2000 Edition

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.

Area

land

108,430 sq km

total

108,890 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

highest point

Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

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

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

border countries

Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

total

1,687 km

Land use

arable land

12%

forests and woodland

54%

other

5% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

5%

permanent pastures

24%

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, hydropower

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 2,735,107; female 2,622,412) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,411,575; female 3,413,932) 65 years and over: 4% (male 213,791; female 243,122) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

35.05 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.92 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

47.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.96 years (2000 est.)

male

63.53 years

total population

66.18 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

48.6% (1995 est.)

male

62.5%

total population

55.6%

Nationality

adjective

Guatemalan

noun

Guatemalan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

12,639,939 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.63% (2000 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

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 (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.66 children born/woman (2000 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

Capital

Guatemala

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL

embassy

7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City

mailing address

APO AA 34024

telephone

(2) 31-15-41

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant)

telephone

(202) 745-4952

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers named by the president

chief of state

President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (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

election results

Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras elected president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo(PAN) 32%

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)

head of government

President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabreras (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

FAX

(202) 745-1908

(2) 33-48-77

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

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

constitutional democratic 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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Justice or 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

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 (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1

elections

last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003)

note

for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties and leaders

Christian Democratic Party or DCG ; Democratic Union or UD ; Green Party or LOV ; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union or URNG ; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party or PAN ; New Guatemalan Democratic Front or FDNG ; New Nation Alliance or ANN ; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP

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

Suffrage

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

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Debt - external

$4.4 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$212 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The agricultural sector accounts for one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and 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, former President ARZU 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. Remaining challenges include beefing up government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations. Growth should remain at the same level in 2000 provided world agricultural prices do not plunge.

Electricity - consumption

2.914 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

6 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

51 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

3.085 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

26.42%

hydro

66.61%

nuclear

0%

other

6.97% (1998)

Exchange rates

quetzales (Q) per US$1 - 7.8829 (January 2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)

Exports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 48%, El Salvador 10%, Honduras 6%, Germany 5%, Costa Rica 4% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $47.9 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

23%

industry

20%

services

57% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,900 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.5 billion (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 46%, Mexico 13%, El Salvador 5%, Venezuela 5%, Japan 4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force

3.32 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Population below poverty line

75%

Unemployment rate

7.5% (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

7 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 101, FM 32, shortwave 15 (1998)

Radios

835,000 (1997)

Telephone system

fairly modern network centered in the city of

domestic

NA

international

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

Telephones - main lines in use

342,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

29,999 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

6 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

640,000 (1997)

Airports

477 (1999 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 (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

3,616 km (including 140 km of expressways)

total

13,100 km

unpaved

9,484 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

none (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 275 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

narrow gauge

884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

total

884 km (102 km privately owned)

Waterways

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

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$124 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.7% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 3,000,599 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,959,050 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

137,607 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

territory in Belize claimed by Guatemala; precise alignment of boundary 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 in 1996 effectively eliminated the cannabis crop; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine shipments)

GUERNSEY