1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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; Hurricane Mitch damage
Environment--international agreements
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertication, 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, Climate Change-Kyoto 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)
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,688,402; female 2,578,934) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,312,360; female 3,314,102) 65 years and over: 3% (male 207,014; female 234,768) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
35.57 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
6.8 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish--in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 44%
Infant mortality rate
46.15 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 66.45 years male: 63.78 years female: 69.24 years (1999 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
-1.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
12,335,580 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.68% (1999 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 total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.74 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Guatemala
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%
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, 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 William STIXRUD chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 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 embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024
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 ARRIAGA Martinez]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG 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
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 (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 holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
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
$211.9 million (1995)
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 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Nevertheless, growth will be somewhat smaller due to the storm. Remaining challenges include increasing government revenues, and negotiating a program with the IMF.
Electricity--consumption
3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
3.1 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 29.03% hydro: 70.97% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
quetzales (Q) per US$1--6.7284 (January 1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995), 5.7512 (1994)
Exports
$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom, petroleum
Exports--partners
US 37%, El Salvador 13%, Honduras 7%, Costa Rica 5%, Germany 5%
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$45.7 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 24% industry: 21% services: 55% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$3,800 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)
Imports
$3.3 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles
Imports--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 prices)
6.4% (1998)
Labor force
3.32 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 58%, services 14%, manufacturing 14%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 2.6%, utilities 0.3%, mining 0.1% (1995)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
5.2% (1997 est.)
Communications
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
6 (in addition, there are 17 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
475,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
478 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (1998 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 (1998 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 and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$124 million (1998)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
0.7% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 2,915,169 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,903,382 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 134,964 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
border with Belize in dispute
Illicit drugs
transit country for cocaine shipments; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; active eradication program of cannabis crop effectively eliminated in 1996