| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Central America and the Caribbean |
| Geographical Location |
15° 30' North Latitude
90° 15' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
108,890 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands |
| Natural Resources |
Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Guatemala |
| Capital City |
Guatemala |
| Government Type |
Constitutional democratic republic |
| 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 Day |
15 September 1821 (from Spain) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
14,655,189 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
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% |
| Religion |
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs |
| Languages |
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.57% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed |
| Industries |
Sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism |
| Labor Force |
3.68 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens |
| Export Commodities |
Coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom |
| Export Partners |
US 55.6%, El Salvador 9.7%, Mexico 3.5% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity |
| Import Partners |
US 33.3%, Mexico 8.5%, South Korea 7.5%, El Salvador 5.2%, China 5%, Venezuela 4% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
886 km |
| Highways |
14,118 km |
| Pipelines |
Oil 480 km (2004) |
| Airports |
452 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Champerico, Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+502 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.gt |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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 conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees. |
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