| Background: |
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. |
| 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
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 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 |
| 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%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 54%
other: 5% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
1,250 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
numerous
volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical
storms |
| Environment
- current issues: |
deforestation;
soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage |
| 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 |
| Population: |
12,974,361 (July
2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
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.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.6% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
34.61
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
6.79 deaths/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-1.84 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
45.79
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 66.51 years
male: 63.85 years
female: 69.31 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
4.58 children
born/woman (2001 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% (more than 20 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.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala |
| Government
type: |
constitutional
democratic republic |
| 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) |
| 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 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% |
| 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 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 |
| 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 [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
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, 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 |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of
mission: Ambassador Ariel RIVERA Irias
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
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
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 |
| 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 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. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $46.2 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
3% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $3,700 (2000 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%:
0.6%
highest 10%: 46.6% (1989) |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
6% (2000 est.) |
| 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:
$2.2 billion
expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2001 est.) |
| Industries: |
sugar, textiles
and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals,
rubber, tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
4.1% (1999) |
| Electricity
- production: |
3.785 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
38.31%
hydro: 61.69%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
3.295 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
435 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
210 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
sugarcane, corn,
bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs,
chickens |
| Exports: |
$2.9 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
coffee, sugar,
bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat, apparel,
petroleum, electricity |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 51.4%, El
Salvador 8.7%, Honduras 5%, Costa Rica 3.4%, Germany 2.7%
(1998) |
| Imports: |
$4.4 billion
(f.o.b., 2000) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
fuels, machinery
and transport equipment, construction materials, grain,
fertilizers, electricity |
| Imports
- partners: |
US 42.8%, Mexico
9.9%, Japan 4.8%, El Salvador 4.3%, Venezuela 3.8% (1998) |
| Debt
- external: |
$4.7 billion
(2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$212 million
(1995) |
| Currency: |
quetzal (GTQ), US
dollar (USD), others allowed |
| Exchange
rates: |
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) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| 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) |
| 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: |
65,000 (2000) |
| Railways: |
total:
884 km (102 km privately owned)
narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single
track) |
| 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 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
477 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
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: |
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.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air
Force |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 3,092,050 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 2,018,636 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
140,358 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$120 million
(FY99) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
0.6% (FY99) |
| Disputes
- international: |
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: |
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 |
|
