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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Guatemala article.

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.

[edit] Geography

Location 

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

Geographic coordinates 

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references 

Central America and the Caribbean

Area 

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

Area - comparative 

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries 

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

Coastline 

400 km

Maritime claims 

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

Climate 

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain 

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

Elevation extremes 

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

Natural resources 

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

Land use 

arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 5.03%
other: 82.43% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

1,250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

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

Environment - current issues 

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements 

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

Geography - note 

no natural harbors on west coast

[edit] People

Population 

13,314,079 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 41.8% (male 2,841,486; female 2,725,343)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 3,629,363; female 3,630,273)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 227,369; female 260,245) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

2.57% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

34.17 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 66.85 years
female: 69.66 years (2002 est.)
male: 64.16 years

Total fertility rate 

4.51 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

1.38% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

73,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

3,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups 

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

Religions 

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages 

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

Literacy 

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

[edit] Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala

Government type 

constitutional democratic republic

Capital 

Guatemala

Administrative divisions 

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

Independence 

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday 

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution 

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

Legal system 

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

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)

Executive branch 

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 appointed 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%

Legislative branch 

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 7 November 1999 (next to be held NA November 2003)
note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats increased to 113 from 80; for the November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats will increase by 12-15 seats from the current 113
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 - as of January 2003, the seat count is FRG 63, PAN 19, ANN 3, Unionista 10, URNG 5, UNE 6, independent 3, other 4

Judicial branch 

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)

Political parties and leaders 

Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democratic Union or UD [Rodolfo PAIZ Andrade]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALES Garcis-Salaz]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Secretary General Alba ESTELA Maldonado]; 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 [Secretary General Leonel LOPEZ Rodas]; 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 [Secretary General Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE]; Unionista Party [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

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

International organization participation 

BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, 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), NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

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

Diplomatic representation from the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador John Randle HAMILTON
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 331-1541/55
FAX: [502] 334-8477

Flag description 

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

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

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 2.3% 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.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $48.3 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

2.3% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

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

Population below poverty line 

60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46% (1998) (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index 

56 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

7.6% (2001) (2001)

Labor force 

4.2 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation 

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

Unemployment rate 

7.5% (1999 est.)

Budget 

revenues: $2.1 billion
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Industries 

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

Industrial production growth rate 

4.1% (1999) (1999)

Electricity - production 

5.929 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 50%
hydro: 45%
other: 5% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

4.797 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

840 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

123 million kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

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

Exports 

$2.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities 

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

Exports - partners 

US 57%, El Salvador 8.7%, Costa Rica 3.7%, Nicaragua 2.8%, Germany 2.6% (2000)

Imports 

$4.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities 

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

Imports - partners 

US 35.2%, Mexico 12.6%, South Korea 7.9%, El Salvador 6.4%, Venezuela 3.9% (2000)

Debt - external 

$4.5 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$212 million (1995) (1995)

Currency 

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

Currency code 

GTQ; USD

Exchange rates 

quetzales per US dollar - 8.0165 (January 2002), 7.8586 (2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997)

Fiscal year 

calendar year

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

665,061 (June 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

663,296 (September 2000)

Telephone system 

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)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios 

835,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions 

1.323 million (1997)

Internet country code 

.gt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

5 (2000)

Internet users 

200,000 (2002)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

total: 884 km
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single-track)
note: much of the railway is inoperable (2001 est.)

Highways 

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

Waterways 

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

Pipelines 

crude oil 275 km

Ports and harbors 

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

Merchant marine 

none (2002 est.)

Airports 

475 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

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 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 455 464
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 9
914 to 1,523 m: 9 123
under 914 m: 115 331 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Military manpower - military age 

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 3,186,894 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 2,080,504 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually 

males: 140,358 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$120 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

0.6% (FY99)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

the "Line of Adjacency", established as an agreed limit in 2000 to check squatters settling in Belize, remains in place while OAS assists states to resolve Guatemalan territorial claims in Belize and Guatemalan maritime access to the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs 

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 (cocaine and heroin shipments); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem