.45Death

7.13Net migration

-2.04

Literacy

55.6%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: 62.5%female : 48.6% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 2,571,885; female 2,465,902)
15-64 years:: 53% (male 3,117,718; female 3,121,276) 65 years and over : 4% (male 192,334; female 216,580) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years :: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

49.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 65.64 years
male:: 63.02 years
female :: 68.39 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Guatemalan(s)
adjective:: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan

Languages

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Government

Republic; President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996); President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

51.2%

Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%Jorge PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%election last held 12 November 1995; runoff held 7 January 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)

Legislature, 80 seats, elected 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmenone dot, one seat

PAN 43FRG 21FDNG 6DCG 4UCN 3UD 2MLN 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form:: Guatemala
local long form:: Republica de Guatemala
local short form:: 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, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Constitution

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president

Legal system

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996);
Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (since 14 January 1996);
Vice President Luis Alberto FLORES Asturias (since 14 January 1996);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Council of Ministers named by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 12 November 1995;
runoff held 7 January 1996 (next to be held NA November 2000)
election results :: Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen elected president; percent of vote - Alvaro Enrique ARZU Irigoyen (PAN) 51.2%, Jorge PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 48.8%

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held on 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmen (next to be held in November 2000)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PAN 43, FRG 21, FDNG 6, DCG 4, UCN 3, UD 2, MLN 1

note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that reduced its number from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80 members to serve until replaced in the November 1995 general election; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia);
additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the President of the Supreme Court, judges are elected for a five-year term by Congress

Political parties and leaders

National Centrist Union or UCN [Juan AYERDI Aguilar];
Christian Democratic Party or DCG [Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo];
National Advancement Party or PAN [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen];
National Liberation Movement or MLN [Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon];
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Sergio FLORES Cruz];
Revolutionary Party or PR [Carlos CHAVARRIA Perez];
Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt];
Democratic Union or UD [Jose CHEA Urruela];
New Guatemalan Democratic Front or FDNG [Rafael ARRIAGA Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF;
Mutual Support Group or GAM;
Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO;
Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC;
Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;
leftist movement of former guerrillas known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG has four main factions - Guerrilla Army of the Poor or EGP;
Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms or ORPA;
Rebel Armed Forces or FAR;
Guatemalan Labor Party or PGT/O;
note - signed peace treaty with government on 29 December 1996;
URNG formally disbanded 29-30 March 1997

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Pedro Miguel LAMPORT Kelsall
chancery:: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone :: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954

FAX

[1] (202) 745-1908; consulate(s) general : Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Donald J. PLANTY (18 July 1996)
embassy:: 7-01 Avenida la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address:: APO AA 34024
telephone :: (502) 331-1541

FAX

(502) 334-8477

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

The economy is based on family and corporate | agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the | labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports.

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Real growth rate

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

10.9%

(1996)

Unemployment rate

4.9%

underemployment 30%-40% (1994 est.)

Labor force

3.1million

(1995 est.)by occupation: agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture 25%industry 20%services 55%

Budget(1995)

Revenues

$1.25 billionExpenditures

$1.35 billion

expenditures including capital expenditures of $385 million

Economy - overview

The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing and construction, predominantly in private hands, account for about 20% of GDP and 18% 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 almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold. In 1993-94, despite political unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up, and annual growth averaged 4%. Strong international prices for Guatemala's traditional commodity exports featured 4.9% growth in 1995;

growth receded to 3% in 1996. Given the markedly uneven distribution of land and income, the government faces major obstacles in its program of economic modernization and the reduction of poverty.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $39 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,460 (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

973,500 kW (1995)

Electricity - production

3.229 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

255 kWh (1995 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Exports

total value:: $1.81 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, beef
partners:: US 30%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras

Imports

total value :: $3.11 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
commodities:: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
partners:: US 44%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany

Debt - external

$3.1 billion (1995 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $274 million (1994)

Currency

1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 6.0527 (January 1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5.6354 (1993), 5.1706 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

210,000

(1993 est.)

Telephone system

fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

domestic:: NA
international :: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15

Radios

400,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

Televisions

475,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

309

total: 318 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m : 5

Networkskm

Highways

12,795Waterways

260

Highways: paved: 3,519 km (including 135 km of expressways) · unpaved : 9,276 km (1995 est.) · Waterways: ; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season

Railways

total :: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge:: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

Highways

total:: 12,795 km
paved:: 3,519 km (including 135 km of expressways)
unpaved :: 9,276 km (1995 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.8%

(1996)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

border with Belize in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are ongoing

Illicit drugs

transit country for cocaine shipments;
illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade;
the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy GUERNSEY (British crown dependency)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guatemala.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guatemala/1997.

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