Guatemala

Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala

constitutional democratic republicIndependence 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Guatemala as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 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 land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km
LocationMiddle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico
2001

Every edition of Guatemala

Populationas each edition published it
12.97 million July 2001 est. · 9.1m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.6% 2001 est. · 2.63% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 18.3 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
66.51 years 2001 est. · 63.99 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.58 children per woman 2001 est. · 5.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
45.79 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 61 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$3,700 2000 est. · $1,300 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3% 2000 est. · 4.2% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.

Geography

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

18 fields
Coastline
400km
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM
Irrigated land
1,250sq km
(1993 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Climate

  • tropical;
  • hot, humid in lowlands;
  • cooler in highlands

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 5% (1993 est.)

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;
  • Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment - international agreements

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

Geography - note

no natural harbors on west coast

People

18 fields
Population
12,974,361
(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 2.6% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2001 est.)

Birth
34.61Death
6.79Net migration
-1.84

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.11% (male 2,789,189; female 2,674,747) 15-64 years: 54.25% (male 3,518,209; female 3,519,851) 65 years and over: 3.64% (male 220,640; female 251,725) (2001 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 total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.51 years male: 63.85 years female: 69.31 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2%

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.6% male: 68.7% female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Government

Constitutional democratic republic; President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000)

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

68%
Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 68%Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala

Government type

constitutional democratic republic

Capital

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

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution

  • 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986;
  • note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO;
  • reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president;
  • amended November 1993

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote)

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000);
  • Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000);
  • note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000);
  • Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000);
  • 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 7 November 1999;
  • runoff held 26 December 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected president;
  • percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%

Legislative branch

  • unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1 note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113

Judicial branch

  • Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (thirteen members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms);
  • Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad (five judges are elected for concurrent five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of the Constitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by the Supreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, one elected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, and one by Colegio de Abogados)

Political parties and leaders

  • Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Jorge Luis ORTEGA];
  • Democratic Union or UD [Jose Luis CHEA Urruela];
  • Green Party or LOV [Jose ASTURIAS Rudecke];
  • Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo];
  • Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Pablo MONSANTO, also known as Jorge SOTO];
  • Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt];
  • New Nation Alliance or ANN [leader NA], which includes the URNG;
  • National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas];
  • Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO;
  • Alliance Against Impunity or AAI;
  • Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC;
  • Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF;
  • Mutual Support Group or GAM

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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Ariel RIVERA Irias chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952

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 Prudence BUSHNELL embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 331-1541/55

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 agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force.

32 fields
Real growth rate
3%
(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 4.1% (1999)
Unemployment rate
7.5%
(1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

51.4%
US
42.8%
Mexico
9.9%
8.7%
El Salvador
4.3%
5%
Honduras
Japan
4.8%
Venezuela
3.8%
3.4%
Costa Rica
2.7%
Germany
Exports $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000)Imports $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)(1998)

Electricity

Electricity production
3.785 billion (1999)Electricity consumption
3.295 billion (1999)Electricity exports
435 million (1999)Electricity imports
210 million (1999)

Economy - overview

The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Former President ARZU (1996-2000) worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization.

The 1996 signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations.

Despite low international prices for Guatemala's main commodities, the economy grew by 3% in 2000 and is forecast to grow by 4% in 2001. Guatemala, along with Honduras and El Salvador, recently concluded a free trade agreement with Mexico and has moved to protect international property rights.

However, the PORTILLO administration has undertaken a review of privatizations under the previous administration, thereby creating some uncertainty among investors.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $46.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 23% industry: 20% services: 57% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)

Labor force

4.2 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)

Budget

revenues: $2.2 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 38.31% hydro: 61.69% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat, apparel, petroleum, electricity

Imports

$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity

Debt - external

$4.7 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$212 million (1995)

Currency

quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed

Exchange rates

quetzales per US dollar - 7.8020 (January 2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields
Mobile cellular
663,296
(September 2000)
Fixed lines
665,061
(June 2000) · country code .gt

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • 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 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios

835,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

1.323 million (1997)

Internet users

65,000 (2000)

Transportation

9 fields

Railways

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

Highways

total: 13,856 km paved: 4,370 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,486 km (1998)

Waterways

990 km note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during highwater season

Pipelines

crude oil 275 km

Ports and harbors

Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Airports

477 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 332 (2000 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force

7 fields

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,092,050 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 2,018,636 (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize;
  • to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala

Illicit drugs

  • transit country for cocaine and heroin;
  • minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade;
  • proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine and heroin shipments);
  • money laundering is probably increasing

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guatemala.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guatemala/2001.

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