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Communications

Airports [time series]

451 total, 391 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

10 major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel, and 12,140 unimproved

Waterways (Inland waterways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,129 GRT/6,450 DWT

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil, 275 km

Ports [time series]

Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

870 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 780 km government owned, 90 km privately owned

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

fairly modern network centered in Guatemala pcityo; 97,670 telephones; stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave; connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

1% of GDP, or $115 million (1990 est.)

Military manpower [time series]

males 15-49, 2,028,875; 1,327,374 fit for military service; 107,251 reach military age (18) annually

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy and contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal crops--sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock--cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer

Aid [time series]

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $869 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $7.7 billion

Budget [time series]

revenues $771 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital expenditures of $188 million (1988)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

quetzal (plural--quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos

Electricity [time series]

807,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced, 280 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates [time series]

free market quetzales (Q) per US$1--3.3913 (January 1990), 2.8261 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500 (1987), 1.875 (1986), 1.000 (1985); note--black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)

Exports [time series]

$1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities--coffee 38%, bananas 7%, sugar 7%, cardamom 4%; partners--US 29%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica, Italy

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$3.0 billion (December 1989 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$10.8 billion, per capita $1,185; real growth rate 1.3% (1989 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial eradication of opium poppy; transit country for cocaine shipments

Imports [time series]

$1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities--fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles; partners--US 38%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate 3.5% (1988 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15% (1989)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Industry accounts for about 20% of GDP and 15% of the labor force. The economy has reentered a slow-growth phase, but is hampered by political uncertainty. In 1988 the economy grew by 3.7%, the third consecutive year of mild growth. Government economic reforms introduced since 1986 have stabilized exchange rates and have helped to stem inflationary pressures. The inflation rate has dropped from 36.9% in 1986 to 15% in 1989.

Unemployment rate [time series]

13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)

Geography

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

400 km

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Continental shelf [time series]

not specific;

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are under way

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Extended economic zone [time series]

200 nm;

Land boundaries [time series]

1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Land use [time series]

12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 12% meadows and pastures; 40% forest and woodland; 32% other; includes 1% irrigated

Natural resources [time series]

crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle

Note [time series]

no natural harbors on west coast

Terrain [time series]

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

Maritime claims (Territorial sea) [time series]

12 nm

Area (Total area) [time series]

108,890 km2; land area: 108,430 km2

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

22 departments (departamentos, singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quezaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Capital [time series]

Guatemala

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT); main radical left guerrilla groups--Guerrilla Army of the Poor (EGP), Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA), Rebel Armed Forces (FAR), and PGT dissidents

Constitution [time series]

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

Ambassador Rodolfo ROHRMOSER V; Chancery at 2220 R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-4952 through 4954; there are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco; US--Ambassador Thomas F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City (mailing address is APO Miami 34024); telephone [502] (2) 31-15-41

Executive branch [time series]

president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Mario Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo (since 14 January 1986); Vice President Roberto CARPIO Nicolle (since 14 January 1986)

Legal system [time series]

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Republic of Guatemala

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

CACM, CCC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IDB--Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, OAS, ODECA, PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and Labor Action (UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo; National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge Carpio Nicolle; National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario Sandoval Alarcon; Social Action Movement (MAS), Jorge Serrano Elias; Revolutionary Party (PR) in coalition with National Renewal Party (PNR), Alejandro Maldonado Aguirre; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario Solarzano Martinez; National Authentic Center (CAN), Mario David Garcia; United Anti-Communist Party (PUA), Leonel Sisniega; Emerging Movement for Harmony (MEC), Louis Gordillo; Democratic Party of National Cooperation (PDCN), Adan Fletes; Democratic Institutional Party (PID), Oscar Rivas; Nationalist United Front (FUN), Gabriel Giron

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18, compulsory for literates, voluntary for illiterates President--last held on 3 December 1985 (next to be held 3 November 1990); results--Mario Vinicio Cerezo Arevalo (DCG) 38.7%, Jorge Carpio Nicolle (UCN) 20.2%, Jorge Serrano Elias (PDCN/PR) 14.8%; National Congress--last held on 3 November 1985 (next to be held 3 November 1990); results--DCG 38.7%, UCN 20.2%, PDCN/PR 13.8%, MLN/PID 12.6%, CAN 6.3%, PSD 3.4%, PNR 3.2%, PUA/FUN/MEC 1.9%; seats--(100 total) DCG 51, UCN 22, MLN 12, PDCN/PR 11, PSD 2, PNR 1, CAN 1

Government type (Type) [time series]

republic

People

Birth rate [time series]

37 births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate [time series]

9 deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

56% Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European ancestry), 44% Indian

Infant mortality rate [time series]

61 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force [time series]

2,500,000; 57.0% agriculture, 14.0% manufacturing, 13.0% services, 7.0% commerce, 4.0% construction, 3.0% transport, 0.8% utilities, 0.4% mining (1985)

Languages (Language) [time series]

Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

60 years male, 65 years female (1990)

Literacy [time series]

50%

Nationality [time series]

noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan

Net migration rate [time series]

- 3 migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor [time series]

8% of labor force (1988 est.)

Population [time series]

9,097,636 (July 1990), growth rate 2.6% (1990)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant, traditional Mayan

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.1 children born/woman (1990)