World Atlas: Guatemala. On this page you can see the map, country flag and many detailed information about the people, history and economy of Guatemala.
Here you can find online selected information about the geography, inhabitants, government, economy and history of Guatemala. Included are selected statistics, an overview map and the detailed map of Guatemala. But let's start with the flag of Guatemala here:
Guatemala - Overview:
What you should know about Guatemala? Let's start with this: 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, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
Geography of Guatemala
Where on the globe is Guatemala? The location of this country is Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize. Total area of Guatemala is 108,889 sq km, of which 107,159 sq km is land. So this is not a large country. How could we describe the terrain of the country? This way: 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. The lowest point of Guatemala is Pacific Ocean 0 m, the highest point Volcan Tajumulco 4,220 m (highest point in Central America). And the climate is tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands.
Inhabitants of Guatemala
Let's take a look how many people live in Guatemala. The number is: 15,460,732 (July 2017 est.). So this is not very populous country. Who lives here? mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 60.1%, Maya 39.3% (K'iche 11.3%, Q'eqchi 7.6%, Kaqchikel 7.4%, Mam 5.5%, other 7.5%), non-Maya, non-mestizo 0.15% (Xinca (indigenous, non-Maya), Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak)), other 0.5% (2001 est.). What are the languages in Guatemala? Spanish (official) 68.9%, Maya languages 30.9% (K'iche 8.7%, Q'eqchi 7%, Mam 4.6%, Kaqchikel 4.3%, other 6.3%), other 0.3% (includes Xinca and Garifuna). And the religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs. How old are the people in average? 22.1 years. We have to add that this number is the median - so one half of the people is older than this, one half is younger. And what is their life expectancy (at birth)? This: 72.6 years. Where the people live in Guatemala? Here: 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. The major urban areas of Guatemala are: Guatemala CITY (capital) 2.918 million (2015).
Government and Economy of Guatemala
The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City and the government type presidential republic. Let's take a look at the 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. Regarding the economy of Guatemala, important industrial products are sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism. Important agricultural products are sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens. The most important export commodities are sugar, coffee, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom, manufacturing products, precious stones and metals, electricity and the most important export partners are US 34%, El Salvador 11.5%, Honduras 7.1%, Nicaragua 6%, Costa Rica 4.5%, Mexico 4.3% (2016). The most important import commodities are fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products and the most important import partners are US 38.1%, Mexico 11%, China 9.9%, El Salvador 5%, Panama 4.2% (2016). How rich is Guatemala and how rich are people in this country? The most important number here is GDP per capita (PPP): $8,200 (2017 est.). This is quite a low number. Let's add that this means Gross Domestic Product per person, which is recalculated with respect to the relative cost of local goods and services. And one more important number - population below poverty line: 59.3% (2014 est.).