Guatemala

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.

Land

107,159 sq km

Total

108,889 sq km

Water

1,730 sq km

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

400 km

North America

Highest point

Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m

Lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

759 m

15 30 N, 90 15 W

<strong>note 1:</strong> despite having both eastern and western coastlines (Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean), there are no natural harbors on the west coast <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Guatemala is one of the countries along the Ring of Fire, which is a belt bordering the Pacific Ocean that contains about 75% of the world's volcanoes and up to 90% of the world's earthquakes

3,375 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Belize 266 km; El Salvador 199 km; Honduras 244 km; Mexico 958 km

number of neighbors

4

Total

1,667 km

Agricultural land

43% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 14.5% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 11% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 17.5% (2023 est.)

arable land

14.5%

Forest

33.2% (2023 est.)

Other

23.7% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

11.04%

No

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Fresh water lake(s)

Lago de Izabal - 590 sq km

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/JoRAbem4Hxb9FYbVA

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1521463

Central America and the Caribbean

Continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> 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) 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"

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

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

Central America

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

UTC-06:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

0.9 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

0.68 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

1.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

17.12 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

9.6% (2015)

Women married by age 15

6.2% (2015)

Women married by age 18

29.5% (2015)

46%

14.4% (2021 est.)

56.2% (2018 est.)

4.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

123 per 1,000

adult male

202 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

8.5 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

11.7 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

58.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

49.8 (2024 est.)

improved total

48.79%

Improved: rural

rural: 91% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 94.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 5.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

17.3% national budget (2025 est.)

3 % of GDP

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.)

0.96 (2025 est.)

7 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

6.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

16.9% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.13%

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

21.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

28.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

10 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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)

<br>La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the 2003 Law of National Languages officially recognized 23 indigenous languages, including 21 Maya languages, Xinca, and Garifuna

number of languages

1

Female

75.6 years

Male

71.5 years

Total population

73.5 years (2024 est.)

Female

78.5% (2024 est.)

Male

86.9% (2024 est.)

Total population

82.1% (2024 est.)

3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)

94 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

25.4 years

Male

24.2 years

Total

26.7 years (2025 est.)

20.6 years (2014/15 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Guatemalan

Noun

Guatemalan(s)

-2.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

21.2% (2016)

1.28 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Female

9,204,532

Male

9,050,684

Total

18,255,216 (2024 est.)

0.99% (2025 est.)

Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 68.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 80.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 91.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 31.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 19.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 8.6% of population (2022 est.)

Female

11 years (2023 est.)

Male

10 years (2023 est.)

Total

11 years (2023 est.)

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

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.5% (2025 est.)

Male

22.5% (2025 est.)

Total

11.8% (2025 est.)

1.97 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

2.59% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

53.1% of total population (2023)

measles

90%

22 departments (<em>departamentos</em>, singular - <em>departamento</em>); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepéquez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Sololá, Suchitepéquez, Totonicapán, Zacapa

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"&nbsp;

Geographic coordinates

14 37 N, 90 31 W

Name

Guatemala City

Time difference

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gt.svg

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

History

several previous; latest adopted 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended and reinstated in 1994

alternative spellings

GT

Conventional long form

Republic of Guatemala

Conventional 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"

FIFA code

GUA

Local long form

Rep&uacute;blica de Guatemala

local long form (spa)

República de Guatemala

Local short form

Guatemala

Chief of mission

Ambassador Tobin BRADLEY (since 12 February 2024)

Email address and website

<br>AmCitsGuatemala@state.gov<br><br>https://gt.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Boulevard Austriaco 11-51, Zone 16, Guatemala City

FAX

[502] 2326-4654

Mailing address

3190 Guatemala Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-3190

Telephone

[502] 2354-0000

Chancery

2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Hugo Eduardo&nbsp;BETETA (since 17 June 2024)

Consulate(s)

Dallas, Del Rio (TX), Lake Worth (FL), McAllen (TX), Riverhead (NY), San Bernardino (CA), Tucson (AZ)

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

Email address and website

<br>embestadosunidos@minex.gob.gt<br><br>https://estadosunidos.minex.gob.gt/home/home.aspx

FAX

[1] (202) 745-1908

Telephone

[1] (202) 745-4953

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Chief of state

President Bernardo AR&Eacute;VALO de Le&oacute;n (since 15 January 2024)

Election results

<em><br>2023:</em> 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%<br><em><br>2019:</em> 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%

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)

Expected date of next election

June 2027

Head of government

President Bernardo AR&Eacute;VALO de Le&oacute;n (since 15 January 2024)

Most recent election date

25 June 2023, with a runoff on 20 August 2023

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> three equal vertical bands of light blue (left 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), a scroll with the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain), a pair of crossed rifles, and a pair of crossed swords; a laurel wreath frames the objects<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the rifles stand for Guatemala's willingness to defend itself, the swords for honor, and the laurel wreath for victory; blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and white for peace and purity

note

<strong>note:</strong> one of two national flags featuring a firearm -- the other is Mozambique

The flag of Guatemala is composed of three equal vertical bands of light blue, white and light blue, with the national coat of arms centered in the white band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/gt.svg

presidential republic

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

Note

<strong>note 1: </strong>the Supreme Court of Justice president also supervises trial judges countrywide<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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)

Subordinate courts

Appellate Courts of Accounts, Contentious Administrative Tribunal, courts of appeal, first instance courts, child and adolescence courts, minor or peace courts

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Electoral system

mixed system

Expected date of next election

June 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la República)

Most recent election date

6/25/2023

Number of seats

160 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

blue, white

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)

Total World Heritage Sites

4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

quetzal (bird)

Bienestar Nacional or BIEN<br>Blue Party (Partido Azul) or Blue<br>CABAL<br>Cambio<br>Citizen Prosperity or PC<br>Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO<br>Elephant Community (Comunidad Elefante) or Elephant<br>Everyone Together for Guatemala or TODOS<br>Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG-MAIZ or URNG<br>Humanist Party of Guatemala or PHG<br>Movement for the Liberation of Peoples or MLP<br>Movimiento Semilla or SEMILLA<br>National Advancement Party or PAN<br>National Convergence Front or FCN-NACION<br>National Unity for Hope or UNE<br>Nationalist Change Union or UCN (dissolved 16 December 2021)<br>Nosotros or PPN<br>PODEMOS<br>Political Movement Winaq or Winaq<br>TODOS<br>Value or VALOR<br>Vamos por una Guatemala Diferente or VAMOS<br>Victory or VICTORIA<br>Vision with Values or VIVA<br>Will, Opportunity and Solidarity (Voluntad, Oportunidad y Solidaridad) or VOS

Monday

18 years of age; universal

note

<strong>note:</strong> active-duty members of the armed forces and police by law cannot vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Yes

sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

1.3% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

35.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$17.349 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$16.603 billion (2023 est.)

code

GTQ

name

Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ) [Q]

$3.27 billion

Current account balance 2022

$1.116 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$3.212 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$3.333 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$27.06 billion

Debt - external 2023

$11.862 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

7.722 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

7.734 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

7.748 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

7.832 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

7.759 (2024 est.)

$17.99 billion

Exports 2022

$18.141 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$17.342 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$17.997 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$1.85 billion

Exports of goods and services

15.9% (2024 est.)

Government consumption

10.9% (2024 est.)

Household consumption

88% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-31.5% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

16.1% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories

0.6% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

9.8% (2024 est.)

Industry

21.7% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

61.8% (2024 est.)

$113.2 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$6,150

48.3 (2014)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023

45.2 (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$111.61 billion

$5,780

17 % of GDP

Highest 10%

34.1% (2023 est.)

Lowest 10%

1.6% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$35.6 billion

Imports 2022

$33.943 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$33.056 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$35.576 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

2.87%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.9% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

6.2% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

7.575 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

7.68 million persons

agriculture

29.05%

industry

22.71%

services

48.23%

56% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2020

31.56% of GDP (2020 est.)

$264.47 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$216.815 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$224.475 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$232.673 billion (2024 est.)

3.65%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.7% (2024 est.)

$14,369

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$12,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$12,400 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$12,600 (2024 est.)

$21.64 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

19% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

19.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

19.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$24.41 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$20.415 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$21.311 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$24.412 billion (2024 est.)

13 % of GDP

12 % of GDP

11.6% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

2.6%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

2.4% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.3% (2024 est.)

Female

4.7% (2024 est.)

Male

4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

4.2% (2024 est.)

Consumption

1.012 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

20 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

808,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

670 kWh

Exports

1.104 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

1.573 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

4.995 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

1.716 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

98.2%

Electrification - total population

99.1% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

97.7%

Biomass and waste

25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Geothermal

2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

43.66%

Hydroelectricity

42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

60.66%

Solar

1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

888 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

17.096 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

2.016 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

86.11 million barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

117,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

62.1%

per 100 inhabitants

5 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2023 est.)

Total

921,000 (2023 est.)

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)

.gt

Percent of population

56% (2023 est.)

#####

+502

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.94 million (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100

114 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

20.6 million (2023 est.)

passengers carried

221,478 passengers

registered carrier departures

1,666 departures

58 (2025)

TG

Right

2 (2025)

By type

oil tanker 1, other 8

Total

9 (2023)

Key ports

Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

2

Small

2

Total ports

3 (2024)

Very small

1

Narrow gauge

800 km (2018) 0.914-m gauge

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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)

Total

800 km (2018)

GCA

armored vehicles

tanks

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<br><br>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)

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)

active duty personnel

43,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the National Civil Police (Policia Nacional Civil or PNC) are under the Ministry of Government (Interior)

percent of total labor force

0.64 %

approximately 20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

180 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) (2025)

the military is lightly armed with an inventory mostly comprised of ageing US equipment; in recent years, the US has provided additional secondhand equipment (2025)

0 % of GDP

current USD

$415,185,334

Military Expenditures 2020

0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

2.72 %

percent of GDP

0.37 % of GDP

18-28 for voluntary service for men and women (17-21 for military schools); all Guatemalan men 18-49 are subject to selective compulsory service; service obligation is 12-24 months (2025)

PowerIndex score

2.1277

USG identification

<br>major illicit drug-producing and/or drug-transit country<br><br>major precursor-chemical producer (2025)

IDPs

572,813 (2024 est.)

Refugees

4,676 (2024 est.)

La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)

note

<strong>note:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

From coal and metallurgical coke

2.31 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

16.232 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

18.546 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

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

21.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

10 % of total land area

18 % of total

127.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

3 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.886 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

603.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

835 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

2.757 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

10.4% (2022 est.)