ARCHIVE // GT // 2016

Guatemala

2016 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2007)
Internet country code [time series]
.gt
Internet users [time series]
total: 4.043 million | percent of population: 27.1% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
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 opened the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity about 120 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) (2015)
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 1,718,851 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 18.121 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 121 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 63
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens
Budget [time series]
revenues: $6.909 billion | expenditures: $7.824 billion (2015 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-1.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68
Central bank discount rate [time series]
6.5% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 58
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
13.23% (31 December 2015 est.) | 13.77% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Current account balance [time series]
-$315 million (2015 est.) | -$1.23 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Debt - external [time series]
$18.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $18.76 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
53 (2014 est.) | 56 (2011) | country comparison to the world: 13
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly half the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for 13.6% of GDP and 31% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include sugar, coffee, bananas, and vegetables. Guatemala is the top remittance recipient in Central America as a result of Guatemala's large expatriate community in the US. These inflows are a primary source of foreign income, equivalent to over one-half of the country's exports or one-tenth of its GDP. | The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006, spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers, and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. | The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accounting for more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line, and 23% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up more than 40% of the population, averages 79%, with 39.8% of the indigenous population living in extreme poverty. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. | Guatemala is facing growing fiscal pressures exacerbated by multiple corruption scandals in 2015 that led to the resignation of the president, vice president, and numerous high-level economic officials.
Exchange rates [time series]
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - | 7.6548 (2015 est.) | 7.7322 (2014 est.) | 7.7322 (2013 est.) | 7.83 (2012 est.) | 7.7854 (2011 est.)
Exports [time series]
$10.83 billion (2015 est.) | $10.99 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86
Exports - commodities [time series]
sugar, coffee, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, manufacturing products, precious stones and metals, electricity
Exports - partners [time series]
US 34.9%, El Salvador 8.4%, Honduras 7.3%, Nicaragua 5%, Canada 4.6%, Mexico 4.3%, Costa Rica 4.1% (2015)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$63.91 billion (2015 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$125.9 billion (2015 est.) | $121 billion (2014 est.) | $116.1 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 81
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 85% | government consumption: 10.4% | investment in fixed capital: 13.2% | investment in inventories: 0.2% | exports of goods and services: 21.3% | imports of goods and services: -30% (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 13.2% | industry: 23.6% | services: 62.9% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$7,700 (2015 est.) | $7,600 (2014 est.) | $7,500 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 149
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
4.1% (2015 est.) | 4.3% (2014 est.) | 3.7% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Gross national saving [time series]
13.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | 11.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | 11.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 1.3% | highest 10%: 42.4% (2006)
Imports [time series]
$16.38 billion (2015 est.) | $17.06 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81
Imports - commodities [time series]
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products
Imports - partners [time series]
US 38.3%, China 13.4%, Mexico 11.8%, El Salvador 4.9% (2015)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
3.7% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 61
Industries [time series]
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.4% (2015 est.) | 3.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Labor force [time series]
4.528 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 31.2% | industry: 14.4% | services: 54.4% (2014 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$NA
Population below poverty line [time series]
59.3% (2014 est.)
Public debt [time series]
28.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | 29.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$7.746 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $7.329 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Stock of broad money [time series]
$23.19 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $21.17 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$28.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $26.3 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$10.05 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $9.19 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 79
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
10.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211
Unemployment rate [time series]
2.9% (2014 est.) | 3% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
13 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95
Crude oil - exports [time series]
8,711 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200
Crude oil - production [time series]
10,040 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
83.07 million bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 75
Electricity - consumption [time series]
8.915 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Electricity - exports [time series]
1.025 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
61.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
29.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
8.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42
Electricity - imports [time series]
664 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
3.73 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Electricity - production [time series]
10 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 1,600,000 | electrification - total population: 78% | electrification - urban areas: 85% | electrification - rural areas: 72% (2013)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 151
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 205
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 es) | country comparison to the world: 96
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
87,840 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
12,960 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
100,400 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
1,228 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 108,889 sq km | land: 107,159 sq km | water: 1,730 sq km | country comparison to the world: 107
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Climate [time series]
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Coastline [time series]
400 km
Elevation [time series]
mean elevation: 759 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m | highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m (highest point in Central America)
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]
3,375 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,667 km | border countries (4): Belize 266 km, El Salvador 199 km, Honduras 244 km, Mexico 958 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 41.2% | arable land 14.2%; permanent crops 8.8%; permanent pasture 18.2% | forest: 33.6% | other: 25.2% (2011 est.)
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 | volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana
Natural resources [time series]
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
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 City | geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W | time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: yes | residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year
Constitution [time series]
several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended, reinstated, and amended in 1994 (2016)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala | conventional short form: Guatemala | local long form: Republica de Guatemala | local short form: Guatemala | etymology: name derives from the Mayan word meaning "land of trees"
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Todd D. ROBINSON (since 10 October 2014) | embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City | mailing address: DPO AA 34024 | telephone: [502] 2326-4000 | FAX: [502] 2326-4654
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Gladys Marithza RUIZ SANCHEZ (since 2 June 2016) | chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 | FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 | consulate(s): Del Rio (TX), San Bernadino (CA), Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ) | consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence (RI), San Francisco, Silver Spring (MD), Tucson (AZ)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (since 14 January 2016); Vice President Jafeth CABRERA Franco (since 14 January 2016); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (since 14 January 2016); Vice President Jafeth CABRERA Franco (since 14 January 2016) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president | elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (not eligible for consecutive terms); election last held in 2 rounds on 6 September and 25 October 2015 (next to be held in September 2019) | election results: Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) elected president; percent of vote in first round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) 23.8%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 19.8%, Manuel BALDIZON (LIDER) 19.6%; percent of vote in second round - Jimmy Ernesto MORALES Cabrera (FNC) 67.4%, Sandra TORRES (UNE) 32.6%
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) representing liberty 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 signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea; the white band denotes peace and purity
Government type [time series]
presidential republic
Independence [time series]
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
International law organization participation [time series]
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation [time series]
BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (consists of 13 magistrates including the court president and organized into 3 chambers); note - the court president also supervises trial judges countrywide; Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad (consists of 5 judges and 5 alternates) | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court magistrates elected by the Congress of the Republic from candidates proposed by the Postulation Committee, an independent body of deans of the country's university law schools, representatives of the country's law associations, and representatives of the Courts of Appeal; magistrates elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; Constitutional Court judges - 1 elected by the Congress of the Republic, 1 by the Supreme Court, 1 by the president of the republic, 1 by the (public) University of San Carlos, and 1 by the lawyers bar association; judges elected for concurrent, renewable 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year term | subordinate courts: numerous first instance and appellate courts
Legal system [time series]
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; 127 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies within each of the country's 22 departments by simple majority vote and 31 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 6 September 2015 (next to be held in September 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - LIDER 19.10%, UNE 14.83%, TODOS 9.74%, PP 9.43%, FCN 8.75%, EG 6.24%, PU 5.69%, UCN 5.43%, Winaq-URNG-MAIZ 4.32%, Convergence 3.84%, VIVA 3.66%, PAN 3.42, FUERZA 2.07%, other 3.48%; seats by party - LIDER 44, UNE 36, TODOS 18, PP 17, FCN 11, EG 7, UCN 6, PU 5, Winaq-URNG-MAIZ 3, Convergence 3, VIVA 3, PAN 3, FUERZA 2
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala) | lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE | note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
National symbol(s) [time series]
quetzal (bird); national colors: blue, white
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Roberto GONZALEZ Diaz-Duran] | Convergence | Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera] | Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO Cottom] | Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS [Felipe ALEJOS] | FUERZA [Maurico REDFORD] | Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza] | Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or Winaq-URNG [Angel SANCHEZ Viesca] | Institutional Republican Party (formerly the Guatemalan Republican Front) or PRI [Luis Fernando PEREZ] | National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ Strauss] | National Unity for Hope or UNE [Sandra TORRES] | Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA] | National Convergence Front or FCN [Edgar Justino OVALLE Maldonado] | New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO] | Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias] | Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON] | Unionista Party or PU [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen] | Victoria (Victory) [Amilcar RIVERA] | Vision with Values or VIVA [Harold CABALLEROS] (part of a coalition with EG during the last legislative election)
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
Alliance Against Impunity or AI (includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)) | Civic and Political Convergence of Women | Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC | Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF | Foundation for the Development of Guatemala or FUNDESA | Guatemala Visible | Mutual Support Group or GAM | Movimiento PRO-Justicia | National Union of Agriculture Workers or UNAGRO
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot 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 internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
Military and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG; includes Guatemalan Navy (Fuerza de Mar, including Marines) and Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG)) (2013)
Military expenditures [time series]
0.42% of GDP (2014) | 0.46% of GDP (2013) | 0.44% of GDP (2012) | 0.41% of GDP (2011) | 0.42% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 129
Military service age and obligation [time series]
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are eligible for military service; in practice, most of the force is volunteer, however, a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 1 to 2 years; women can serve as officers (2013)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 35.02% (male 2,711,683/female 2,608,295) | 15-24 years: 21.8% (male 1,663,484/female 1,647,749) | 25-54 years: 33.53% (male 2,425,931/female 2,666,790) | 55-64 years: 5.23% (male 377,642/female 416,939) | 65 years and over: 4.42% (male 311,165/female 360,280) (2016 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
24.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55
Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]
total number: 929,852 | percentage: 21% | note: data represent children ages 5-17 (2006 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
12.6% (2015) | country comparison to the world: 57
Death rate [time series]
4.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 199
Demographic profile [time series]
Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The country's large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America. It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations. | Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960 to 1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 70.9% | youth dependency ratio: 62.6% | elderly dependency ratio: 8.3% | potential support ratio: 12.1% (2015 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
urban: 98.4% of population | rural: 86.8% of population | total: 92.8% of population | urban: 1.6% of population | rural: 13.2% of population | total: 7.2% of population (2015 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.8% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 139
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]
0.57% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
1,700 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
54,600 (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
6.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 88
Hospital bed density [time series]
0.6 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 22 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 19.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77
Languages [time series]
Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40% | note: there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 72.3 years | male: 70.3 years | female: 74.4 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 81.5% | male: 87.4% | female: 76.3% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria | note: active local transmission of Zika virus by Aedes species mosquitoes has been identified in this country (as of August 2016); it poses an important risk (a large number of cases possible) among US citizens if bitten by an infective mosquito; other less common ways to get Zika are through sex, via blood transfusion, or during pregnancy, in which the pregnant woman passes Zika virus to her fetus (2016)
Major urban areas - population [time series]
GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 2.918 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
88 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64
Median age [time series]
total: 21.7 years | male: 21 years | female: 22.4 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 180
Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]
20.3 | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008/09 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Guatemalan(s) | adjective: Guatemalan
Net migration rate [time series]
-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
16.4% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 100
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Population [time series]
15,189,958 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71
Population distribution [time series]
the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
Population growth rate [time series]
1.79% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Sanitation facility access [time series]
urban: 77.5% of population | rural: 49.3% of population | total: 63.9% of population | urban: 22.5% of population | rural: 50.7% of population | total: 36.1% of population (2015 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]
total: 11 years | male: 11 years | female: 10 years (2013)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.91 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.83 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 62
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 6.3% | male: 6.5% | female: 5.8% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 51.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-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; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution, but this vote was suspended indefinitely; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the US
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: 251,000 (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2015)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
291 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 23
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 16 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | under 914 m: 4 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 275 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 77 | under 914 m: 195 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
TG (2016)
Heliports [time series]
1 (2013)
National air transport system [time series]
number of registered air carriers: 3 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 93,129 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 455,520 mt-km (2015)
Pipelines [time series]
oil 480 km (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Railways [time series]
total: 800 km | narrow gauge: 800 km 0.914-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 96
Roadways [time series]
total: 17,332 km | paved: 7,483 km | unpaved: 9,849 km (includes 4,795 km of rural roads) (2015) | country comparison to the world: 130
Waterways [time series]
990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 65