Guatemala Flags

The flag of Guatemala consists of the colors blue and white which are formed into three proportional, vertical stripes. The blue appears on both the left and the right side, while white is in the middle. At the center of the flag is the Guatemalan coat of arms which consists of the Quetzal bird at the top, two crossed rifles, and two crossed golden swords, a bay laurel crown, and the words Liberdat De 15 Septiembre De 1821 in a scroll. The flag was formally adopted on August 17, 1871.

The color setup of the flag represents the fact that Guatemala is a country positioned amid two oceans, the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans. The white color signifies peace and purity, and the Quetzal bird symbolizes liberty. The laurel crown indicates victory, while the crossed rifles stands for Guatemala's readiness to defend itself by all means including the use of force if the need arises. Crossed swords symbolize honor, and the scrolled words denote Central America's independence from Spain on 15th September 1821.

The Guatemalan flag as it is today was adopted on August 17, 1871, using an Executive Decree during the regime of General Miguel Garcia Granados. However, no record mentions the person or people who designed it.

Throughout history, the Guatemalan Flag has changed, arriving at its present design in the year 1871, with little alterations made on December 26, 1997. As a member of the Federal Republic of Central America, the country used a flag with bands of blue and white as it is today, except they were shaped horizontally from 1825 all through to 1851. Afterwards, red and yellow -the Spanish national colors- were assimilated into the design until 1871, when the current flag was selected. The new flag distinguished itself from those of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Besides, the Guatemalan coat of arms also was remarkably different. It contained as its prime symbol the quetzal, but still the scroll on which the national bird rested contained the date the Central America attained independence on 15th September of 1821.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


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
Learn More	Guatemala

Guatemala Flags

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