Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
5 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
921,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.gt
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
60.22% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
11 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
1.94 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
115 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
20.6 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
35.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$17.349 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$16.603 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$2.239 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$1.909 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$773.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$637.3 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$857.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$649.6 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$1.821 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$3.918 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$1.873 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$1.116 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$3.212 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$3.333 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$25.269 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$11.862 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
7.7585 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
7.8568 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
7.7322 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
7.6548 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
7.5999 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
7.3479 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
7.5192 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
7.6967 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
7.7217 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
7.7344 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
7.7482 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
7.8320 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
7.7585 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$12.688 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$12.580 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$12.331 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$12.387 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$13.252 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$13.323 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$13.592 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$12.702 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$15.242 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$18.141 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$17.342 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$17.997 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
15.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
10.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
88% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-31.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
16.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
9.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
21.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
61.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$14,369 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$113.2 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$264.475 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
45.2 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
34.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$15.010 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$18.695 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$18.244 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$19.758 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$21.150 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$21.535 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$19.272 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$27.347 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$33.943 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$33.056 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$35.576 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
2.39% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
4.45% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.42% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
3.75% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
3.70% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
3.21% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.26% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.89% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
6.21% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.87% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
7.575 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
56.00% (2023 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
25.21% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
31.56% of GDP (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$129.165 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$142.692 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$149.696 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$158.387 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$183.966 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$190.017 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$208.107 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$216.815 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$224.475 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$232.673 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.09% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.68% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.08% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.41% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.02% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-1.79% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
8.04% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.18% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.53% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.65% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$8,237 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$8,934 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$9,201 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$9,560 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$10,756 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$10,947 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$11,825 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$13,014 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$13,745 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$5.304 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$5.751 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$6.482 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$11.405 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$15.408 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
19% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
19.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
19.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$7.746 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$9.153 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$11.765 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$12.583 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$14.784 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$18.464 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$20.935 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$20.415 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$21.311 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$24.412 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.19% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
2.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
2.17% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
3.05% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.34% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.61% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
4.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
4.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
20 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
98.2%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
99.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
97.7%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: geothermal
2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2.31 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
16.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
18.546 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
43% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
33.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
23.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
21.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
127.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.886 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
603.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
835 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
55.95% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
2.757 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.4% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Geography: Area: land
107,159 sq km
Geography: Area: water
1,730 sq km
Geography: Coastline
400 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Pacific Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
759 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
3,375 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,667 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
43% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
33.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
23.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major lakes (area sq km): fresh water lake(s)
Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km
Geography: Map references
Central America and the Caribbean
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: 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) 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: Population distribution
the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
Geography: 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
Government: 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, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán, Zacapa
Government: Capital: etymology
the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
14 37 N, 90 31 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year
Government: Constitution: amendment 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Guatemala
Government: Country name: etymology
the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
Government: Country name: local long form
República de Guatemala
Government: Country name: local short form
Guatemala
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Tobin BRADLEY (since 12 February 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov https://gt.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[502] 2326-4654
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC 20521-3190
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[502] 2354-0000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Hugo Eduardo BETETA (since 17 June 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s)
Dallas, Del Rio (TX), Lake Worth (FL), McAllen (TX), Riverhead (NY), San Bernardino (CA), Tucson (AZ)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus (OH), Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville (TN), New York, Oklahoma City, Omaha (NE), Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence (RI), Raleigh (NC), Rockville (MD), San Francisco, Seattle
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
embestadosunidos@minex.gob.gt https://estadosunidos.minex.gob.gt/home/home.aspx
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 745-1908
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 745-4953
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: election 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%
Government: Executive branch: election/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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
June 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023
Government: Flag
description: three equal vertical bands of light blue (left 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), a scroll with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain), a pair of crossed rifles, and a pair of crossed swords; a laurel wreath frames the objects meaning: the rifles stand for Guatemala's willingness to defend itself, the swords for honor, and the laurel wreath for victory; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and white for peace and purity
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ACS, BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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)
Government: Judicial branch: 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 term
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts
Government: Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
June 2027
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
6/25/2023
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
160 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties 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)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
20%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem and it was not discovered until 1911; anthem has four verses with four separate choruses at the end of each verse -- all are official, and the anthem is sung in its entirety when performed in Guatemala
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
Government: National color(s)
blue, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Antigua Guatemala (c); Tikal National Park (m); Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua (c); National Archaeological Park Tak'alik Ab'aj (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Government: National symbol(s)
quetzal (bird)
Government: Political parties
Bienestar Nacional or BIEN Blue Party (Partido Azul) or Blue CABAL Cambio Citizen Prosperity or PC Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO Elephant Community (Comunidad Elefante) or Elephant Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG-MAIZ or URNG Humanist Party of Guatemala or PHG Movement for the Liberation of Peoples or MLP Movimiento Semilla or SEMILLA National Advancement Party or PAN National Convergence Front or FCN-NACION National Unity for Hope or UNE Nationalist Change Union or UCN (dissolved 16 December 2021) Nosotros or PPN PODEMOS Political Movement Winaq or Winaq TODOS Value or VALOR Vamos por una Guatemala Diferente or VAMOS Victory or VICTORIA Vision with Values or VIVA Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (Voluntad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad) or VOS
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the military is responsible for maintaining the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the honor of Guatemala, but has long focused on internal security; since the 2000s, the Guatemalan Government has used the military to support the National Civil Police in internal security operations (as permitted by the constitution) to combat organized crime, gang violence, and narco-trafficking; other responsibilities include border security, cybersecurity, and providing humanitarian assistance; it also participates in UN missions on a small scale and has a peacekeeping operations training command that offers training to regional countries; the military has security ties with regional partners such as Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, and Honduras; cooperation with El Salvador and Honduras has included a combined police-military anti-gang task force to patrol border areas; it also has ties with the US, including joint training exercises and material assistance the military held power during most of Guatemala’s 36-year civil war (1960-1996) and conducted a campaign of widespread violence and repression, particularly against the country’s majority indigenous population; more than 200,000 people were estimated to have been killed or disappeared during the conflict (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Army of Guatemala (Ejercito de Guatemala; aka Armed Forces of Guatemala or Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala): Land Forces (Fuerzas de Tierra), Naval Forces (Fuerzas de Mar), and Air Force (Fuerza de Aire) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military is lightly armed with an inventory mostly comprised of ageing US equipment; in recent years, the US has provided additional secondhand equipment (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.41% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.44% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.38% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.37% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.43% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.44% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.39% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.46% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.42% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.37% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-28 for voluntary service for men and women (17-21 for military schools); all Guatemalan men 18-49 are subject to selective compulsory service; service obligation is 12-24 months (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
31.5% (male 2,925,079/female 2,819,927)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
63.2% (male 5,688,500/female 5,839,958)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
5.4% (2024 est.) (male 437,105/female 544,647)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
17.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
9.6% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
6.2% (2015)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
29.5% (2015)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.4% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.80% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56.2% (2018 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
8.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
11.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
58.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
49.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 91% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
17.3% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
3.08% (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.96 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
6.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.5 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
17.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.)
People and Society: Languages: 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.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
75.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
70.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
78.5% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
86.9% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
82.11% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
94 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
25.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
24.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.6 years (2014/15 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Guatemalan
People and Society: Net migration rate
-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
21.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
18,406,359 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the vast majority of the populace resides in the southern half of the country, particularly in the mountainous regions; more than half of the population lives in rural areas
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.99% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
9,204,532
People and Society: Population: male
9,050,684
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 68.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 31.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
10 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
11 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.97 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.8 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
22.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
11.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.29 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
55.95% (2024 est.)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)
Transnational Issues: Illicit drugs: USG identification
major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country major precursor-chemical producer (2025)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
572,813 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
4,676 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
58 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TG
Transportation: Heliports
2 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
oil tanker 1, other 8
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
9 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
2
Transportation: Ports: small
2
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
1
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
800 km (2018)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.