GUATEMALA
GEOGRAPHY
TOTAL AREA: 108,890 sq km (42,042 sq mi)
LAND AREA: 108,430 sq km (41,865 sq mi)
COMPARATIVE AREA: slightly smaller than Tennessee
LAND BOUNDARIES: 1,687 km total; Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras
256 km, Mexico 962 km
COASTLINE: 400 km
MARITIME CLAIMS: Continental shelf: not specific; Extended economic zone:
200 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm
DISPUTES: claims Belize, but boundary negotiations are under way
CLIMATE: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
TERRAIN: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau (Peten)
NATURAL RESOURCES: crude oil, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle
LAND USE: 12% arable land; 4% permanent crops; 12% meadows and pastures;
40% forest and woodland; 32% other; includes 1% irrigated
ENVIRONMENT: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms; deforestation;
soil erosion; water pollution
DEFORESTATION RATE: -1.9 net annual percent
NOTE: no natural harbors on west coast
PEOPLE
POPULATION, YEAR 1990: 9,197,000
POPULATION, YEAR 2000 (Projected): 11,819,000
POPULATION, YEAR 2020 (Projected): 17,639,000
TOTAL URBAN POPULATION: 3,679,000
URBAN POPULATION: 40%
TOTAL POPULATION GROWTH: 282,348
POPULATION GROWTH: 3.1%
POPULATION DOUBLING TIME: 22.6 years
TOTAL BIRTHS: 364,201
BIRTH RATE: 39.6 births per 1000 persons
TOTAL DEATHS: 81,853
DEATH RATE: 8.9 deaths per 1000 persons
FERTILITY RATE: 5.6 children born per woman
POPULATION UNDER AGE 15: 4,221,000
PERCENT UNDER AGE 15: 45.9%
POPULATION OVER AGE 65: 267,000
PERCENT OVER AGE 65: 2.9%
NET MIGRATION RATE: -3 migrants per 1000 population
LIFE EXPECTANCY: female 65, male 60
MARRIAGES: 38,500
MARRIAGE RATE: 4.8 per 1000 persons
DIVORCES: 1,400
DIVORCE RATE: .2 per 1000 persons
POPULATION DENSITY: 219 persons per sq km
NATIONALITY: noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan
ETHNIC DIVISIONS: 56% Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European ancestry),
44% Indian
RELIGION: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant, traditional Mayan
LANGUAGE: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian language
as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
EDUCATION
LITERACY RATE: 50%
ILLITERATE POPULATION OVER AGE 15: 45%
ILLITERATE FEMALE POPULATION OVER AGE 15: 52.9%
AGES OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION: 7 to 14
EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURE: 1.8% of GNP
EDUCATIONAL EXPENDITURE: 12.4% of Govt. expenditure
DAILY NEWSPAPERS: 9
DAILY NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION: 203,000
NEWSPRINT CONSUMPTION: 923 kg per 1000 persons
NATIONAL LIBRARIES: 100
SPECIAL LIBRARIES: 16
MUSEUMS AND SITES: 185
HEALTH
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE: 59% with access
ACCESS TO SAFE WATER: 58% with access
ACCESS TO SAFE WATER, URBAN: 89% with access
CALORIE CONSUMPTION, TOTAL: 2,296 calories per person per day
CALORIE CONSUMPTION, ANIMAL: 189 calories per person per day
CALORIE CONSUMPTION, VEGETABLE: 2,108 calories per person per day
HOSPITAL BEDS: 600 population per bed
PHYSICIANS: 3,544
PHYSICIANS PER CAPITA: 4.7 per 10,000 persons
NURSES: 9,093
NURSES PER CAPITA: 12.1 per 10,000 persons
PHARMACISTS: 411
PHARMACISTS PER CAPITA: 0.5 per 10,000 persons
DENTISTS: 810
DENTISTS PER CAPITA: 1.1 per 10,000 persons
CONTRACEPTION USE: 18% of married women
MATERNAL DEATHS: 236
MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE: 75.6 deaths per 100,000 live births
TOTAL INFANT MORTALITY: 21,488
INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 59 deaths per 1000 births
MEASLES IMMUNIZATION: 27% of immunized under 12 months
DPT: 54% immunized under 12 months
AIDS: 56 Cases reported
GOVERNMENT
LONG-FORM NAME: Republic of Guatemala
TYPE: 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)
CONSTITUTION: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
LEGAL SYSTEM: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
NATIONAL HOLIDAY: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
EXECUTIVE BRANCH: president, vice president, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH: unicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional)
JUDICIAL BRANCH: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia)
LEADERS: Chief of State and Head of Government -- President Ramiro De León
Carpio; Vice President Arturo Herbruger.
POLITICAL
PARTIES AND LEADERS: Christian Democratic Party (DC), National Centrist
Union (UCN), Democratic Union (UD), National Liberation Movement (MLN),
National Advancement Party (PAN), Popular Democratic Party (PDP), Solidarity
Action Movement (MAS), Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), New Guatemala
Democratic Front (FDNG), Revolutionary Party (PR) in coalition with National
Renewal Party (PNR), Progressist Party (PP), Social Democratic Party (PSD),
National Authentic Center (CAN), United Anti-Communist Party (PUA), Progress
Liberating Party (PLP), Emerging Movement for Harmony (MEC), Democratic
Party of National Cooperation (PDCN), Democratic Institutional Party (PID),
Nationalist United Front (FUN), Guatemalan Democratic Party (PDG), Others.
SUFFRAGE: universal at age 18, compulsory for literates, voluntary for illiterates
ELECTIONS: Now taking place. After finishing the first round, the candidates
of the PAN (Alvaro Arzu) and FRG (Alfonso Portillo)will run again for president
in the second round to be held on January, 1996.
OTHER POLITICAL OR PRESSURE GROUPS: Federated Chambers of Commerce and Industry
(CACIF), Mutual Support Group (GAM), Unity for Popular and Labor Action
(UASP), Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO), Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC)
MEMBER OF: CACM, CCC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, ICO, IDA,
IDB -- Inter-American Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IRC, ISO, ITU, IWC -- International Wheat Council, OAS, ODECA,
PAHO, SELA, UN, UNESCO, UPEB, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATION: Ambassador Rodolfo ROHRMOSER V; Chancery at 2220
R Street NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 745-4952 through 4954;
there are Guatemalan Consulates General in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco; US -- Ambassador Thomas
F. STROOCK; Embassy at 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
(mailing address is APO Miami 34024); telephone 502 (2) 31-15-41
FLAG: 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
MILITARY BRANCHES: Army, Navy, Air Force
MILITARY MANPOWER: males 15-49, 2,028,875; 1,327,374 fit for military service;
107,251 reach military age (18) annually
DEFENSE EXPENDITURES: 1% of GDP, or $115 million (1990 est.)
ECONOMY
OVERVIEW: The economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 25% of
GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports.
Industry accounts for about 20% of GDP and 15% of the labor force. The economy
has reentered a slow-growth phase, but is hampered by political uncertainty.
In 1988 the economy grew by 3.7%, the third consecutive year of mild growth.
Government economic reforms introduced since 1986 have stabilized exchange
rates and have helped to stem inflationary pressures. The inflation rate
has dropped from 36.9% in 1986 to 15% in 1989.
GDP: $10.8 billion, per capita $1,185; real growth rate 1.3% (1989 est.)
LABOR FORCE: 2,500,000; 57.0% agriculture, 14.0% manufacturing, 13.0% services,
7.0% commerce, 4.0% construction, 3.0% transport, 0.8% utilities, 0.4% mining
(1985)
LABOR FORCE, FEMALES: 15.9% ages 15/64
ORGANIZED LABOR: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)
INFLATION RATE (CONSUMER PRICES): 15% (1989)
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 13%, with 30-40% underemployment (1988 est.)
BUDGET: revenues $771 million; expenditures $957 million, including capital
expenditures of $188 million (1988)
EXPORTS: $1.02 billion (f.o.b., 1988); commodities -- coffee 38%, bananas
7%, sugar 7%, cardamom 4%; partners -- US 29%, El Salvador, FRG, Costa Rica,
Italy
IMPORTS: $1.5 billion (c.i.f., 1988); commodities -- fuel and petroleum
products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles; partners -- US
38%, Mexico, FRG, Japan, El Salvador
EXTERNAL DEBT: $3.0 billion (December 1989 est.)
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION: growth rate 3.5% (1988 est.)
ELECTRICITY: 807,000 kW capacity; 2,540 million kWh produced, 280 kWh per
capita (1989)
INDUSTRIES: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,
metals, rubber, tourism
AGRICULTURE: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy and
contributes two-thirds to export earnings; principal crops -- sugarcane,
corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock -- cattle, sheep, pigs,
chickens; food importer
ILLICIT DRUGS: illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international
drug trade; the government has engaged in aerial eradication of opium poppy;
transit country for cocaine shipments
AID: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $869 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $7.7 billion
CURRENCY: quetzal (plural -- quetzales); 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
EXCHANGE RATES: free market quetzales (Q) per US$1 -- 5.181 (March 1991)
3.3913 (January 1990), 2.8261 (1989), 2.6196 (1988), 2.500 (1987), 1.875
(1986), 1.000 (1985); note -- black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989)
FISCAL YEAR: calendar year
MANUFACTURING:
Cigarettes: 2,400,000,000
Sawnwood: 83,000 cubic meters
Paper and Paperboard: 17,000 metric tons
Nitrogen Fertilizer: 10,000 metric tons
Phosphate Fertilizer: 10,000 metric tons
Cement: 790,000 metric tons
Lead: 100 metric tons
ENERGY:
Crude Petroleum: 413,000 metric tons coal equivalent
Motor Gasoline: 172,000 metric tons coal equivalent
Electricity: 216,000 metric tons coal equivalent
Energy Consumption: 197 KWh per capita
AGRICULTURE:
LAND IN AGRICULTURE: 29.7 percent
AGRICULTURAL POPULATION DENSITY: 261 persons per sq km
TOTAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS: 1,270,000
AGRICULTURAL WORKERS: 52.9 percent of work force
AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS: $127,389,000
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS: $882,070,000
FOOD AND ANIMALS IMPORTED: $80,773,000
FOOD AND ANIMALS EXPORTED: $763,432,000
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS:
Cereal: 1,423,000 metric tons
Wheat: 52,000 metric tons
Rice: 59,000 metric tons
Barley: 1,000 metric tons
Maize (Corn): 1,217,000 metric tons
Potatoes: 69,000 metric tons
Cassavas: 10,000 metric tons
Dry Beans: 86,000 metric tons
Soybeans: 29,000 metric tons
Groundnuts: 2,000 metric tons
Fruits: 769,000 metric tons
Vegetables: 317,000 metric tons
Sugar Cane: 7,000,000 metric tons
Bananas: 470,000 metric tons
Plantains: 55,000 metric tons
Coffee: 162,000 metric tons
Cocoa Beans: 2,000 metric tons
Tobacco: 7,000 metric tons
Cotton: 44,000 metric tons
ANIMALS:
Horses: 112,000
Mules: 38,000
Asses: 9,000
Cattle: 2,140,000
Pigs: 875,000
Sheep: 660,000
Goats: 76,000
Chickens: 15,000,000
ANIMAL PRODUCTS:
Total Meat: 128,000 metric tons
Beef: 57,000 metric tons
Mutton and Lamb: 3,000 metric tons
Pig Meat: 14,000 metric tons
Horse Meat: 2,000 metric tons
Poultry: 52,000 metric tons
DAIRY PRODUCTS:
Cow Milk: 366,000 metric tons
Cheese: 16,103 metric tons
Butter and Ghee: 5,000 metric tons
Dry Milk: 1,750 metric tons
MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS:
Fish Catches: 2,100 metric tons
Eggs: 42,800 metric tons
Honey: 3,100 metric tons
AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT:
Agricultural Tractors: 4,140 in use
Harvester-Threshers: 2,950 in use
COMMUNICATIONS
RAILROADS: 870 km 0.914-meter gauge, single track; 780 km government owned,
90 km privately owned
RAIL PASSENGERS: 1,052,000 Passenger-kilometers
RAIL FREIGHT: 495 Ton-kilometers
HIGHWAYS: 26,429 km total; 2,868 km paved, 11,421 km gravel, and 12,140
unimproved
INLAND WATERWAYS: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during high-water season
PIPELINES: crude oil, 275 km
PORTS: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
SHIP CARGO ENTERED: 2,098,000 tons
SHIP CARGO CLEARED: 1,470,000 tons
MERCHANT MARINE: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,129 GRT/6,450
DWT
CIVIL AIR: 10 major transport aircraft
AIRPORTS: 451 total, 391 usable; 11 with permanent-surface runways; none
with runways over 3,659 m; 3 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 19 with runways
1,220-2,439 m
CIVIL AIR TRAFFIC: 2,600,000 passenger km flown
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: fairly modern network centered in Guatemala _city_;
97,670 telephones; stations--91 AM, no FM, 25 TV, 15 shortwave; connection
into Central American Microwave System; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth
station
TELEPHONES: 11 per 1000 persons
TOTAL RADIOS: 550,000
RADIOS: 65 per 1000 persons
TOTAL TELEVISIONS: 315,000
TELEVISIONS: 37 per 1000 persons
TRAVEL
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Passport and visa, or tourist card and proof of citizenship
required. Tourist card issued by consulate or airline for $1, valid 30 days
for single entry, requires proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID. Visa
available from consulate, no charge, valid 5 years, multiple entries, requires
passport, 1 application form and photo. Provide SASE for return of passport
by mail. Length of stay for the visa and tourist card is determined by immigration
authorities upon arrival. For travel by minors and other information contact
Embassy of Guatemala, 2220 R St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 (202/745-4952-4),
or nearest Consulate General: CA (213/482-7676 and 415/781-0118), FL (305/443-4828),
IL (312/332-1587), LA (504/525-0013), NY (212/686-3837) or TX (713/953-9531).
HEALTH: Risk of Malaria in lowlands. Tapwater is not potable. Unwashed raw
foods and undercooked meats are not safe to eat. Because of altitude, the
capital is free of most tropical diseases. Immunizations against hepatitis,
typhoid, polio, and tetanus are recommended for extended stays. Health requirements
change; check latest information.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: 7a. Av. 14-44, Zona 9, Edif La Galeria, Local
19, [Apartado No. 832], Guatemala City; Tel 31-22-35.
TOURIST OFFICES: Guatemala Tourist Commission, Seventh Ave., 1-7 Centro
Civico, Guatemala City; Tel 31-13-33/47. Maya Information Service, 501 Fifth
Ave, Ste. 1611, New York, NY 10017; Tel 212- 490-0766.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING: Spring- or summer-weight clothing is needed most of
the year; woolens are practical November through February.
TELEPHONE: When direct dialing to Guatemala from the U.S., dial 011 (international
access code) + 502 [country code] + (city code) + local number.
TIME: 1 hour behind U.S. Eastern Standard Time, and 6 hours behind Greenwich
Mean Time. No daylight savings time.
ELECTRIC CURRENT: 110V, 60-CYCLES, AC
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day (Jan 1); Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, and
Holy Saturday (variable); Labor Day (May 1); Army Day (Jun 30); Assumption
Day (Aug 15); Independence Day (Sep 15); Revolution Day (Oct 20); All Saint's
Day (Nov 1); Christmas Day (Dec 25).
TOURIST ARRIVALS: 405,000
TOURIST RECEIPTS: $124,000,000
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: Guatemala City--Ixchel Textile Museum, Popular Arts
and Crafts Museum, Mayan art and artifacts at Archaeological museum, National
Palace, archaeological site on edge of city; Antigua--colonial architecture,
shopping in native market; Lake Atitlan--boat ride across lake; Chichicastenango--Mayan
market, local indigenous costumes; Tikal--ruins of Maya city; Huehuetenango--Maya
ruins at Zaculeu.
IMPORTANT!! All requirements/recommendations are subject to change. Be sure
to check latest information.
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