2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Guatemala 
  n  :  a  republic  in  Central  America;  noted  for  low  per  capita 
  income  and  illiteracy;  politically  unstable  [syn:  {Guatemala}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Guatemala 
 
  Guatemala:Geography 
 
  Location:  Middle  America,  bordering  the  Caribbean  Sea,  between 
  Honduras  and  Belize  and  bordering  the  North  Pacific  Ocean,  between  El 
  Salvador  and  Mexico 
 
  Map  references:  Central  America  and  the  Caribbean 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  108,890  sq  km 
  land  area:  108,430  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  smaller  than  Tennessee 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,687  km  Belize  266  km  El  Salvador  203  km 
  Honduras  256  km  Mexico  962  km 
 
  Coastline:  400  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  continental  shelf:  200-m  depth  or  to  the  depth  of  exploitation 
  exclusive  economic  zone:  200  nm 
  territorial  sea:  12  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  border  with  Belize  in  dispute;  talks  to 
  resolve  the  dispute  are  stalled 
 
  Climate:  tropical;  hot,  humid  in  lowlands;  cooler  in  highlands 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  mountains  with  narrow  coastal  plains  and  rolling 
  limestone  plateau  (Peten) 
 
  Natural  resources:  petroleum,  nickel,  rare  woods,  fish,  chicle 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  12% 
  permanent  crops:  4% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  12% 
  forest  and  woodland:  40% 
  other:  32% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  780  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  deforestation;  soil  erosion;  water  pollution 
  natural  hazards:  numerous  volcanoes  in  mountains,  with  frequent 
  violent  earthquakes;  Caribbean  coast  subject  to  hurricanes  and  other 
  tropical  storms 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Antarctic  Treaty,  Endangered 
  Species,  Environmental  Modification,  Marine  Dumping,  Nuclear  Test  Ban, 
  Ozone  Layer  Protection,  Wetlands;  signed,  but  not  ratified  - 
  Antarctic-Environmental  Protocol,  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change, 
  Hazardous  Wastes,  Law  of  the  Sea 
 
  Note:  no  natural  harbors  on  west  coast 
 
  Guatemala:People 
 
  Population:  10,998,602  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  43%  (female  2,324,041;  male  2,424,686) 
  15-64  years:  53%  (female  2,939,170;  male  2,934,334) 
  65  years  and  over:  4%  (female  198,807;  male  177,564)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  2.53%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  34.65  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  7.33  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  -2.04  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  52.2  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  64.85  years 
  male:  62.27  years 
  female:  67.56  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  4.63  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Guatemalan(s) 
  adjective:  Guatemalan 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  Mestizo  -  mixed  Amerindian-Spanish  ancestry  (in 
  local  Spanish  called  Ladino)  56%,  Amerindian  or  predominently 
  Amerindian  44% 
 
  Religions:  Roman  Catholic,  Protestant,  traditional  Mayan 
 
  Languages:  Spanish  60%,  Indian  language  40%  (23  Indian  dialects, 
  including  Quiche,  Cakchiquel,  Kekchi) 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990  est.) 
  total  population:  55% 
  male:  63% 
  female:  47% 
 
  Labor  force:  3.2  million  (1994  est.) 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  60%,  services  13%,  manufacturing  12%, 
  commerce  7%,  construction  4%,  transport  3%,  utilities  0.7%,  mining 
  0.3%  (1985) 
 
  Guatemala:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Guatemala 
  conventional  short  form:  Guatemala 
  local  long  form:  Republica  de  Guatemala 
  local  short  form:  Guatemala 
 
  Digraph:  GT 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Guatemala 
 
  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 
 
  Independence:  15  September  1821  (from  Spain) 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  15  September  (1821) 
 
  Constitution:  31  May  1985,  effective  14  January  1986 
  note:  suspended  25  May  1993  by  President  SERRANO  reinstated  5  June 
  1993  following  ouster  of  president 
 
  Legal  system:  civil  law  system;  judicial  review  of  legislative  acts 
  has  not  accepted  compulsory  ICJ  jurisdiction 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  President  Ramiro  DE  LEON  Carpio 
  (since  6  June  1993);  Vice  President  Arturo  HERBRUGER  (since  18  June 
  1993);  election  runoff  held  on  11  January  1991  (next  to  be  held 
  November  1995);  results  -  Jorge  SERRANO  Elias  (MAS)  68.1%,  Jorge 
  CARPIO  Nicolle  (UCN)  31.9% 
  note:  President  SERRANO  resigned  on  1  June  1993  shortly  after 
  dissolving  Congress  and  the  judiciary;  on  6  June  1993,  Ramiro  DE  LEON 
  Carpio  was  chosen  as  the  new  president  by  a  vote  of  Congress;  he  will 
  finish  off  the  remainder  of  SERRANO's  term  which  expires  14  January 
  1996 
  cabinet:  Council  of  Ministers;  named  by  the  president 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral 
  Congress  of  the  Republic  (Congreso  de  la  Republica):  by  agreement  of 
  11  November  1993,  a  special  election  was  held  on  14  August  1994  to 
  select  80  new  congressmen  (next  election  to  be  held  in  November  1995 
  for  full  four  year  terms);  results  -  percent  of  vote  by  party;  FRG 
  40%,  PAN  31.25%,  DCG  15%,  UCN  10%,  MLN  2.5%,  UD  1.25%;  seats  -  (80 
  total)  FRG  32,  PAN  25,  DCG  12,  UCN  8,  MLN  2,  UD  1 
  note:  on  11  November  1993  the  congress  approved  a  procedure  that  would 
  reduce  its  membership  from  116  seats  to  80;  the  procedure  provided  for 
  a  special  election  in  mid-1994  to  elect  an  interim  congress  of  80 
  members  to  serve  until  replaced  in  a  general  election  in  November 
  1995;  the  plan  was  approved  in  a  general  referendum  in  January  1994 
  and  the  special  election  was  held  on  14  August  1994 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court  of  Justice  (Corte  Suprema  de  Justicia); 
  additionally  the  Court  of  Constitutionality  is  presided  over  by  the 
  President  of  the  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  National  Centrist  Union  (UCN), 
  (vacant);  Solidarity  Action  Movement  (MAS),  Oliverio  GARCIA  Rodas; 
  Christian  Democratic  Party  (DCG),  Alfonso  CABRERA  Hidalgo;  National 
  Advancement  Party  (PAN),  Alvaro  ARZU  Irigoyen  National  Liberation 
  Movement  (MLN),  Mario  SANDOVAL  Alarcon  Social  Democratic  Party  (PSD), 
  Mario  SOLORZANO  Martinez;  Revolutionary  Party  (PR),  Carlos  CHAVARRIA 
  Perez;  Guatemalan  Republican  Front  (FRG),  Efrain  RIOS  Montt; 
  Democratic  Union  UD 
 
  Other  political  or  pressure  groups:  Coordinating  Committee  of 
  Agricultural,  Commercial,  Industrial,  and  Financial  Associations 
  (CACIF);  Mutual  Support  Group  (GAM);  Agrarian  Owners  Group  (UNAGRO); 
  Committee  for  Campesino  Unity  (CUC);  leftist  guerrilla  movement  known 
  as  Guatemalan  National  Revolutionary  Union  (URNG)  has  four  main 
  factions  -  Guerrilla  army  of  the  Poor  (EGP);  Revolutionary 
  Organization  of  the  People  in  Arms  (ORPA);  Rebel  Armed  Forces  (FAR); 
  Guatemalan  Labor  Party  (PGT/O) 
 
  Member  of:  BCIE,  CACM,  CCC,  ECLAC  FAO,  G-24,  G-77,  GATT,  IADB,  IAEA, 
  IBRD,  ICAO,  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO, 
  INTELSAT,  INTERPOL,  IOC,  IOM,  ITU,  LAES,  LAIA  (observer),  NAM,  OAS, 
  OPANAL  PCA,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO,  UNIDO  UNU,  UPU,  WCL,  WFTU  WHO 
  WIPO,  WMO,  WTO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Edmond  MULET 
  chancery:  2220  R  Street  NW  Washington,  DC  20008 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  745-4952  through  4954 
  FAX:  [1]  (202)  745-1908 
  consulate(s)  general:  Chicago,  Houston,  Los  Angeles,  Miami,  New  York, 
  and  San  Francisco 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  Ambassador  Marilyn  McAFEE 
  embassy:  7-01  Avenida  de  la  Reforma,  Zone  10,  Guatemala  City 
  mailing  address:  APO  AA  34024 
  telephone:  [502]  (2)  311541 
  FAX:  [502]  (2)  318885 
 
  Flag:  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 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  The  economy  is  based  on  family  and  corporate  agriculture, 
  which  accounts  for  25%  of  GDP,  employs  about  60%  of  the  labor  force, 
  and  supplies  two-thirds  of  exports.  Manufacturing,  predominantly  in 
  private  hands,  accounts  for  about  15%  of  GDP  and  12%  of  the  labor 
  force.  In  both  1990  and  1991,  the  economy  grew  by  3%,  the  fourth  and 
  fifth  consecutive  years  of  mild  growth.  In  1992  growth  picked  up  to 
  almost  5%  as  government  policies  favoring  competition  and  foreign 
  trade  and  investment  took  stronger  hold  In  1993-94,  despite  political 
  unrest,  this  momentum  continued,  foreign  investment  held  up  and 
  annual  growth  was  4%. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $33  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  4%  (1994  est.) 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $3,080  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  12%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  4.9%;  underemployment  30%-40%  (1994  est.) 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $604  million  (1990) 
  expenditures:  $808  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $134 
  million  (1990) 
 
  Exports:  $1.38  billion  (f.o.b.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  coffee,  sugar,  bananas,  cardamon,  beef 
  partners:  US  30%,  El  Salvador,  Costa  Rica,  Germany,  Honduras 
 
  Imports:  $2.6  billion  (c.i.f.,  1994  est.) 
  commodities:  fuel  and  petroleum  products,  machinery,  grain, 
  fertilizers,  motor  vehicles 
  partners:  US  44%,  Mexico,  Venezuela,  Japan,  Germany 
 
  External  debt:  $2.2  billion  (  1992  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  1.9%  (1991  est.);  accounts  for  18% 
  of  GDP 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  700,000  kW 
  production:  2.3  billion  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  211  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  sugar,  textiles  and  clothing,  furniture,  chemicals, 
  petroleum,  metals,  rubber,  tourism 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  25%  of  GDP;  most  important  sector  of 
  economy;  contributes  two-thirds  of  export  earnings;  principal  crops  - 
  sugarcane,  corn,  bananas,  coffee,  beans,  cardamom;  livestock  -  cattle, 
  sheep,  pigs,  chickens;  food  importer 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  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 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-90),  $1.1  billion; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $7.92  billion 
 
  Currency:  1  quetzal  Q  =  100  centavos 
 
  Exchange  rates:  free  market  quetzales  Q  per  US$1  -  5.7372  (January 
  1995),  5.7512  (1994),  5,6354  (1993),  5.1706  (1992),  5.0289  (1991), 
  4.4858  (1990);  note  -  black-market  rate  2.800  (May  1989) 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Guatemala:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  1,019  km  (102  km  privately  owned) 
  narrow  gauge:  1,019  km  0.914-m  gauge  (single  track) 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  26,429  km 
  paved:  2,868  km 
  unpaved:  gravel  11,421  km  unimproved  earth  12,140  km 
 
  Inland  waterways:  260  km  navigable  year  round;  additional  730  km 
  navigable  during  high-water  season 
 
  Pipelines:  crude  oil  275  km 
 
  Ports:  Champerico  Puerto  Barrios,  Puerto  Quetzal,  San  Jose,  Santo 
  Tomas  de  Castilla 
 
  Merchant  marine:  none 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  528 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  2 
  with  paved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  5 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  360 
  with  unpaved  runways  2,438  to  3,047  m:  1 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  12 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  146 
 
  Guatemala:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  97,670  telephones;  fairly  modern  network  centered  in 
  the  city  of  Guatemala 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  NA 
  international:  connection  into  Central  American  Microwave  System;  1 
  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  earth  station 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  91,  FM  0,  shortwave  15 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  25 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Guatemala:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  Army,  Navy,  Air  Force 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  2,574,501;  males  fit  for 
  military  service  1,683,028;  males  reach  military  age  (18)  annually 
  123,715  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $121  million,  1%  of 
  GDP  (1993) 
 
 
 

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