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Population: 12.6 million
0-14 years: 43%
15-64 years old: 53%
65 and over: 4%
Life Expectancy: 65
years
Adult Literacy: 55%
Infant Mortality: 52.2
deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)
Fertility Rate: 5 children
born/woman
Currency: 1 quetzal (Q)
= 100 centavos
Exchange rates: quetzals
(Q) per US$1 - 7.8829 (January 2000), 7.3856 (1999), 6.3947
(1998), 6.0653 (1997), 6.0495 (1996), 5.8103 (1995)
Languages: Spanish 60%,
Indian language 40% (23 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Commodities: coffee,
sugar, bananas, cardamom, beef, textiles and clothing,
furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
Literacy Rate: 55.6% of
population can read
Population Below Poverty Line:
75%
Religions: Roman Catholic,
Protestant, traditional Mayan
Location: Middle America,
bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and
bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and
Mexico
Climate: tropical; hot,
humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands (like Guatemala City)
Current Issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; Hurricane Mitch
damage
Natural Hazards: numerous
volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms
Natural Resources:
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle (gum extract)
Legal System: civil law
system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE
SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from
Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair
of crossed swords and framed by a wreath
Drug Issues: transit
country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer of opium poppy
and cannabis for the international drug trade; the government
has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy History:
Mayan Civilization before 1500's
Conquered by Spanish in 1524
Established Republic in 1839
36 year civil war ended in 1996 leaving 200,000 dead and
1million refugees
In 2000 signed a free trade agreement with Mexico and Honduras |
