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.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
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
land: 107,159 sq km
water: 1,730 sq km
comparison ranking: total 107
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 1,667 km
border countries (4): Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 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
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
Elevation
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 759 m
Natural resources
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land: 43% (2022 est.)
arable land: 14.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 32.7% (2022 est.)
other: 24.3% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
3,375 sq km (2012)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal – 590 sq km
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
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), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, 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 – 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, a belt of active volcanoes and earthquake epicenters bordering the Pacific Ocean; up to 90% of the world’s earthquakes and some 75% of the world’s volcanoes occur within the Ring of Fire
People and Society
Population
total: 18,255,216 (2024 est.)
male: 9,050,684
female: 9,204,532
comparison rankings: total 69; female 70; male 68
Nationality
noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan
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.)
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.)
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.
note: the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna
Spanish audio sample:
Religions
Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 31.5% (male 2,925,079/female 2,819,927)
15-64 years: 63.2% (male 5,688,500/female 5,839,958)
65 years and over: 5.4% (2024 est.) (male 437,105/female 544,647)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 58.3 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 49.8 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.7 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 24.8 years (2024 est.)
male: 24.2 years
female: 25.4 years
comparison ranking: total 174
Population growth rate
1.49% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 64
Birth rate
21.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 59
Death rate
4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 200
Net migration rate
-1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 161
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
Urbanization
urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
20.6 years (2014/15 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
96 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 70
Infant mortality rate
total: 25 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 28.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.7 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 59
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.5 years (2024 est.)
male: 71.5 years
female: 75.6 years
comparison ranking: total population 149
Total fertility rate
2.52 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 70
Gross reproduction rate
1.23 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
60.6% (2014/15)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 97.9% of population
rural: 92.2% of population
total: 95% of population
unimproved:
urban: 2.1% of population
rural: 8% of population
total: 5% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
6.9% of GDP (2021)
16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Hospital bed density
0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 90.4% of population
rural: 66.3% of population
total: 78.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 9.6% of population
rural: 33.7% of population
total: 21.2% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
21.2% (2016)
comparison ranking: 92
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 135
Tobacco use
total: 11.8% (2025 est.)
male: 22.5% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 115
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
14.4% (2021/22)
comparison ranking: 34
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
57.2% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 6.2% (2015)
women married by age 18: 29.5% (2015)
men married by age 18: 9.6% (2015)
Education expenditure
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
18.9% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 146
Literacy
total population: 83% (2022 est.)
male: 88.4% (2022 est.)
female: 78.6% (2022 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 11 years
male: 11 years
female: 10 years (2019)
Environment
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, 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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Land use
agricultural land: 43% (2022 est.)
arable land: 14.5% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 17.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 32.7% (2022 est.)
other: 24.3% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 20.75 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 16.78 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 10.7 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 2,756,741 tons (2015 est.)
Major lakes (area sq km)
fresh water lake(s): Lago de Izabal – 590 sq km
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 840 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.89 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
127.91 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: República de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala
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 type
presidential 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)
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”
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
Legal system
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
Constitution
history: several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years with no absences of six consecutive months or longer or absences totaling more than a year
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; note – active duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day
Executive branch
chief of state: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
head of government: President Bernardo ARÉVALO de León (since 15 January 2024)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
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)
most recent election date: 25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023
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%
expected date of next election: June 2027
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Legislative branch
legislature name: Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 160 (all directly elected)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 6/25/2023
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)
percentage of women in chamber: 20%
expected date of next election: June 2027
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)
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
subordinate courts: Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts
note 1: the Supreme Court of Justice president also supervises trial judges countrywide
note 2: the Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad of Guatemala resides outside the country’s judicial system; its sole purpose is the interpretation of the constitution and to see that the laws and regulations are not superior to the constitution (consists of 5 titular magistrates and 5 substitute magistrates)
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Hugo Eduardo BETETA (since 17 June 2024)
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4953
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://estadosunidos.minex.gob.gt/home/home.aspx
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
consulate(s): Dallas, Del Rio (TX), Lake Worth (FL), McAllen (TX), Riverhead (NY), San Bernardino (CA), Tucson (AZ)
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Tobin BRADLEY (since 12 February 2024)
embassy: Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City
mailing address: 3190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC 20521-3190
telephone: [502] 2354-0000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://gt.usembassy.gov/
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
Independence
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
National holiday
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
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 with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain); a pair of crossed rifles on the coat of arms signify Guatemala’s willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords represent honor; framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and the white for peace and purity
note: one of two national flags featuring a firearm; the other is Mozambique
National symbol(s)
quetzal (bird)
National color(s)
blue, white
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
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
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)
Economy
Economic overview
developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$224.556 billion (2023 est.)
$216.906 billion (2022 est.)
$208.163 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 73
Real GDP growth rate
3.53% (2023 est.)
4.2% (2022 est.)
8% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 95
Real GDP per capita
$12,400 (2023 est.)
$12,200 (2022 est.)
$11,800 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 138
GDP (official exchange rate)
$104.45 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (2024 est.)
6.2% (2023 est.)
6.9% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 92
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 9.8% (2023 est.)
industry: 22.3% (2023 est.)
services: 61.3% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 81; industry 125; agriculture 78
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 87.4% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 11.2% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 16.2% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.3% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 16.6% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -31.6% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Industrial production growth rate
1.66% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 116
Labor force
7.575 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 67
Unemployment rate
2.2% (2024 est.)
2.3% (2023 est.)
3.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 22
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 4.2% (2024 est.)
male: 4% (2024 est.)
female: 4.7% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 175
Population below poverty line
59.3% (2014 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
48.3 (2014 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 14
Average household expenditures
on food: 35.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.7% (2014 est.)
highest 10%: 38% (2014 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
19.13% of GDP (2023 est.)
19.04% of GDP (2022 est.)
17.82% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $15.09 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $15.376 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
31.56% of GDP (2020 est.)
note: central government debt as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 165
Taxes and other revenues
11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 167
Current account balance
$3.255 billion (2023 est.)
$1.197 billion (2022 est.)
$1.89 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 38
Exports
$17.329 billion (2023 est.)
$18.141 billion (2022 est.)
$15.246 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 94
Exports – partners
USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$33.035 billion (2023 est.)
$33.939 billion (2022 est.)
$27.343 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 76
Imports – partners
USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$23.834 billion (2024 est.)
$21.311 billion (2023 est.)
$20.415 billion (2022 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 56
Debt – external
$11.862 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 46
Exchange rates
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
7.759 (2024 est.)
7.832 (2023 est.)
7.748 (2022 est.)
7.734 (2021 est.)
7.722 (2020 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 99.1% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 97.7%
electrification – rural areas: 98.2%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 117; imports 71; exports 68; consumption 98; installed generating capacity 91
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
geothermal: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 20 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
18.546 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 2.31 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 16.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 92
Energy consumption per capita
17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 135
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 1.94 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 11 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 51
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 20.6 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 115 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 64
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)
Internet country code
.gt
Internet users
percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 921,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 79
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
TG
Airports
58 (2025)
comparison ranking: 79
Heliports
2 (2025)
comparison ranking: 123
Railways
total: 800 km (2018)
narrow gauge: 800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge
note: despite the existence of a railway network, all rail service was suspended in 2007 and no passenger or freight train currently runs in the country (2018)
Merchant marine
total: 9 (2023)
by type: oil tanker 1, other 8
comparison ranking: total 162
Ports
total ports: 3 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 2
very small: 1
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla
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)
note: the National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil or PNC) are under the Ministry of Government (Interior)
Military expenditures
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military is lightly armed with an inventory mostly comprised of older US equipment; in recent years, Guatemala has received small amounts of equipment from several countries, including Colombia, Spain, and the US (2024)
Military service age and obligation
all male citizens 18-50 are eligible for military service; most of the force is volunteer; a selective draft system is employed, resulting in a small portion of 17-21 year-olds being conscripted; conscript service obligation varies from 12-24 months; women may volunteer (2023)
Military deployments
180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)
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)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 242,000 (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2022)
Illicit drugs
a major transit country for illegal drugs; illicit cultivation of opium poppies, marijuana, and coca plants in rural areas; a major source of precursor or essential chemicals used in the production of illicit narcotics
