1998 Edition

Area

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

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Coastline

400 km

Elevation extremes

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

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

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography-note

no natural harbors on west coast

Irrigated land

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

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

Land use

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

Location

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Terrain

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

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.)

Birth rate

36.02 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

6.96 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

47.68 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.04 years male: 63.4 years female: 68.81 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 55.6% male: 62.5% female: 48.6% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Net migration rate

-1.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

12,007,580 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.71% (1998 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan

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.)

Total fertility rate

4.81 children born/woman (1998 est.)

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

Country name

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

Data code

GT

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%

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

[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

Government type

republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

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

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

Legal system

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

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

National capital

Guatemala

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Currency

1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Debt-external

$3.38 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $274 million (1994)

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.

Electricity-capacity

766,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

282 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

3.1 billion kWh (1995)

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)

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%

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$45.8 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

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

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$4,000 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

4.1% (1997 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate

1.9% (1996)

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

9% (1997 est.)

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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15

Radios

400,000 (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)

Telephones

210,000 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

25

Televisions

475,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

5.2% (1997 est.)

Airports

479 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 12 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 under 914 m: 2 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 467 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 333 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 13,100 km paved: 3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,484 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none

Pipelines

crude oil 275 km Ports and harbors: Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways

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

Waterways

260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$132.9 million (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

0.66% (1998 est.)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,827,992 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,846,963 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 132,208 (1998 est.)

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 (British crown dependency)