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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gt

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

40,927 (2007)

Internet users [time series]

1.32 million (2006)

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: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity 11 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 60 per 100 persons international: country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

1.355 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

7.179 million (2006)

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: $3.847 billion expenditures: $4.435 billion (2006 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

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

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.592 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$5.175 billion (2006 est.)

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

59.9 (2005)

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

$253.6 million (2005 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-fifths 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, and Guatemala since then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. On 1 July 2006, the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered in to force between the US and Guatemala. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with about 56% of the population below the poverty line. Other 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. Remittances from a large expatriate community that moved to the United States during the war have become the primary source of foreign income, exceeding the total value of exports and tourism combined.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.361 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

339 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

23 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

7.281 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

quetzales per US dollar - 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8217 (2002)

Exports [time series]

$6.025 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 44.6%, El Salvador 11.9%, Honduras 7.2%, Mexico 5.2% (2006)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$35.25 billion (2006 est.)

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

$61.38 billion (2006 est.)

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

agriculture: 22.2% industry: 19.1% services: 58.7% (2006 est.)

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

$5,000 (2006 est.)

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

4.6% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 0.9% highest 10%: 43.4% (2002)

Imports [time series]

$11.07 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

US 33.3%, Mexico 8.8%, China 6.5%, El Salvador 5.3%, South Korea 4.9% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.6% (2006 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

16.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.86 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

73,510 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

15,560 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - imports [time series]

72,960 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - production [time series]

16,370 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

526 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line [time series]

56.2% (2004 est.)

Public debt [time series]

23.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.924 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

3.2% (2005 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, Whaling 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]

1,300 sq km (2003)

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: 13.22% permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005)

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

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]

name: Guatemala geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

Constitution [time series]

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President Jorge 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 James M. DERHAM embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 FAX: [502] 2326-4654

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, Providence, 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) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 September 2007; runoff held 4 November 2007 (next to be held September 2011) election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%; note - COLOM will take office 14 January 2008

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, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 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 in September 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18 note: in the 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 [Edgar DE LEON Sotomayor]; Center of Social Action or CASA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democracy Front or FRENTE [Alfonso CABRERA]; Democratic Union or UD [Manuel CONDE Orellana]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Alfredo VILLA]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector NUILA]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Ruben Dario MORALES]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro COLOM Caballeros]; National Well-Being or BIEN [Fidel REYES]; New Nation Alliance or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto PEREZ Molina]; Progressive Libertarian Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES]; Reform Movement or MR [Juan Jose CABRERA Alonso]; Unionista Party or PU [Fritz GARCIA]; Unity of National Change or UCN [Sidney SHAW]; Social Democratic Party of Guatemala or PSG [Roger VALENZUELA]

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; note - active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Introduction

Background [time series]

The Mayan 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 left more than 100,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 2,429,033 females age 18-49: 2,503,482 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 1,911,412 females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 134,032 females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.)

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

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

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

0.4% (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months; women can serve as officers (2007)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40.8% (male 2,641,179/female 2,556,397) 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,426,376/female 3,642,157) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 213,801/female 248,201) (2007 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.09 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.27 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

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: 29.77 deaths/1,000 live births male: 32.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 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: 69.69 years male: 67.94 years female: 71.52 years (2007 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.1% male: 75.4% female: 63.3% (2002 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.9 years male: 18.3 years female: 19.5 years (2007 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population [time series]

12,728,111 (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.152% (2007 est.)

Religions [time series]

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.033 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.941 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.861 male(s)/female total population: 0.974 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.7 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

annual ministerial meetings under the OAS-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; the Line of Adjacency created under the 2002 Differendum serves in lieu of the contiguous international boundary to control squatting in the sparsely inhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Illicit drugs [time series]

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

IDPs: undetermined (estimates vary from none to 1 million displaced from government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) (2006)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

402 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 12 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 390 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 82 under 914 m: 301 (2007)

Pipelines [time series]

oil 480 km (2006)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways [time series]

total: 886 km narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 14,095 km paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (1999)

Waterways [time series]

990 km note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2007)