2007 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098) 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

450 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

total

11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m

2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

439 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 111

under 914 m

319 (2006)

Area

land

108,430 sq km

total

108,890 sq km

water

460 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Background

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence 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 left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. Geography Guatemala

Birth rate

29.88 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.828 billion; including capital expenditures of $750 million (2006 est.)

revenues

$3.894 billion

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

geographic coordinates

14 38 N, 90 31 W

name

Guatemala

time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Coastline

400 km

Constitution

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President Jorge 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

Currency (code)

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

Currency code

GTQ; USD

Current account balance

$-2.028 billion (2006 est.)

Death rate

5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$6.169 billion (2006 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador James M. DERHAM

embassy

7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City

mailing address

APO AA 34024

telephone

[502] 2326-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO

telephone

[1] (202) 745-4952

Disputes - international

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests of Belize's border region; Organization of American States (OAS) is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for the disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package; Guatemalans enter Mexico illegally seeking work or transit to the US

Distribution of family income - Gini index

48.3 (2000)

Economic aid - recipient

$250 million (2000 est.)

Economy - overview

Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with about 75% of the population below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit. Remittances from a large expatriate community that moved to the United States during the war have become an important source of foreign exchange.

Electricity - consumption

6.649 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

464 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

41 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

7.604 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

51.9%

hydro

35.2%

nuclear

0%

other

12.9% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

Exchange rates

quetzales per US dollar - 7.60102 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8217 (2002)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent of vote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvarado COLOM (UNE) 45.9%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held September 2007)

head of government

President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004)

Exports

$4.097 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 50.1%, El Salvador 12.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-1908

[502] 2326-4654

consulate(s) general

Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Providence, San Francisco

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Guatemala

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 Guatemala

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

22.5%

industry

18.8%

services

58.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.84 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$60.57 billion (2006 est.)

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography - note

no natural harbors on west coast People Guatemala

Government type

constitutional democratic republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

78,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

46% (1998)

lowest 10%

1.6%

IDPs

undetermined (estimates vary from none to 1 million displaced from government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) (2006)

Illicit drugs

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2004, reemerged as a potential source of opium, growing 330 hectares of opium poppy, with potential pure heroin production of 1.4 metric tons; 76% of opium poppy cultivation in western highlands along Mexican border; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$9.118 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

US 38.1%, Mexico 7.6%, El Salvador 4.8%, South Korea 4.8%, Panama 4.4% (2005)

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (1999)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

33.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

30.94 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.6% (2006 est.)

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.gt

Internet hosts

49,026 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

5 (2000)

Internet users

756,000 (2005) Transportation Guatemala

Investment (gross fixed)

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Irrigated land

1,300 sq km (2003)

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (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); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 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)

Labor force

3.85 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

50%

industry

15%

services

35% (1999 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

13.22%

other

81.18% (2005)

permanent crops

5.6%

Languages

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

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

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18

elections

last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held September 2007)

note

for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats increased from 113 to 158

Life expectancy at birth

female

71.18 years (2006 est.)

male

67.65 years

total population

69.38 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

63.3% (2003 est.) Government Guatemala

male

78%

total population

70.6%

Location

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

2,503,482 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

2,429,033

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

2,070,806 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

1,911,412

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

130,641 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

134,032

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

Median age

female

19.4 years (2006 est.)

male

18.5 years

total

18.9 years

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes marines), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$169.8 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.5% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Guatemala

Military service age and obligation

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months (2005)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Nationality

adjective

Guatemalan

noun

Guatemalan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

3.087 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

67,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

3,104 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

22,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

263 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

oil 480 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Fraterno VILLA, secretary general]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principles and Values or MPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently defected) [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto PEREZ Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretary general]; Unionista Party [Fritz GARCIA]

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

Population

12,293,545 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

75% (2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.27% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla Military Guatemala

Public debt

25.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios

835,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

886 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

total

886 km

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.959 billion (2006 est.)

Roadways

paved

4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways)

total

14,095 km

unpaved

9,232 km (1999)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

international

country code - 502; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1,132,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,168,300 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions

1.323 million (1997)

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Total fertility rate

3.82 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

7.5% (2003 est.)

Waterways

990 km

note

260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2004)