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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

5 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.gt

Internet users [time series]

65,000 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios [time series]

835,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala domestic: NA international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

665,061 (June 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

663,296 (September 2000)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

1.323 million (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.2 billion expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

GTQ; USD

Debt - external [time series]

$4.7 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$212 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. Former President ARZU (1996-2000) worked to implement a program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The 1996 signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and openness of both government and private financial operations. Despite low international prices for Guatemala's main commodities, the economy grew by 3% in 2000 and is forecast to grow by 4% in 2001. Guatemala, along with Honduras and El Salvador, recently concluded a free trade agreement with Mexico and has moved to protect international property rights. However, the PORTILLO administration has undertaken a review of privatizations under the previous administration, thereby creating some uncertainty among investors.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

3.295 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

435 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

210 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production [time series]

3.785 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 38.31% hydro: 61.69% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

quetzales per US dollar - 7.8020 (January 2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 51.4%, El Salvador 8.7%, Honduras 5%, Costa Rica 3.4%, Germany 2.7% (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $46.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 23% industry: 20% services: 57% (2000 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2000 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

3% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)

Imports [time series]

$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 42.8%, Mexico 9.9%, Japan 4.8%, El Salvador 4.3%, Venezuela 3.8% (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.1% (1999)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4.2 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

60% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.5% (1999 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 108,890 sq km land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Coastline [time series]

400 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geographic coordinates [time series]

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography - note [time series]

no natural harbors on west coast

Irrigated land [time series]

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 24% forests and woodland: 54% other: 5% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

Map references [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

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, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Capital [time series]

Guatemala

Constitution [time series]

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 331-1541/55

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ariel RIVERA Irias chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14 January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14 January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003) election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected president; percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 68%, Oscar BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%

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

[1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

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

[502] 334-8477

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

constitutional democratic republic

Independence [time series]

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (thirteen 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); Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad (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)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FRG 63, PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1 note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats was increased from 80 to 113

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Jorge Luis ORTEGA]; Democratic Union or UD [Jose Luis CHEA Urruela]; Green Party or LOV [Jose ASTURIAS Rudecke]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Pablo MONSANTO, also known as Jorge SOTO]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; New Nation Alliance or ANN [leader NA], which includes the URNG; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote)

Introduction

Background [time series]

Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule 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 led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$120 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.6% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,092,050 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,018,636 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 140,358 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.11% (male 2,789,189; female 2,674,747) 15-64 years: 54.25% (male 3,518,209; female 3,519,851) 65 years and over: 3.64% (male 220,640; female 251,725) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.61 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.38% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3,600 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

73,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20 Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.51 years male: 63.85 years female: 69.31 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 63.6% male: 68.7% female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

12,974,361 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.6% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize; to deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by Guatemala

Illicit drugs [time series]

transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine and heroin shipments); money laundering is probably increasing

Transportation

Airports [time series]

477 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 124 under 914 m: 332 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 13,856 km paved: 4,370 km (including 140 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,486 km (1998)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2000 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 275 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways [time series]

total: 884 km (102 km privately owned) narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

Waterways [time series]

990 km note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during highwater season