Country Profile: Guatemala

Guatemala is a Central American nation known for its rich cultural heritage, including the legacy of the ancient Maya civilization. Situated between the North Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Honduras, it encompasses diverse geographical features, from mountainous highlands to lowland rainforests. The population, estimated at over 18 million, is predominantly young and includes a significant Indigenous majority. The economy is developing, heavily reliant on agriculture and remittances, while social challenges such as poverty and inequality persist. Governance is structured as a presidential republic, with a history of military and civilian administrations.

Geography

Guatemala features a varied landscape, characterized by two mountain ranges that separate the country into three main regions: the highlands, the Pacific coast, and the northern lowlands. The climate is predominantly tropical, with hot and humid conditions in the lowlands and cooler temperatures in the highlands. Natural resources include petroleum, nickel, and hydropower, although the country faces challenges from natural hazards like earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Area: 108,889 sq km (slightly smaller than Pennsylvania)
Elevation: Highest point at 4,220 m (Volcan Tajumulco)
Climate: Tropical with diverse terrain
Natural Hazards: Prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
Natural Resources: Includes petroleum, fish, and hydropower
Population Distribution: Over half live in rural areas

People and Society

The Guatemalan population is approximately 18.3 million, featuring a mix of ethnic groups, with mestizos and Maya forming the largest segments. Spanish is the official language, while a rich array of Maya languages is also spoken. The society is predominantly Christian, with a significant evangelical presence, and the country boasts a relatively young median age of 26.7 years.

Population: 18,255,216 (2024 est.)
Urbanization Rate: 53.1% of the population lives in urban areas
Ethnic Composition: 56% Mestizo, 41.7% Maya
Average Birth Rate: 17.12 births per 1,000 population (2025 est.)
Literacy Rate: 82.1% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy: 73.5 years (2024 est.)

Economy

Guatemala's economy is developing, with steady growth driven largely by remittances. However, it grapples with high poverty rates, low government services, and income inequality. The agricultural sector plays a vital role, contributing to GDP alongside industry and services, with a reliance on exports like bananas and textiles.

GDP (PPP): $232.673 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Growth Rate: 3.7% (2024 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 2.3% (2024 est.)
Remittances Contribution to GDP: 19.1% (2024 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line: 56% (2023 est.)
Gini Index: 45.2 (2023 est.)

Government

Guatemala is a presidential republic with a system of governance divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The country is administratively divided into 22 departments, and civic participation is encouraged through universal suffrage for citizens aged 18 and over. The government has faced various challenges in transparency and stability in recent years.

Capital: Guatemala City
Government Type: Presidential republic
Current President: Bernardo Arévalo de León (since January 2024)
Legislature: Unicameral Congress of the Republic with 160 seats
Constitution: Last adopted in 1985
National Holiday: Independence Day on September 15

Military and Security

The Guatemalan military consists of land, naval, and air forces, tasked primarily with maintaining national security and supporting internal civil police operations. Military expenditure remains low as a percentage of GDP. The country faces various internal security challenges, including gang violence.

Military Expenditure: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Active Personnel: Approximately 20,000 (2025)
Service Obligation: 12-24 months for those aged 18-28
Military Equipment: Primarily aged US equipment
Deployments: 180 personnel in international missions (2025)

Energy

Energy access in Guatemala is high, with nearly the entire population having electricity. The energy mix includes significant contributions from hydroelectric sources as well as fossil fuels and biomass. Challenges remain in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability.

Electricity Access: 99.1% of the population (2022 est.)
Installed Capacity: 4.995 million kW (2023 est.)
Electricity Consumption: 12.222 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Hydroelectric Share: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Petroleum Production: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Environment

Guatemala's environment faces significant challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution. The country is a signatory to numerous international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

Environmental Issues: Deforestation and soil erosion
Urban Population: 53.1% of total population (2023)
Annual Waste: 2.757 million tons generated (2024 est.)
Water Resources: Total renewable water resources of 127.91 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes a mix of air, land, and water routes. While the railway network exists, it is currently non-operational for passenger transport. The country has several airports and a limited merchant marine presence.

Airports: 58 (2025)
Merchant Marine: 9 vessels (2023)
Railways: 800 km (but no active rail service since 2007)
Ports: 3 (including key ports like Puerto Barrios)

Communications

Guatemala's communication landscape features a well-distributed mobile network, with a significant number of mobile phone subscriptions. Internet access is growing but remains below the global average.

Mobile Subscriptions: 20.6 million (2023)
Internet Users: 56% of the population (2023 est.)
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions: 921,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed Line Subscriptions: 1.94 million (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	18,255,216 (2024 est.)
Area	108,889 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$232.673 billion (2024)
Unemployment Rate	2.3% (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	73.5 years (2024 est.)
Literacy Rate	82.1% (2024 est.)
Military Expenditure	0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Electricity Access	99.1% (2022 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line	56% (2023 est.)
Remittances Contribution to GDP	19.1% (2024 est.)