| The World Factbook | ||
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Guatemala |
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| Introduction | Guatemala |
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Background:
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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 conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. |
| Geography | Guatemala |
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Location:
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Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 30 N, 90 15 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km water: 460 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Tennessee |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km |
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Coastline:
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400 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 13.22%
permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,300 sq km (2003) |
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Natural hazards:
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numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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no natural harbors on west coast |
| People | Guatemala |
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Population:
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12,293,545 (July 2006 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490) (2006 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 18.9 years
male: 18.5 years female: 19.4 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.27% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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29.88 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 69.38 years
male: 67.65 years female: 71.18 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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3.82 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.1% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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78,000 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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5,800 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census) |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs |
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Languages:
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Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.6% male: 78% female: 63.3% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Guatemala |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala |
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Government type:
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constitutional democratic republic |
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Capital:
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name: Guatemala
geographic coordinates: 14 38 N, 90 31 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009 |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 15 September (1821) |
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Constitution:
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31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President Jorge SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993 |
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Legal system:
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civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day) |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held September 2007) election results: Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent of vote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvarado COLOM (UNE) 45.9% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held September 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18 note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats increased from 113 to 158 |
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Judicial branch:
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Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (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); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 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) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Fraterno VILLA, secretary general]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principles and Values or MPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently defected) [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto PEREZ Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretary general]; Unionista Party [Fritz GARCIA] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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 |
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International organization participation:
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BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Providence, San Francisco |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador James M. DERHAM
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 FAX: [502] 2326-4654 |
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Flag description:
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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 | Guatemala |
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Economy - overview:
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Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-fifths of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and Guatemala since then has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with about 75% of the population below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit. Remittances from a large expatriate community that moved to the United States during the war have become an important source of foreign exchange. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$60.57 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$28.84 billion (2006 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.9% (2006 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$4,900 (2006 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 18.8% services: 58.7% (2006 est.) |
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Labor force:
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3.85 million (2006 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 50%
industry: 15% services: 35% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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7.5% (2003 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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75% (2004 est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 46% (1998) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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48.3 (2000) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6.6% (2006 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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15.5% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $3.894 billion
expenditures: $4.828 billion; including capital expenditures of $750 million (2006 est.) |
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Public debt:
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25.9% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens |
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Industries:
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sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4.1% (1999) |
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Electricity - production:
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7.604 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 51.9%
hydro: 35.2% nuclear: 0% other: 12.9% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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6.649 billion kWh (2004) |
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Electricity - exports:
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464 million kWh (2004) |
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Electricity - imports:
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41 million kWh (2004) |
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Oil - production:
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22,300 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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67,000 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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3,104 bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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263 million bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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3.087 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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$-2.028 billion (2006 est.) |
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Exports:
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$4.097 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom |
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Exports - partners:
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US 50.1%, El Salvador 12.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4% (2005) |
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Imports:
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$9.118 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity |
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Imports - partners:
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US 38.1%, Mexico 7.6%, El Salvador 4.8%, South Korea 4.8%, Panama 4.4% (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$3.959 billion (2006 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$6.169 billion (2006 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$250 million (2000 est.) |
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Currency (code):
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quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed |
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Currency code:
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GTQ; USD |
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Exchange rates:
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quetzales per US dollar - 7.60102 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8217 (2002) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
| Communications | Guatemala |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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1,132,100 (2004) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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3,168,300 (2004) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala
domestic: NA international: country code - 502; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000) |
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Radios:
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835,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997) |
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Televisions:
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1.323 million (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.gt |
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Internet hosts:
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49,026 (2006) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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5 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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756,000 (2005) |
| Transportation | Guatemala |
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Airports:
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450 (2006) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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 (2006) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 439
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 111 under 914 m: 319 (2006) |
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Pipelines:
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oil 480 km (2006) |
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Railways:
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total: 886 km
narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2005) |
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Roadways:
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total: 14,095 km
paved: 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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990 km
note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2004) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla |
| Military | Guatemala |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy (includes marines), Air Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months (2005) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49: 2,429,033
females age 18-49: 2,503,482 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49: 1,911,412
females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 134,032
females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$169.8 million (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.5% (2005 est.) |
| Transnational Issues | Guatemala |
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Disputes - international:
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Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests of Belize's border region; Organization of American States (OAS) is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for the disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package; Guatemalans enter Mexico illegally seeking work or transit to the US |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs: 250,000 (government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) 30,000 (Hurricane "Stan" October 2005) (2005) |
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Illicit drugs:
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major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2004, reemerged as a potential source of opium, growing 330 hectares of opium poppy, with potential pure heroin production of 1.4 metric tons; 76% of opium poppy cultivation in western highlands along Mexican border; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem |
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This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007 |