products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
1.767 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
1.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - consumption:
10,620 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - imports:
14,230 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
Exports:
$45 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
transshipments of refined petroleum products, construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products
Imports:
$701 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used
Communications ::Guam
Telephones - main lines in use:
65,500 (2009)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
98,000 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for
direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: digital system, including mobile-cellular service and
local access to the Internet
international: country code - 1-671; major landing point for
submarine cables between Asia and the US (Guam is a trans-Pacific
communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia);
satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)
Broadcast media:
about a dozen TV broadcast channels, including digital channels;
multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio
stations broadcasting (2009)
Internet country code:
.gu
Internet hosts:
24 (2010)
Internet users:
90,000 (2009)
Transportation ::Guam
Airports:
5; note - 2 serviceable (2010)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2010)
Roadways:
total: 1,045 km (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Apra Harbor
Military ::Guam
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 37,983
females age 16-49: 36,469 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 1,687
female: 1,597 (2010 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US
Transnational Issues ::Guam
Disputes - international:
none
page last updated on January 3, 2011
======================================================================
@Guatemala (Central America and Caribbean)
Introduction ::Guatemala
Background:
The Mayan 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, by some estimates, some 1 million
refugees.
Geography ::Guatemala
Location:
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El
Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean
Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Geographic coordinates:
15 30 N, 90 15 W
Map references:
Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 108,889 sq km
country comparison to the world: 106
land: 107,159 sq km
water: 1,730 sq km
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:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate:
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain:
mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone
plateau
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: 13.22%
permanent crops: 5.6%
other: 81.18% (2005)
Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
111.3 cu km (2000)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%)
per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms
volcanism: Guatemala experiences significant volcanic activity in
the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m, 12,375 ft) 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 (elev. 2,552 m, 8,373 ft), which erupted in May
2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations,
is one of the country's most active volcanoes; the volcano has
frequently been in eruption since 1965; other historically active
volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana
Environment - current issues:
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
no natural harbors on west coast
People ::Guatemala
Population:
13,550,440 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.4% (male 2,664,058/female 2,573,006)
15-64 years: 56.8% (male 3,655,184/female 3,884,331)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 231,652/female 268,286) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.1 years
female: 20.4 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.019% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Birth rate:
27.4 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
Death rate:
5.04 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Net migration rate:
-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Urbanization:
urban population: 49% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 26.91 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 80
male: 29.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.59 years
country comparison to the world: 142
male: 68.76 years
female: 72.51 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
3.36 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
59,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,900 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic groups:
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)
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages:
Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially
recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel,
Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.1%
male: 75.4%
female: 63.3% (2002 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2007)
Education expenditures:
3.2% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 143
Government ::Guatemala
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:
name: Guatemala City
geographic coordinates: 14 37 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 2010
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; suspended 25 May 1993;
reinstated 5 June 1993; 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; note - active duty members of the armed
forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election
day
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14 January
2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January 2008);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14
January 2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 9 September
2007; runoff held on 4 November 2007 (next to be held in September
2011)
election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent
of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 9 September 2007 (next to be held in
September 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UNE 30.4%, GANA 23.4%,
PP 18.9%, FRG 9.5%, PU 5.1%, other 12.7%; seats by party - UNE 48,
GANA 37, PP 30, FRG 15, PU 8, CASA 5, EG 4, PAN 4, UCN 4, URNG 2, UD
1
Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's
highest court (five judges are elected by Congress for concurrent
five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de
Justicia (13 members are elected by Congress to 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)
Political parties and leaders:
Center of Social Action or CASA [Feliz Adolfo RUANO de Leon];
Democracy Front or FRENTE [Alfonso CABRERA]; Democratic Union or UD
[Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG
[Nineth MONTENGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio
MARTINEZ Lohayza]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG
[Hector Alfredo NUILA Ericastilla]; Guatemalan Republican Front or
FRG [Luis Fernando PEREZ]; Independent Bloc Guatemala or BG [Macario
Efrain OLIVA Muralles]; Independent Democratic Freedom Renewed or
LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan
GUTIERREZ]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Roberto KESTLER
Velasquez]; Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]; Patriot
Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]; Unionista Party or PU
[Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]
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; International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala or
CICIG; Mutual Support Group or GAM
International organization participation:
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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG,
SICA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNITAR,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen G. MCFARLAND
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2326-4000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654
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)
representing liberty 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 signifying
Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed
swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing
victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the
Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and
purity
National anthem:
name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE
note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose
Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest
calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered
until 1911
Economy ::Guatemala
Economy - overview:
Guatemala is the most populous of the Central American countries
with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin
America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for
nearly 15% of GDP and half of the labor force; key agricultural
exports include coffee, sugar, and bananas. The 1996 peace accords,
which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to
foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important
reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Central American Free
Trade Agreement (CAFTA) entered into force in July 2006 spurring
increased investment and diversification of exports, with the
largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural
exports. While CAFTA has helped improve the investment climate,
concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers and poor
infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The
distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest
decile comprising over 40% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More
than half of the population is below the national poverty line and
15% lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which
make up 38% of the population, averages 76% and extreme poverty
rises to 28%. 43% of children under five are chronically
malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world.
President COLOM entered into office with the promise to increase
education, healthcare, and rural development, and in April 2008 he
inaugurated a conditional cash transfer program, modeled after
programs in Brazil and Mexico, that provide financial incentives for
poor families to keep their children in school and get regular
health check-ups. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in
the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central
America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income
equivalent to nearly two-thirds of exports. Economic growth fell in
2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets
fell and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession, but
the economy recovered gradually in 2010 and will likely return to
more normal growth rates by 2012. President COLOM, in his last year
in office, will likely face opposition to economic reform,
particularly over a long-delayed tax reform and an IMF-recommended
reform to strengthen the banking sector. Larger budget deficits and
increased debt can be expected in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$70.31 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$68.8 billion (2009 est.)
$68.39 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$40.77 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
0.6% (2009 est.)
3.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$5,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
$5,200 (2009 est.)
$5,300 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 13.3%
industry: 24.4%
services: 62.3% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
4.26 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 50%
industry: 15%
services: 35% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.2% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Population below poverty line:
56.2% (2004 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 42.4% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
55.1 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 13
55.8 (1998)
Investment (gross fixed):
13.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
Public debt:
29.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
27.9% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
1.9% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2009)
NA% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
13.85% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
13.39% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$6.6 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 79
$6.13 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$25.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$22.9 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$15.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$14.8 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep,
pigs, chickens
Industries:
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum,
metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - production:
8.425 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
Electricity - consumption:
7.115 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - exports:
131.9 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
8.11 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
13,530 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Oil - consumption:
79,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Oil - exports:
21,850 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - imports:
72,440 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Oil - proved reserves:
83.07 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - proved reserves:
2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Current account balance:
-$1.345 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
-$267.4 million (2009 est.)
Exports:
$8.47 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$7.214 billion (2009)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables,
cardamom
Exports - partners:
US 40.41%, El Salvador 11.2%, Honduras 8.48%, Mexico 5.86% (2009)
Imports:
$12.65 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
$11.52 billion (2009)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
grain, fertilizers, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 36.46%, Mexico 10.49%, China 5.88%, El Salvador 5.14% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.709 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
$4.973 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$17.47 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$16.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 8.0798 (2010), 8.1616 (2009), 7.5895
(2008), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006)
Communications ::Guatemala
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.413 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 67
Telephones - mobile cellular:
17.308 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 43
Telephone system:
general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of
Guatemala
domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the
late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity
roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being
concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular
teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 502; landing point for both the
Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber
optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to
South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US;
connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
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 (2007)
Internet country code:
.gt
Internet hosts:
196,870 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 65
Internet users:
2.279 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 72
Transportation ::Guatemala
Airports:
372 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 21
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2010)