2015 Edition

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 internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.

Area

land

107,159 sq km

total

108,889 sq km

water

1,730 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

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

note

highest point in Central America

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

259.1 cu m/yr (2006)

total

3.46 cu km/yr (15%/31%/54%)

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography - note

no natural harbors on west coast

Irrigated land

3,121 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (4)

Belize 266 km, El Salvador 199 km, Honduras 244 km, Mexico 958 km

total

1,667 km

Land use

arable land 14.2%; permanent crops 8.8%; permanent pasture 18.2%

agricultural land

41.2%

forest

33.6%

other

25.2% (2011 est.)

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

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 extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms

volcanism

significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Total renewable water resources

111.3 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

35.57% (male 2,704,784/female 2,602,397)

15-24 years

21.99% (male 1,646,350/female 1,633,666)

25-54 years

32.93% (male 2,337,192/female 2,575,674)

55-64 years

5.2% (male 370,456/female 405,496)

65 years and over

4.31% (male 298,319/female 344,665) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

24.89 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

note

data represents children ages 5-17 (2006 est.)

percentage

21%

total number

929,852

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

13% (2009)

Death rate

4.77 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Demographic profile

Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960 to 1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.

Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The country's large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America. It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

8.3%

potential support ratio

12.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

70.9%

youth dependency ratio

62.6%

Drinking water source

urban: 98.4% of population

rural: 86.8% of population

total: 92.8% of population

urban: 1.6% of population

rural: 13.2% of population

total: 7.2% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2013)

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)

Health expenditures

6.5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.54% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

49,100 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

20.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

24.73 deaths/1,000 live births

total

22.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%

note

there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.06 years (2015 est.)

male

70.07 years

total population

72.02 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

76.3% (2015 est.)

male

87.4%

total population

81.5%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 2.918 million (2015)

Median age

female

22 years (2015 est.)

male

20.7 years

total

21.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Guatemalan

noun

Guatemalan(s)

Net migration rate

-1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.4% (2014)

Physicians density

0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population

14,918,999 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.82% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Sanitation facility access

urban: 77.5% of population

rural: 49.3% of population

total: 63.9% of population

urban: 22.5% of population

rural: 50.7% of population

total: 36.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

10 years (2007)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.91 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.97 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.9 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

13.6% (2011 est.)

male

4.5%

total

7.5%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

51.6% of total population (2015)

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

geographic coordinates

14 37 N, 90 31 W

name

Guatemala City

time difference

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

Constitution

several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended, reinstated, and amended in 1993 (2013)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Guatemala

conventional short form

Guatemala

local long form

Republica de Guatemala

local short form

Guatemala

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Todd D. ROBINSON (since 10 October 2014)

embassy

7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City

FAX

[502] 2326-4654

mailing address

DPO AA 34024

telephone

[502] 2326-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Jose Julio Alejandro LIGORRIA Carballido (since 5 September 2013)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence (RI), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ)

FAX

[1] (202) 745-1908

telephone

[1] (202) 745-4952

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Alejandro Maldonado AGUIRRE (since 3 September 2015); Vice President (vacant) (since 14 May 2015); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA resigned 2 September 2015 and Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias resigned 8 May 2015

election results

Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA elected president; percent of vote in second round - Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (PP) 53.7%, Manuel BALDIZON (LIDER) 46.3%

elections/appointments

president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms); election last held in 2 rounds on 11 September and 6 November 2011 (next to be held in September 2015)

head of government

President Alejandro Maldonado AGUIRRE (since 3 September 2015); Vice President (vacant); President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA resigned 2 September 2015 and Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias resigned 8 May 2015

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) representing liberty 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 signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity

Government type

constitutional democratic republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 13 magistrates including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - the court president also supervises trial judges countrywide; Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court magistrates elected by the Congress of the Republic from candidates proposed by the Postulation Committee, an independent body of deans of the country's university law schools, representatives of the country's law associations, and representatives of the Courts of Appeal; magistrates elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges - 1 elected by the Congress of the Republic, 1 by the Supreme Court, 1 by the president of the republic, 1 by the (public) University of San Carlos, and 1 by the lawyers bar association; judges elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term

subordinate courts

numerous first instance and appellate courts

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; 127 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies within each of the country's 22 departments by simple majority vote and 31 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PP 26.62%, UNE-GANA 22.67%, UNC 9.50%, LIDER 8.87%, CREO 8.67%, VIVA-EG 7.87%, Winaq-URNG-ANN 3.23%, PAN 3.12%, FRG 2.74%, PU 2.70%, other 3.59%; seats by party - PP 57, UNE-GANA 48, LIDER 14, UCN 14, CREO 12, VIVA-EG 6, PAN 2, Winaq-URNG-ANN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, Victoria 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 1 May 2015 - LIDER 62, PP 37, UNE 23, TODOS 10, CREO 8, EG 3, PRI 2, PU 1, UCN 1, URNG 1, Victoria 1, VIVA 1, Winaq 1, independents 7

elections

last held on 11 September 2011 (first round held on 6 September 2015; runoff to be held in October 2015)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE

name

"Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)

note

adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

quetzal (bird); national colors: blue, white

Political parties and leaders

Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Roberto GONZALEZ Diaz-Duran]

Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]

Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO Cottom]

Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS [Felipe ALEJOS]

Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza]

Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Angel SANCHEZ Viesca]

Institutional Republican Party (formerly the Guatemalan Republican Front) or PRI [Luis Fernando PEREZ]

National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ Strauss]

National Unity for Hope or UNE [Sandra TORRES]

Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]

New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO]

Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]

Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]

Unionista Party or PU [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]

Victoria (Victory) [Amilcar RIVERA]

Vision with Values or VIVA [Harold CABALLEROS] (part of a coalition with EG during the last legislative election)

Winaq [Rigoberta MENCHU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alliance Against Impunity or AI (includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA))

Civic and Political Convergence of Women

Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC

Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF

Foundation for the Development of Guatemala or FUNDESA

Guatemala Visible

Mutual Support Group or GAM

Movimiento PRO-Justicia

National Union of Agriculture Workers or UNAGRO

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$8.137 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$6.785 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.6% (31 December 2014 est.)

13.6% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.394 billion (2014 est.)

-$1.515 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$15.94 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$15.58 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

55.1 (2007)

55.8 (1998)

Economy - overview

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for 13.7% of GDP and 32% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include sugar, coffee, bananas, and vegetables. The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006, spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers, and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accounting for more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line, and 13% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up more than 40% of the population, averages 73%, with 22% of the indigenous population living in extreme poverty. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemala's large expatriate community in the United States. These inflows are a primary source of foreign income, equivalent to one-half of the country's exports or one-tenth of its GDP. In November 2014 along with his counterparts from El Salvador and Honduras, President PEREZ MOLINA announced the “Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle.” This plan seeks to address the challenges facing the three Northern Triangle countries, including steps the governments will take to stimulate economic growth, increase transparency and fiscal responsibility, reduce violence, modernize the justice system, improve infrastructure, and promote educational opportunities over the next several years.

Exchange rates

quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -

7.833 (2014 est.)

7.8568 (2013 est.)

7.83 (2012 est.)

7.7854 (2011 est.)

8.0578 (2010 est.)

Exports

$10.6 billion (2014 est.)

$10.19 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

sugar, coffee, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, manufacturing products, precious stones and metals, electricity

Exports - partners

US 36.1%, El Salvador 11.8%, Honduras 8.3%, Nicaragua 4.8%, Mexico 4.1% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

23.6%

government consumption

10.6%

household consumption

85.8%

imports of goods and services

-34.9%

investment in fixed capital

14.3%

investment in inventories

0.6%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

13.3%

industry

23.5%

services

63.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,500 (2014 est.)

$7,200 (2013 est.)

$7,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4% (2014 est.)

3.7% (2013 est.)

3% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$60.42 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$119.1 billion (2014 est.)

$114.5 billion (2013 est.)

$110.4 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

11.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

11.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

12.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

42.4% (2006)

lowest 10%

1.3%

Imports

$17.15 billion (2014 est.)

$16.36 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products

Imports - partners

US 40.3%, Mexico 10.7%, China 9.8%, El Salvador 4.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.4% (2014 est.)

4.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

4.576 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

38%

industry

14%

services

48% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

54% (2011 est.)

Public debt

29.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

30.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$7.546 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$7.269 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$23.83 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$22.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.68 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$23.02 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$8.905 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$8.311 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2011 est.)

3.5% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

13.07 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

10,960 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

13,990 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

83.07 million bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

8.143 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

346 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

55.8% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12.5% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

372 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.813 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

8.361 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

80,330 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

4,911 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

71,390 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

1,253 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2007)

Internet country code

.gt

Internet users

percent of population

17.1% (2014 est.)

total

2.5 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Telephone system

domestic

state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 140 per 100 persons

general assessment

fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

international

country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that, together, provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2013)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.72 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (2014 est.)

total

16.9 million

Television broadcast stations

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Airports

291 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

4

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

6

total

16

under 914 m

4 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

195 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

2

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

77

total

275

Heliports

1 (2013)

Pipelines

oil 480 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways

narrow gauge

800 km 0.914-m gauge (2014)

total

800 km

Roadways

paved

6,797 km (includes 127 km of expressways)

total

11,501 km

unpaved

4,704 km (2010)

Waterways

990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

3,371,217 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

3,165,870

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

2,926,544 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,590,843

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

168,151 (2010 est.)

male

171,092

Military branches

National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG; includes Guatemalan Navy (Fuerza de Mar, including Marines) and Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG)) (2013)

Military expenditures

0.42% of GDP (2012)

0.41% of GDP (2011)

0.42% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible for military service; in practice, most of the force is volunteer, however, a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 1 to 2 years; women can serve as officers (2013)

Disputes - international

annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Illicit drugs

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

at least 248,500 (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2014) (2011)