Guatemala

§1. Guatemala Introduction

Background:
  Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule 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 led to the
  death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.

§2. Guatemala Geography

Location:
  Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize
  and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:
  15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean

Area:
  total: 108,890 kmē
  land: 108,430 kmē
  water: 460 kmē

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries:
  total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km,
    Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline:
  400 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
  exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
  territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain:
  mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau
  (Peten)

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources:
  petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use:
  arable land: 12%
  permanent crops: 5%
  permanent pastures: 24%
  forests and woodland: 54%
  other: 5% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  1,250 kmē (1993 est.)

Natural hazards:
  numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes;
  Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:
  deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch damage

Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
    Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental
    Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear
    Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
  signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geography - note:
  no natural harbors on west coast

§3. Guatemala People

Population:
  12,974,361 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: 42.11% (male 2,789,189; female 2,674,747)
  15-64 years: 54.25% (male 3,518,209; female 3,519,851)
  65 years and over: 3.64% (male 220,640; female 251,725) (2001 est.)

Population growth rate:
  2.6% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  34.61 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate:
  6.79 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Net migration rate:
  -1.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate:
  45.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 66.51 years male: 63.85 years
  female: 69.31 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate:
  4.58 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.38% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  73,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  3,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality:
  noun: Guatemalan(s)
  adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups:
  Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local
  Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or predominantly
  Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2%

Religions:
  Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages:
  Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (more than 20 Amerindian languages,
  including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 63.6%
  male: 68.7%
  female: 58.5% (2000 est.)

§4. Guatemala Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
  conventional short form: Guatemala
  local long form: Republica de Guatemala
  local short form: Guatemala

Government type:
  constitutional democratic republic

Capital:
  Guatemala

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, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
  Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence:
  15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:
  Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:
  31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by
  former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of
  president; amended November 1993

Legal system:
  civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not
  vote)

Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14
    January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14
    January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
    of government
  head of government: President Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (since 14
    January 2000); Vice President Juan Francisco REYES Lopez (since 14
    January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
    of government
  cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the president
  elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election
    last held 7 November 1999; runoff held 26 December 1999 (next to be held
    NA November 2003)
  election results: Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera elected president;
    percent of vote - Alfonso Antonio PORTILLO Cabrera (FRG) 68%, Oscar
    BERGER Perdomo (PAN) 32%

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (113 seats;
  members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
  elections: last held on 7 November 1999 (next to be held in November 2003)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FRG 63,
    PAN 37, ANN 9, DCG 2, UD/LOV 1, PLP 1
  note: for the 7 November 1999 election, the number of congressional seats
    was increased from 80 to 113

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (thirteen 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); Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad (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)

Political parties and leaders:
  Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Jorge Luis ORTEGA]; Democratic Union
  or UD [Jose Luis CHEA Urruela]; Green Party or LOV [Jose ASTURIAS Rudecke];
  Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan
  National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Pablo MONSANTO, also known as Jorge
  SOTO]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; New Nation
  Alliance or ANN [leader NA], which includes the URNG; National Advancement
  Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP
  [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  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

International organization participation:
  BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,
  ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC,
  IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL,
  OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
  WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Ariel RIVERA Irias chancery: 2220 R Street NW,
    Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
  FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
  consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and
    San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Prudence BUSHNELL embassy: 7-01 Avenida
    Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
  mailing address: APO AA 34024
  telephone: [502] 331-1541/55
  FAX: [502] 334-8477

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) 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

§5. Guatemala Economy

Economy - overview:
  The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of
  exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the
  main products. Former President ARZU (1996-2000) worked to implement a
  program of economic liberalization and political modernization. The 1996
  signing of the peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a
  major obstacle to foreign investment. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch caused
  relatively little damage to Guatemala compared to its neighbors. Ongoing
  challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further
  assistance from international donors, and increasing the efficiency and
  openness of both government and private financial operations. Despite low
  international prices for Guatemala's main commodities, the economy grew by
  3% in 2000 and is forecast to grow by 4% in 2001. Guatemala, along with
  Honduras and El Salvador, recently concluded a free trade agreement with
  Mexico and has moved to protect international property rights. However, the
  PORTILLO administration has undertaken a review of privatizations under the
  previous administration, thereby creating some uncertainty among investors.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $46.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: 23% industry: 20%
  services: 57% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:
  60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 46.6% (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  6% (2000 est.)

Labor force:
  4.2 million (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
  7.5% (1999 est.)

Budget:
  revenues: $2.2 billion
  expenditures: $1.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001
    est.)

Industries:
  sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals,
  rubber, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
  4.1% (1999)

Electricity - production:
  3.785 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 38.31% hydro: 61.69%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  3.295 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  435 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  210 million kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs,
  chickens

Exports:
  $2.9 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities:
  coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, meat, apparel,
  petroleum, electricity

Exports - partners:
  US 51.4%, El Salvador 8.7%, Honduras 5%, Costa Rica 3.4%, Germany 2.7%
  (1998)

Imports:
  $4.4 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities:
  fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain,
  fertilizers, electricity

Imports - partners:
  US 42.8%, Mexico 9.9%, Japan 4.8%, El Salvador 4.3%, Venezuela 3.8% (1998)

Debt - external:
  $4.7 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:
  $212 million (1995)

Currency:
  quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed

Currency code:
  GTQ; USD

Exchange rates:
  quetzales per US dollar - 7.8020 (January 2001), 7.7632 (2000), 7.3856
  (1999), 6.3947 (1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)

Fiscal year:
  calendar year

§6. Guatemala Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
  665,061 (June 2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  663,296 (September 2000)

Telephone system:
  general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala
  domestic: NA
  international: connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite
    earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios:
  835,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
  26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:
  1.323 million (1997)

Internet country code:
  .gt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  5 (2000)

Internet users:
  65,000 (2000)

§7. Guatemala Transportation

Railways:
  total: 884 km (102 km privately owned)
  narrow gauge: 884 km 0.914-m gauge (single track)

Highways:
  total: 13,856 km
  paved: 4,370 km (including 140 km of expressways)
  unpaved: 9,486 km (1998)

Waterways:
  990 km
  note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during
    highwater season

Pipelines:
  crude oil 275 km

Ports and harbors:
  Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de
  Castilla

Merchant marine:
  none (2000 est.)

Airports:
  477 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 5
  under 914 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 466 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
  914 to 1,523 m: 124
  under 914 m: 332 (2000 est.)

§8. Guatemala Military

Military branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - military age:
  18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
  males age 15-49: 3,092,050 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
  males age 15-49: 2,018,636 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
  males: 140,358 (2001 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $120 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  0.6% (FY99)

§9. Guatemala Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  Guatemala periodically asserts claims to territory in southern Belize; to
  deter cross-border squatting, both states in 2000 agreed to a "line of
  adjacency" based on the de facto boundary, which is not recognized by
  Guatemala

Illicit drugs:
  transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium
  poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade; proximity to Mexico
  makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (cocaine and heroin
  shipments); money laundering is probably increasing
