Guatemala

Republic of GuatemalaRepublica de Guatemala

republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guatemala as the 1998 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

12.01 million July 1998 est. · 9.1m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.71% 1998 est. · 2.63% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

66.04 years 1998 est. · 63.99 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.81 children per woman 1998 est. · 5.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

47.68 deaths per 1,000 live births 1998 est. · 61 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$4,000 1997 est. · $1,300 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4.1% 1997 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

18 fields

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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

People

15 fields

Population

12,007,580

(July 1998 est.)growth rate: 2.71% (1998 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1998 est.)

Birth

36.02Death

6.96Net migration

-1.99

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1998 est.)66.04

63.4 · 68.81

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)55.6%

62.5% · 48.6%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 2,629,861; female 2,522,112)
15-64 years:: 54% (male 3,213,744; female 3,216,415)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 199,738; female 225,710) (July 1998 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:: 0.88 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Infant mortality rate

47.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 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 1999)

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 1999)
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 four-year terms)

elections:: last held on 12 November 1995 to select 80 new congressmen (next to be held in November 1999)
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 [Raphael BARRIOS Flores];
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

note: former guerrillas known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG signed peace treaty with government on 29 December 1996; URNG guerrillas formally disbanded 29-30 March 1997 and are in the process of forming a political party of the same name

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 de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address:: APO AA 34024
telephone:: [502] (2) 31-15-41

FAX

[502] (2) 31-88-85

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 agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of | GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the labor | force.

28 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

-$45.8billion

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

GDP per capita, PPP

-$4,000

purchasing power parity · (1997 est.)

Real growth rate

4.1%

(1997 est.)industrial production growth: 1.9% (1996)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector(1997 est.)

agriculture 24%industry 21%services 55% (1997 est.)

Fixed lines

210,000

(1993 est.)

Economy-overview

The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of GDP and two-thirds of exports and employs more than half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Manufacturing and construction account for one-fifth of GDP. Since assuming office in January 1996, President ARZU has worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization.

The signing of the Peace Accords in December 1996, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1997, Guatemala met its economic targets when GDP growth accelerated to 4.1% and inflation fell to 9%. The government also increased tax revenues-historically the lowest in Latin America-to 9% of GDP and created a new tax administration.

It also successfully placed $150 million in dollar-denominated notes in the international markets. Debt service costs should decline in 1998. Remaining challenges for the administration in 1998 include completing a deal with the IMF and stabilizing monetary policy. Throughout 1997, the Central Bank maintained a tight money supply, helping to control inflation, but it also caused high interest rates and led to operating losses for the bank.

Early in 1998, it relaxed its monetary policy in an effort to correct these problems, but increased pressure on the quetzal has prompted the bank to intervene to prop up its value.

Labor force

total:: 3.32 million (1997 est.)
by occupation:: agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (1997 est.)

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA

Industries

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

Electricity-capacity

766,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-production

3.1 billion kWh (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

282 kWh (1995)

Agriculture-products

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

Exports

total value:: $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
commodities:: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, petroleum
partners:: US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa Rica 5%, Germany 5%

Imports

total value:: $3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
commodities:: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
partners:: US 44%, Mexico 10%, Venezuela 4.6%, Japan, Germany

Debt-external

$3.38 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $274 million (1994)

Currency

1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Exchange rates

free market quetzales (Q) per US$1-6.2580 (January 1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5.6354 (1993)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

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

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

333

total: 467 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124

Networkskm

Highways

13,100Railways

884Waterways

260

Highways: paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways) · unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.) · Railways: (102 km privately owned) · narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track) · 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:: 13,100 km
paved:: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 9,484 km (1996 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.66%

(1998 est.)

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;
active eradication program of cannabis and opium poppy GUERNSEY (British crown dependency)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guatemala.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guatemala/1998.

How to cite ← 1997 edition 1999 edition →