Country Summary: Guatemala (Republic of Guatemala)
Country Name: Guatemala (Republic of Guatemala)
Capital: Guatemala City
Government Type:
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.
Continent: Central America
Population: 17,980,803 (2023 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Mestizo (mixed Indigenous-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)
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); note - the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna (2018 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.7%, Evangelical 38.8%, other 2.7%, atheist 0.1%, none 13.8%, unspecified 2.9% (2018 est.)
Economic Overview: 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
Currency: Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $20.415 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $159.034 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Real GDP Growth Rate: 4.12% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per Capita: $9,200 (2022 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Exports:
$18.127 billion (2022 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 92
Export Commodities: textiles (knit and non-knit garments), coffee, bananas, palm oil, raw sugar (2022)
Export Partners: United States 32%, El Salvador 12%, Honduras 10%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2022)
Imports:
United States 32%, El Salvador 12%, Honduras 10%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2022); note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 77
Import Commodities: refined petroleum, video displays, cars, packaged medicines, delivery trucks (2022)
Import Partners: United States 34%, China 15%, Mexico 9%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2022)
Natural Resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Agricultural Products: sugar cane, eggs, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, poultry
Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial Production Growth Rate:
4.64% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Comparison Ranking: 68
Labor Force: 7.069 million (2022 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 3.05% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Natural Hazards: 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 (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 (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; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
Geography:
Total: 108,889 sq km
Land: 107,159 sq km
Water: 1,730 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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