View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2004 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gt

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

20,360 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

400,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala domestic: NA international: country code - 502; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

846,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1,577,100 (2002)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.741 billion expenditures: $3.316 billion, including capital expenditures of $750 million (2003 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

GTQ; USD

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.106 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.957 billion (2003 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

55.8 (1998)

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

$250 million (2000 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. 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. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but widespread political violence and corruption scandals continue to dampen investor confidence. The distribution of income remains highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty line. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.559 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

336 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

95 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.237 billion kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

quetzales per US dollar - 7.9409 (2003), 7.8216 (2002), 7.8586 (2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$2.763 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 56.7%, El Salvador 10.8%, Nicaragua 3.6% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $56.5 billion (2003 est.)

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

agriculture: 22.5% industry: 18.9% services: 58.5% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $4,100 (2003 est.)

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

2.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.6% highest 10%: 46% (1998)

Imports [time series]

$5.749 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 34.1%, Mexico 8.8%, South Korea 7.8%, El Salvador 6.4%, China 4.6% (2003)

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]

5.5% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

15.2% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

3.84 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

1.543 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

61,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

21,080 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

263 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

75% (2002 est.)

Public debt [time series]

30.8% of GDP (2003)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$2.843 billion (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

7.5% (2003 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 in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 (1998 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: 12.54% permanent crops: 5.03% other: 82.43% (2001)

Location [time series]

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 [time series]

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible 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 John R. HAMILTON embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2331-1541/55 FAX: [502] 2334-8477

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held NA November 2007) election results: Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent of vote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvaro COLOM (UNE) 45.9%

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, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (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); 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)

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 (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held NA November 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18 note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats increased from 113 to 158

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

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

Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democratic Union or UD [Rodolfo PAIZ Andrade]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Oscar BERGER Perdomo]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALES Garcis-Salaz]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principals and Values or MPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvarado COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN, formed by an alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently defected [led by three co-equal partners - Nineth Varenca MONTENEGRO Cottom, Rodolfo BAUER Paiz, and Jorge Antonio BALSELLS TUT]; Patriot Party or PP [retired General Otto PEREZ Molina]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretary general]; Unionista Party [leader NA]

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 and are restricted to their barracks on election day)

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 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 (includes Marines), Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$202.6 million (2003)

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

0.8% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 3,421,682 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,233,562 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 156,865 (2004 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.6% (male 3,118,396; female 2,970,729) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,898,939; female 3,817,435) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 221,154; female 253,943) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

34.58 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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]

1.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

5,800 (2003 est.)

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

78,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 36.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 37.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 36.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.19 years male: 64.3 years female: 66.13 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.6% male: 78% female: 63.3% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.4 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.6 years (2004 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

14,280,596 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.61% (2004 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.6 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in Belize border region; OAS brokered Differendum in 2002 creating small adjustment to land boundary, large Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package, but agreement was not brought to popular referendum leaving Guatemala to continue to claim the southern half of Belize intact; numbers of Guatemalans enter Mexico seeking work or transit to the US

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis 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; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: 250,000 (government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) (2004)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

452 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 441 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 109 under 914 m: 323 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 14,118 km paved: 4,871 km (including 74 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,247 km (1999)

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Pipelines [time series]

oil 480 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

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

Railways [time series]

total: 886 km narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2003)

Waterways [time series]

990 km note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2004)