Guatemala
Country Guide

Explore Guatemala

Guatemala with its capital Guatemala City is located in North America (Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean). It covers some 108,890 square kilometers (slightly smaller than Pennsylvania) with 15,460,700 citizens. Spanish is the language commonly spoken used by the people in Guatemala. Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico are bordering countries.

Guatemala is a country in the Central America region of North America. It has borders to Mexico in the north/northwest, to Belize in the northeast, to Honduras in the southeast, to El Salvador in the south. Guatemala is rich in natural beauty and travel opportunities, it's a country that offers so much to those willing to step off the beaten track for a little while. Antigua Guatemala is often regarded as the travellers hub, a crumbling, picture-perfect central american town ringed by volcanoes. From here you can take a hike up Volcano Pacaya, take a bus to the bustling market of Chichicastenango, or simply sip some coffee in a street-side cafe and watch the world go by.

Popular Destinations in Guatemala

Administrative regions of Guatemala

• Departamento de Alta Verapaz
• Departamento de Baja Verapaz
• Departamento de Chimaltenango
• Departamento de Chiquimula
• Departamento de El Progreso
• Departamento de Escuintla
• Departamento de Guatemala
• Departamento de Huehuetenango
• Departamento de Izabal
• Departamento de Jalapa
• Departamento de Jutiapa
• Departamento de Quetzaltenango
• Departamento de Retalhuleu
• Departamento de Sacatepequez
• Departamento de San Marcos
• Departamento de Santa Rosa
• Departamento de Solola
• Departamento de Suchitepequez
• Departamento de Totonicapan
• Departamento de Zacapa
• Departamento del Peten
• Departamento del Quiche

About the country

The landscape is 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. The average density of population is about 142 per km². The climate in Guatemala can be described as tropicalhot, humid in lowlands, cooler in highlands. Potential threats by nature are Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms, numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes and significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (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 p.

To reach someone Guatemala dial +502 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1900 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".gt". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 120 V - 60 Hz (plugs: A, B). The sign for the locally used currency Quetzal is GTQ.

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.

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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 108)	108,889	sq km
Land (World Rank: 103)	107,159	sq km
Water (World Rank: 92)	1,730	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 100)	18.20	%
Comparative	slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Coastline
400
Landborder
1667
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 40)	4,220	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 104)	41.20	%
Arable (World Rank: 84)	14.20	%
Permanent crops (World Rank: 39)	8.80	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 100)	18.20	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 66)	3,375	sq km
Map reference
Central America and the Caribbean
Environment
Issues	- deforestation in the Peten rainforest - soil erosion - water pollution
Agreement party	- 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
Hazzards	- Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms - numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes - significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (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 p
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
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 70)	15,460,700
Deathrate (World Rank: 199)	0.47	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 51)	2.41	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 59)	1.75	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 126)	-0.19	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 62)	2.77	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 178)	21.40
Female (World Rank: 174)	22.80
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 63)	2,719,030
0 14 female (World Rank: 64)	2,614,720
15 24 male (World Rank: 59)	1,677,630
15 24 female (World Rank: 60)	1,658,940
25 54 male (World Rank: 68)	2,516,460
25 54 female (World Rank: 66)	2,759,390
55 64 male (World Rank: 80)	384,967
55 64 female (World Rank: 80)	428,198
65 x male (World Rank: 84)	324,492
65 x female (World Rank: 88)	376,904
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 78)	2.13	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 142)	73	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 149)	75	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 132)	71	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 116)	0.90
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 167)	0.60
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 145)	63.90	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 92)	21.20	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 126)	92.80	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 96)	10,880,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 94)	9,833,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 51)	1,335,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 71)	746,900,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 165)	42.90	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 68)	28.30	%
Source renew (World Rank: 8)	34.40	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 79)	8,977	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 60)	7,407	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 67)	17,220	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 74)	83,070,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 104)	1,069	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 83)	91,900	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 80)	11,780	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 54)	104,200	bbl / day
Natural gas
Consumption (World Rank: 147)	13	m³
Carbon footprint
13600000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 137)	3	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 147)	0	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 101)	6	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 64)	-1	% of GDP
National symbol
quetzal
National colours
white
Adjective
Guatemalan
Noun
Guatemalan(s)
Background
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.
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) 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

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 78)	131,700,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 95)	3.10	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 148)	7,900	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 74)	13.20	%
Source industry (World Rank: 122)	23.60	%
Source service (World Rank: 101)	62.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 70)	6,530,000
In poverty (World Rank: 13)	59.30	%
Products
Industries	- chemicals - clothing - furniture - metals - petroleum - rubber - sugar - textiles - tourism
Agriculture	- bananas - beans - cardamom - cattle - chickens - coffee - corn - pigs - sheep - sugarcane
Exports	- apparel - bananas - cardamom - coffee - electricity - fruits - manufacturing products - metals - petroleum - precious stones - sugar - vegetables
Imports	- chemical products - construction materials - electricity - fertilizers - fuels - grain - machinery - mineral products - plastic materials - products - transport equipment

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 62)	1,675,000
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 128)	11.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 64)	126.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 74)	5,241,950
Population (World Rank: 149)	34.50	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 95)	16.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 16)	275
Heliports (World Rank: 101)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 97)	800
Road
Total length (World Rank: 119)	17,621
Paved length (World Rank: 82)	7,489
Unpaved length (World Rank: 86)	10,132
Water
Total length (World Rank: 67)	990

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