Form of Government: Republic
Area: 108 889 sq km
Population: 16 858 333 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 154.82 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 18° - 14° N; long. 92° - 88° W
Capital: Guatemala City (capital) 923 392 inhab. (2018); Guatemala 2 851 104 inhab. (2018), urban agglomeration
Currency: quetzal (100 centavos)
Human development index: 0.663 (rank: 127)
President and head of government: Alejandro Giammattei Falla (Vamos), elected 11 August 2019, in office since 14 January 2020
Congress of the Republic: seats based on the elections of 16 June 2019: UNE (National Unity of Hope, centre-left), 54; Vamos (“Let’s go”, conservative), 16; UCN (National Change Union, centre-right), 12; Valour (right-wing), 9; National Well-being (right), 8; FCN (National Convergence Front, right-wing), 8; others, 53
Internet: www.ine.gob.gt (Instituto Nacional de Estadística)
Member of DR-CAFTA, OAS, UN, WTO
Guatemala

International license plate code GCA
International dialling code 00502
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission); malaria prophylaxis (recommended for some areas)
Electricity (Voltage) 120
Driving side rigth
Internet code .gt
GMT -6
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Guatemala 20
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Guatemala 17.5/21
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Guatemala 2/6
Annual average precipitation (mm) Guatemala 1245
Days of rainfall (annual average) Guatemala 125

On 22 November 2020, violent protests broke out against a plan to cut public spending, which was later sidelined. The country struggles to contain the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and two hurricanes that struck in the weeks before.
Geography.
Guatemala is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the north-east by Belize, to the east by Honduras and to the south-east by El Salvador; it lies on the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the south-west. The country is, for the most part, made up of volcanic hills that slope steeply towards the Pacific Ocean and is subject to frequent earthquakes. The climate is warm and humid in the low-lying areas; temperatures are more moderate at medium altitudes; the higher regions have greater temperature ranges. Guatemala lays claim to 12 000 km² of Belize; in 2018 it was decided by referendum to resort to international arbitration; the border between the two countries is marked by a 2 km-wide “border strip”.
Government
Formerly a Spanish colony, Guatemala became an autonomous republic in 1839. In 1954, President Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán, the promoter of land reform, was toppled by a military coup d’état and since then there has been a succession of various dictatorial regimes that have repressed every movement for reform, clashing with armed guerrillas, led mostly by the natives. In 1985, civilian government returned, but the military continued conditioning the political life of the country. Guerrilla warfare resumed, except for brief interruptions, until the signing of the peace agreement on 29 December 1996 between the government and the URNG (National Guatemalan Revolutionary Union).
On the basis of the Constitution of 14 January 1986, amended in 1993, the President of the Republic is elected by direct suffrage for a four-year term and cannot be re-elected; the body of legislative power is the Congress of the Republic (160 members elected for four years).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Air force | 5.6 | % | 2015 |
Army | 86.1 | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Homicides | 27.3 | per 100 000 pop. | 2016 |
Police personnel | 192.6 | per 100 000 pop. | 2014 |
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Guatemala City | 923 392 | inhab. | 2018 |
Mixco | 463 019 | inhab. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Guatemala | 2 851 104 | inhab. | 2018 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
Migration to the USA is very high (where there is a Guatemalan community of over 1.5 million people).
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 24.21 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 4.72 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Ladinos | 56$ | % | 2018 |
Maya | 41.7 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 45$ | % | 2015 |
Protestant | 42$ | % | 2015 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Mayan dialects |
Spanish (official) |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 33.4 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 28.6 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economic situation.
In 2021, the country emerged from the recession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had interrupted a decade of stable growth. Income disparities, poverty and crime remain serious. The scarce influx of revenue limits public investments.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 157.62 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 105.94 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 6 433 528 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 33.1 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 4.7 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 45.9 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 93 529 | M LCU | 2020 |
Revenues | 64 065.6 | M LCU | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 31.5 | % | 2019 |
industry | 18.5 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 9.969 | % | 2019 |
industry | 23.33 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 64.201 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 18 463.562 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
Primary sector.
The most common crop is maize, of fundamental importance for local nutrition (as are potatoes and beans). The best farming land is destined for plantations coffee, bananas and sugar cane), controlled by foreign companies. Industrial maize and cane sugar crops have undergone considerable expansion following a demand for raw material to produce biofuel. Building timber (mahogany and cedar), rubber and chicle come from the Petén forests. Cattle are raised above all on the Pacific coast and in the Petén.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 19.084 | % | 2018 |
forests | 33.137 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 0.029 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cereals, total | 1 954.359 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 4.185 | 1000 t | 2019 |
potatoes | 570.895 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 75.029 | 1000 t | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 101.633 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 263.432 | 1000 t | 2019 |
beans, green | 36.656 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grapes | 20.097 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 11.787 | 1000 t | 2019 |
sesame seed | 38$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruits | 3 269.574 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 12.83 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 12.473 | 1000 t | 2019 |
coffee | 225 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 29 087.086 | 1000 t | 2019 |
tobacco | 30.337 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 1.521 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 0.28 | 1000 t | 2014 |
sisal | 0.11 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 25.226 | 1000 t | 2019 |
fruits, total | 6 822.819 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 377.283 | 1000 t | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 73.213 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 137.204 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bananas | 4 341.564 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barley | 0.017 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
maize | 864.098 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 4.157 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
potatoes | 22.17 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cabbages | 2.306 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
carrots and turnips | 3.337 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beans, dry | 263.659 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
beans, green | 3.508 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
grape | 2.715 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
groundnuts | 2.179 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sesame seed | 39$ | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
oil palm fruit | 188 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 2.103 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cocoa | 4.641 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
coffee | 308.217 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sugar cane | 270.144 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
tobacco | 14.69 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
seed cotton | 0.522 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
jute | 0.4 | 1000 ha | 2014 |
sisal | 0.198 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
apples | 7.109 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
peaches | 3.087 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 24.636 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
citrus fruits, nes | 13.628 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
avocados | 13.032 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
bananas | 90.24 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural rubber | 350 501 | t | 2019 |
timber | 21 912 756 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 4 011.577 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 4 011.577 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 2 976.244 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 600.874 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 114.406 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
asses | 10.03 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
asses and mules | 48.989 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 36 931 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
honey | 5.981 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
butter | 1.165 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cheese | 11.305 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 20 477 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 13 330 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
Secondary sector.
Important mineral resources are nickel and oil (wells at Rubelsanto, in Upper Verapaz and in the Petén); antimony, silver, gold, gypsum, lead and zinc are also mined. There are textile plants (cotton mills in the capital and at Cantél-Quetzaltenango) and food industries (sugar-refineries). There are also chemical and petrochemical plants (oil refineries at Puerto Barrios and La Libertad), as well as cement (near the capital and at Sanarate), tobacco and paper factories.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 0.4 | M m³ | 2013 |
oil, crude | 386.5 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
antimony | 0.025 | 1000 t | 2020 |
iron ore | 0.95 | 1000 t | 2013 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
barite | 0.06 | 1000 t | 2019 |
bentonite | 17$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
dolomite | 15$ | 1000 t | 2018 |
granite | 1.5 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
gold | 200 | kg | 2018 |
silver | 336 943 | kg | 2017 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 5 514.98 | M kWh | 2019 |
- hydro | 4 438.17 | M kWh | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 1 770 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- hydro | 1 560 | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 13 579.15 | M kWh | 2019 |
total installed capacity | 4 629.49 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
lead | 12$ | 1000 t | 2011 |
steel, crude | 237 | 1000 t | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bitumen | 96.8 | 1000 t | 2018 |
petrol | 1.1 | 1000 t | 2009 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
beer of barley | 209.123 | 1000 t | 2018 |
cottonseed oil | 0.012 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
other paper | 31$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
paper | 31$ | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 3 800 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chemicals production | 166 | M US$ | 2004 |
food, beverages and tobacco production | 1 224 | M US$ | 2004 |
Trade
Tertiary sector.
The economy depends on exports (plantation crops, sugar, oil and apparel), especially towards the USA, and on remittances from migrant workers.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
food products | 48.184 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
manufactures | 43.543 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 3 763 | M US$ | 2020 |
El Salvador | 1 313 | M US$ | 2020 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United States | 6 294 | M US$ | 2020 |
China | 2 251 | M US$ | 2020 |
Tourism
Tourism. Tourism is an important source of revenue (after coffee). The main attractions are the archaeological sites at Tikal, Uaxactún, Piedras Negras, Naranjo and Holmul.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 1 128 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 1 752 000 | units | 2019 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 10.753 | years | 2015 |
Graduates | 33 680 | units | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 2 362 116 | units | 2018 |
Students, secondary level | 1 227 191 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Social protection spending | 10.126 | % of total expenses | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 0.44 | per 1000 pop. | 2017 |
Physicians | 0.35 | per 1000 pop. | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
HIV | 0.3 | % of adults | 2019 |
HIV, total | 0.6 | % | 2001 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.029 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 48.8 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 95.725 | % | 2019 |