Guatemala

Location

• Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
• note 1: despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast note 2: Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Guatemala City	994,938	Capital
Villa Nueva	618,397
Mixco	465,773
Cobán	212,047
Quetzaltenango	180,706
Jalapa	159,840
Escuintla	156,313
Villa Canales	155,423
Jutiapa	145,880
Chichicastenango	141,567

Size

• 42,042 square miles
• 108,890 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

History

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.

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain

two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands

Languages

Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.note: the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna

Religions

Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic, by agreement of 10 or more deputies of Congress, by the Constitutional Court, or by public petition of at least 5,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Congress membership and approval by public referendum, referred to as "popular consultation"; constitutional articles such as national sovereignty, the republican form of government, limitations on those seeking the presidency, or presidential tenure cannot be amended
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universalnote: active-duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day
• Legal System: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)head of government: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelection/appointment process: 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)most recent election date: 25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023election results: 2023: Bernardo ARÉVALO de León elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 21%; Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (SEMILLA) 15.6%, Manuel CONDE Orellana (VAMOS) 10.4%; Armando CASTILLO Alvarado (VIVA) 9.6%, other 43.4%; percent of vote in second round - Bernardo ARÉVALO de León 60.9%, Sandra TORRES 39.1%2019: Alejandro GIAMMATTEI elected president; percent of vote in first round - Sandra TORRES (UNE) 25.5%, Alejandro GIAMMATTEI (VAMOS) 14%, Edmond MULET (PHG) 11.2%, Thelma CABRERA (MLP) 10.4%, Roberto ARZU (PAN-PODEMOS) 6.1%, other 32.8%; percent of vote in second round - Alejandro GIAMMATTEI 58%, Sandra TORRES 42%expected date of next election: June 2027note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: 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)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 Assembly of the College of Attorneys and Notaries; judges elected for renewable, consecutive 5-year terms; the presidency of the court rotates among the magistrates for a single 1-year termsubordinate courts: Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courtsnote 1: the Supreme Court of Justice president also supervises trial judges countrywidenote 2: the Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad of Guatemala resides outside the country's judicial system; its sole purpose is the interpretation of the constitution and to see that the laws and regulations are not superior to the constitution (consists of 5 titular magistrates and 5 substitute magistrates)
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)legislative structure: unicameralnumber of seats: 160 (all directly elected)electoral system: mixed systemscope of elections: full renewalterm in office: 4 yearsmost recent election date: 6/25/2023parties elected and seats per party: Let’s Go for a Different Guatemala (Vamos) (39); National Unity of Hope Party (UNE) (28); Seed Movement (Semilla) (23); Cabal (18); Vision with Values (VIVA) (11); Other (41)percentage of women in chamber: 20%expected date of next election: June 2027

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration
• Budget: revenues: $16.603 billion (2023 est.)expenditures: $17.349 billion (2023 est.)note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
• Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
• Agricultural Products: sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 43% (2022 est.)arable land: 14.5% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 11% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 17.5% (2022 est.)forest: 32.7% (2022 est.)other: 24.3% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports