Guatemala

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Guatemala's Information


Capital	Guatemala City
Languages	Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%
Ethnic Groups	Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)
Religion	Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Area	108,889.00 km²
Water Area	1,730.00 km²
Land Area	107,159.00 km²
Population	15,189,958.00 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
Location	Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
No. Bordering Countries	4
Bordering Countries	Belize 266 km, El Salvador 199 km, Honduras 244 km, Mexico 958 km
GDP(PPP)	$132,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$7,900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are the United States and El Salvador.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are sugar, coffee, and petroleum.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United States, Mexico, and China.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, and grain.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain	Mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Where is Guatemala?

Located in Central America, Guatemala has a 1,667.00 km border with Belize (266 km), El Salvador (199 km), Honduras (244 km) and Mexico (958 km). It has a 400.00 km coastline. Guatemala is currently involved in land disputes in both Belize and the Caribbean Sea.

The capital city of Guatemala is Guatemala City, which is located in the southeastern region of the country. Guatemala became the capital city in 1776 after an earthquake destroyed the previous city. Guatemala City is the most populous city in Central America. The city area has a population of 2,400,000 people while the metropolitan area has 2,700,000 residents. The city has great tourist attractions and sites ranging from gourmet restaurants, museums displaying Mayan culture, palaces built during the colonial era among other things. The city experiences two climatic seasons: the wet season and the dry season. The rains start from May to October while the dry months are from November to April. The dry months are good for outdoor activities when visiting Guatemala City.

Geography

Guatemala has a mean elevation of 759 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate that is hot and humid in the lowlands and cooler in the highlands. Its terrain is mostly mountainous with a rolling limestone plateau.

Population

Guatemala has a population of 15,189,958 making it the 70th largest in the world. The majority of the population resides in the southern half of the country.

Spanish and Amerindian languages both spoken. Major ethnic groups reported include Mestizo and European. The majority of the country identifies as Roman Catholic, Protestant, or with indigenous Mayan beliefs.

The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. Apart from Spanish, the people of Guatemala speak 21 Mayan languages, two indigenous languages, and the Arawakan group of language. The minority languages are spoken in different parts of the country. The two indigenous languages, Garifuna and Xinca, are spoken by very few people and are near extinction.

Government

Guatemala is an independent country. It gained independence from Spain in 1821. Its constitution was last ratified in 1986.

The Republic of Guatemala has a democratic type of government headed by a president and deputy president. The country has a unicameral parliament made up of 158 members. The constitution of 1985 divided the power into three arms of the government, which include the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. The president and his deputy both have their official residence is Guatemalan National Palace. The general elections are held after four years, and the president can serve for only one term. The deputy president, on the other hand, can only vie for the presidential seat after four years from the time they were in office as deputy president.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Guatemala's GDP is $132,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $7,900.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 78th largest economy and its citizens the 147th richest in the world. The currency of Guatemala is the Quetzal (GTQ).

Its major export partners are the United States and El Salvador. Its main exports are sugar, coffee, and petroleum. Its major import partners are the United States, Mexico, and China. Its major imports include fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, and grain.

Flag

The Guatemalan flag, otherwise known as the Pabellón Nacional or Azuliblanco, has officially been used since 1871 before which the country used the flag of the Republic of Central America. The current design has blue on two different sides symbolizing the oceans surrounding the country, and white in the middle as a symbol of peace, all aligned horizontally. The coat of arms is made up of a scroll with the date of independence, two firearms, two swords, the laurel crown, and the national bird. Besides Mozambique, the Guatemalan flag is the only flag that uses firearms in its coat of arms among the United Nations member states.