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Guatemala

2025 Edition · 432 data fields

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Introduction

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.

Geography

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

Continent

North America

Elevation

Highest point: Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
Lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 759 m

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography - note

note 1: despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast note 2: Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

Irrigated land

3,375 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

Border countries: Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km
number of neighbors: 4
Total: 1,667 km

Land use

Agricultural land: 43% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
arable land: 14.5%
Forest: 33.2% (2023 est.)
Other: 23.7% (2023 est.)
permanent crops: 11.04%

Landlocked

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

Major lakes (area sq km)

Fresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km

Map links

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/JoRAbem4Hxb9FYbVA
OpenStreetMap: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1521463

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 (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 (2,552 m) 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; see note 2 under "Geography - note"

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas

Subregion

Central America

Terrain

two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands

Time zone

UTC-06:00
number of time zones: 1

People and Society

Age structure

0-14 years: 31.5% (male 2,925,079/female 2,819,927)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 5,688,500/female 5,839,958)
65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 437,105/female 544,647)

Alcohol consumption per capita

Beer: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

17.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

Men married by age 18: 9.6% (2015)
Women married by age 15: 6.2% (2015)
Women married by age 18: 29.5% (2015)

Children under 5 years underweight

46%

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

14.4% (2021 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.2% (2018 est.)

Death rate

4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
adult female: 123 per 1,000
adult male: 202 per 1,000

Dependency ratios

Elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)
Total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 49.8 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved total: 48.79%
Improved: rural: rural: 91% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 9% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 17.3% national budget (2025 est.)

Education expenditures

3 % of GDP

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Indigenous-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.96 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

7 % of GDP
Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 6.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.13%

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

Female: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
neonatal: 10 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages: Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)
Major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: note: the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna
number of languages: 1

Life expectancy at birth

Female: 75.6 years
Male: 71.5 years
Total population: 73.5 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

Female: 78.5% (2024 est.)
Male: 86.9% (2024 est.)
Total population: 82.1% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

94 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

Female: 25.4 years
Male: 24.2 years
Total: 26.7 years (2025 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.6 years (2014/15 est.)
note: note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

Adjective: Guatemalan
Noun: Guatemalan(s)

Net migration rate

-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

21.2% (2016)

Physician density

1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

Female: 9,204,532
Male: 9,050,684
Total: 18,255,216 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.99% (2025 est.)

Religions

Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)

Sanitation facility access

Improved: rural: rural: 68.9% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: total: total: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
Improved: urban: urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: rural: rural: 31.1% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: urban: urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Female: 11 years (2023 est.)
Male: 10 years (2023 est.)
Total: 11 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

Female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Male: 22.5% (2025 est.)
Total: 11.8% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)

Vaccination rate

measles: 90%

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, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán, Zacapa

Capital

Etymology: the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala" 
Geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W
Name: Guatemala City
Time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: yes
Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year

Coat of arms

svg: https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gt.svg

Constitution

Amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by agreement of 10 or more deputies of Congress, by the Constitutional Court, or by public petition of at least 5,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Congress membership and approval by public referendum, referred to as "popular consultation"; constitutional articles such as national sovereignty, the republican form of government, limitations on those seeking the presidency, or presidential tenure cannot be amended
History: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994

Country name

alternative spellings: GT
Conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
Conventional short form: Guatemala
Etymology: the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
FIFA code: GUA
Local long form: República de Guatemala
local long form (spa): República de Guatemala
Local short form: Guatemala

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission: Ambassador Tobin BRADLEY (since 12 February 2024)
Email address and website: AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov https://gt.usembassy.gov/
Embassy: Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City
FAX: [502] 2326-4654
Mailing address: 3190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC  20521-3190
Telephone: [502] 2354-0000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo Eduardo BETETA (since 17 June 2024)
Consulate(s): Dallas, Del Rio (TX), Lake Worth (FL), McAllen (TX), Riverhead (NY), San Bernardino (CA), Tucson (AZ)
Consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus (OH), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Oklahoma City, Omaha (NE), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence (RI), Raleigh (NC), Rockville (MD), San Francisco, Seattle
Email address and website: embestadosunidos@minex.gob.gt https://estadosunidos.minex.gob.gt/home/home.aspx
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
Telephone: [1] (202) 745-4953

Executive branch

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Chief of state: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Election results: 2023: Bernardo ARÉVALO de León elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 21%; Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (SEMILLA) 15.6%, Manuel CONDE Orellana (VAMOS) 10.4%; Armando CASTILLO Alvarado (VIVA) 9.6%, other 43.4%; percent of vote in second round - Bernardo ARÉVALO de León 60.9%, Sandra TORRES 39.1% 2019: Alejandro GIAMMATTEI elected president; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 25.5%, Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 14%, Edmond MULET (PHG) 11.2%, Thelma CABRERA (MLP) 10.4%, Roberto ARZU (PAN-PODEMOS) 6.1%, other 32.8%; percent of vote in second round - Alejandro GIAMMATTEI 58%, Sandra TORRES 42%
Election/appointment process: 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)
Expected date of next election: June 2027
Head of government: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Most recent election date: 25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023
Note: note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (left 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), a scroll with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain), a pair of crossed rifles, and a pair of crossed swords; a laurel wreath frames the objects meaning: the rifles stand for Guatemala's willingness to defend itself, the swords for honor, and the laurel wreath for victory; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and white for peace and purity
note: note: one of two national flags featuring a firearm -- the other is Mozambique

Flag description

The flag of Guatemala is composed of three equal vertical bands of light blue, white and light blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band.

Flag image

svg: https://flagcdn.com/gt.svg

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACS, 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, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, 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)
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 Assembly of the College of Attorneys and Notaries; judges elected for renewable, consecutive 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term
Note: note 1: the Supreme Court of Justice president also supervises trial judges countrywide note 2: the Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad of Guatemala resides outside the country's judicial system; its sole purpose is the interpretation of the constitution and to see that the laws and regulations are not superior to the constitution (consists of 5 titular magistrates and 5 substitute magistrates)
Subordinate courts: Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

Electoral system: mixed system
Expected date of next election: June 2027
Legislative structure: unicameral
Legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
Most recent election date: 6/25/2023
Number of seats: 160 (all directly elected)
Parties elected and seats per party: Let’s Go for a Different Guatemala (Vamos) (39); National Unity of Hope Party (UNE) (28); Seed Movement (Semilla) (23); Cabal (18); Vision with Values (VIVA) (11); Other (41)
Percentage of women in chamber: 20%
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years

National color(s)

blue, white

National heritage

Selected World Heritage Site locales: Antigua Guatemala (c); Tikal National Park (m); Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua (c); National Archaeological Park Tak'alik Ab'aj (c)
Total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

quetzal (bird)

Political parties

Bienestar Nacional or BIEN Blue Party (Partido Azul) or Blue CABAL Cambio Citizen Prosperity or PC Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO Elephant Community (Comunidad Elefante) or Elephant Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG-MAIZ or URNG Humanist Party of Guatemala or PHG Movement for the Liberation of Peoples or MLP Movimiento Semilla or SEMILLA National Advancement Party or PAN National Convergence Front or FCN-NACION National Unity for Hope or UNE Nationalist Change Union or UCN (dissolved 16 December 2021) Nosotros or PPN PODEMOS Political Movement Winaq or Winaq TODOS Value or VALOR Vamos por una Guatemala Diferente or VAMOS Victory or VICTORIA Vision with Values or VIVA Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (Voluntad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad) or VOS

Start of week

Monday

Suffrage

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

UN Member

Yes

Economy

Agricultural products

sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)
note: note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

On alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On food: 35.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

Expenditures: $17.349 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Revenues: $16.603 billion (2023 est.)

Currency

code: GTQ
name: Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ) [Q]

Current account balance

$3.27 billion
Current account balance 2022: $1.116 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023: $3.212 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024: $3.333 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$27.06 billion
Debt - external 2023: $11.862 billion (2023 est.)
Note: note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration

Exchange rates

Currency: quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020: 7.722 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 7.734 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 7.748 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 7.832 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024: 7.759 (2024 est.)

Exports

$17.99 billion
Exports 2022: $18.141 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $17.342 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $17.997 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
note: note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)
note: note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Foreign direct investment

net inflows: $1.85 billion

GDP - composition, by end use

Exports of goods and services: 15.9% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 10.9% (2024 est.)
Household consumption: 88% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -31.5% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 16.1% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.6% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

Agriculture: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Industry: 21.7% (2024 est.)
Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Services: 61.8% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$113.2 billion (2024 est.)
note: note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP per capita (nominal)

$6,150

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

48.3 (2014)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023: 45.2 (2023 est.)
Note: note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

GNI (gross national income)

$111.61 billion

GNI per capita

$5,780

Gross domestic investment

17 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Highest 10%: 34.1% (2023 est.)
Lowest 10%: 1.6% (2023 est.)
Note: note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$35.6 billion
Imports 2022: $33.943 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $33.056 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $35.576 billion (2024 est.)
Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
note: note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)
note: note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2024 est.)
note: note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.87%
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.9% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 6.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Note: note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

7.575 million (2024 est.)
note: note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
total: 7.68 million persons

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 29.05%
industry: 22.71%
services: 48.23%

Population below poverty line

56% (2023 est.)
note: note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2020: 31.56% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$264.47 billion
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $216.815 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $224.475 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $232.673 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

3.65%
Note: note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024: 3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

$14,369
Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP per capita 2022: $12,100 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $12,400 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024: $12,600 (2024 est.)

Remittances

$21.64 billion
Note: note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Remittances 2022: 19% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023: 19.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2024: 19.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$24.41 billion
Note: note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $20.415 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $21.311 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $24.412 billion (2024 est.)

Revenue (excl grants)

13 % of GDP

Tax revenue

12 % of GDP

Taxes and other revenues

11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

2.6%
Note: note: % of labor force seeking employment
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024: 2.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

Female: 4.7% (2024 est.)
Male: 4% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 4.2% (2024 est.)

Energy

Coal

Consumption: 1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

Consumption: 12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
consumption per capita: 670 kWh
Exports: 1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

Electrification - rural areas: 98.2%
Electrification - total population: 99.1% (2022 est.)
Electrification - urban areas: 97.7%

Electricity generation sources

Biomass and waste: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Geothermal: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectric: 43.66%
Hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
nuclear: 0%
renewable: 60.66%
Solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

888 kg of oil equivalent
Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

Consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Crude oil estimated reserves: 86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Renewable energy consumption

62.1%

Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

per 100 inhabitants: 5 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)
Total: 921,000 (2023 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.gt

Internet users

Percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)

Postal code format

#####

Telephone calling code

+502

Telephones - fixed lines

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
Total subscriptions: 1.94 million (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100: 114 per 100
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
Total subscriptions: 20.6 million (2023 est.)

Transportation

Air transport

passengers carried: 221,478 passengers
registered carrier departures: 1,666 departures

Airports

58 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Driving side

Right

Heliports

2 (2025)

Merchant marine

By type: oil tanker 1, other 8
Total: 9 (2023)

Ports

Key ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Large: 0
Medium: 0
Ports with oil terminals: 2
Small: 2
Total ports: 3 (2024)
Very small: 1

Railways

Narrow gauge: 800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge
Note: note: despite the existence of a railway network, all rail service was suspended in 2007 and no passenger or freight train currently runs in the country (2018)
Total: 800 km (2018)

Vehicle registration code

GCA

Military and Security

Land forces

armored vehicles
tanks

Military - note

the military is responsible for maintaining the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the honor of Guatemala, but has long focused on internal security; since the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has used the military to support the National Civil Police in internal security operations (as permitted by the constitution) to combat organized crime, gang violence, and narco-trafficking; other responsibilities include border security, cybersecurity, and providing humanitarian assistance; it also participates in UN missions on a small scale and has a peacekeeping operations training command that offers training to regional countries; the military has security ties with regional partners such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras; cooperation with El Salvador and Honduras has included a combined police-military anti-gang task force to patrol border areas; it also has ties with the US, including joint training exercises and material assistance the military held power during most of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and conducted a campaign of widespread violence and repression, particularly against the country’s majority indigenous population; more than 200,000 people were estimated to have been killed or disappeared during the conflict (2025)

Military and security forces

Army of Guatemala (Ejercito de Guatemala; aka Armed Forces of Guatemala or Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala): Land Forces (Fuerzas de Tierra), Naval Forces (Fuerzas de Mar), and Air Force (Fuerza de Aire) (2025)
active duty personnel: 43,000
note: note: the National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil or PNC) are under the Ministry of Government (Interior)
percent of total labor force: 0.64 %

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military deployments

180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military is lightly armed with an inventory mostly comprised of ageing US equipment; in recent years, the US has provided additional secondhand equipment (2025)

Military expenditures

0 % of GDP
current USD: $415,185,334
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
percent of central government expenditure: 2.72 %
percent of GDP: 0.37 % of GDP

Military service age and obligation

18-28 for voluntary service for men and women (17-21 for military schools); all Guatemalan men 18-49 are subject to selective compulsory service; service obligation is 12-24 months (2025)

Military strength ranking

PowerIndex score: 2.1277

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs

USG identification: major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 572,813 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 4,676 (2024 est.)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s)

La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
note: note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

Environment

Carbon dioxide emissions

From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.31 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 16.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Total emissions: 18.546 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

International environmental agreements

Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Particulate matter emissions

21.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Protected areas

10 % of total land area

Renewable electricity output

18 % of total

Total renewable water resources

127.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

3 % of internal resources
Agricultural: 1.886 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 603.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Municipal: 835 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.757 million tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 10.4% (2022 est.)