# Guatemala

> sovereign state in Central America

**Wikidata**: [Q774](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q774)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guatemala)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/guatemala

## Summary
Guatemala is a sovereign state located in Central America. Its capital and largest city is Guatemala City. The country covers an area of 108,889 square kilometers and operates as a representative democracy with a presidential system. It is officially known as the Republic of Guatemala.

## Key Facts
*   **Official Name:** Republic of Guatemala (República de Guatemala).
*   **Classification:** Sovereign state, country, and republic.
*   **Location:** Central America (part of North America, Latin America, and Middle America).
*   **Area:** 108,889 square kilometers.
*   **Capital:** Guatemala City.
*   **Independence (Inception):** 1821.
*   **Head of State/Government:** Bernardo Arévalo de León (assumed office January 15, 2024).
*   **Currency:** Quetzal (since 1925). The Guatemalan peso was used previously (1859–1925).
*   **Languages:** Spanish is the official language. Other recognized languages include numerous Mayan languages (e.g., K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Kaqchikel, Mam), as well as Xincan, Garifuna, and Guatemalan Sign Language.
*   **Population (2018):** 17,263,239 (estimation).
*   **Time Zone:** UTC−06:00 (America/Guatemala).
*   **Top-level Domain:** .gt.
*   **Dialing Code:** +502.

## FAQs
**What type of government does Guatemala have?**
Guatemala functions as a presidential system and a representative democracy. The executive body is the Council of Ministers, while the legislative body is the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. The current head of state and government is President Bernardo Arévalo de León, who took office on January 15, 2024.

**What is the geography of Guatemala?**
Guatemala is situated in Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast, Honduras to the east, and El Salvador to the southeast. It has coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (Gulf of Honduras). Its highest point is Volcán Tajumulco, and its lowest point is sea level at the Caribbean Sea.

**What languages are spoken in Guatemala?**
While Spanish is the official language, the country recognizes a wide array of indigenous languages. These include Mayan languages like K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Kaqchikel, Mam, and many others, as well as Xincan, Garifuna, and Guatemalan Sign Language.

**What are the key demographics of Guatemala?**
As of 2018, the estimated population was approximately 17.26 million. In 2022, the male population was estimated at approximately 8.59 million, and the female population at approximately 8.77 million. The urban population in 2022 was roughly 9.14 million, while the rural population was about 8.22 million.

**What international organizations is Guatemala a member of?**
Guatemala is a member of the United Nations (joined 1945), the World Trade Organization (joined 1995), the Organization of American States (joined 1948), and various other international bodies including UNESCO, Interpol (founder member), and the Central American Common Market.

## Why It Matters
Guatemala holds significant historical, cultural, and geopolitical importance. As a sovereign state in Central America with a history dating back to the Mayan civilization (referred to as the "Heart of the Mayan World"), it is a critical cultural hub. It plays a role in regional politics through memberships in organizations like the Central American Common Market and the Organization of American States. Its diverse population, speaking over 20 distinct languages, highlights its rich cultural heritage. Economically, it participates in global trade via the WTO and has a developing economy tracked by indices like the Gini coefficient and Human Development Index.

## Notable For
*   **Heart of the Mayan World:** Guatemala is marketed as the "Heart of the Mayan World," reflecting its rich pre-Columbian history and the continued use of numerous Mayan languages.
*   **Cultural Diversity:** The country recognizes over 20 languages, including Spanish, 21 Mayan languages, Xincan, Garifuna, and Guatemalan Sign Language.
*   **Highest Peak in Central America:** It contains Volcán Tajumulco, the highest point in the region.
*   **Founding Member of Interpol:** Guatemala has been a founder member of Interpol since 1949.
*   **Long-standing UN Membership:** It has been a member of the United Nations since November 21, 1945.

## Body

### Geography and Location
Guatemala is located in Central America, part of the North American continent. It is characterized by diverse geography including coastlines on the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Its coordinates are approximately 15.5°N, 90.25°W. The country shares borders with Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Its terrain ranges from sea level (Caribbean Sea) to the peak of Volcán Tajumulco.

### Government and Politics
The country is a representative democracy with a presidential system. The office of the head of state and government is the President of Guatemala. The current president is Bernardo Arévalo de León, who succeeded Alejandro Giammattei on January 15, 2024. The legislative power is vested in the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala. Guatemala is subdivided into 22 departments, including Alta Verapaz, Quiché, Guatemala, and others.

### International Relations
Guatemala maintains diplomatic relations with numerous countries, including the United States, Mexico, Taiwan, Israel, and Germany. It is a signatory to various international treaties, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. It is a member of:
*   **United Nations:** Since November 21, 1945.
*   **World Trade Organization:** Since July 21, 1995.
*   **Organization of American States:** Since 1948.
*   **UNESCO:** Since January 2, 1950.
*   **Interpol:** Founder member since October 15, 1949.

### Demographics and Social Indicators
Guatemala has a growing population, reaching an estimated 17.26 million in 2018. Key social statistics include:
*   **Life Expectancy:** 69 years in 2022.
*   **Birth Rate:** 20.861 per 1,000 in 2022.
*   **Death Rate:** 6.767 per 1,000 in 2022.
*   **Human Development Index (2021):** 0.627.
*   **Gini Coefficient (2014):** 48.3.

The age of majority and marriageable age is 18 years.

### Economy
The currency is the Quetzal (GTQ), which replaced the Guatemalan peso in 1925. The economy is monitored through various indices:
*   **Nominal GDP (2022):** Approximately $95 billion USD.
*   **Unemployment Rate (2014):** 3%.
*   **VAT Rate:** 12%.
*   **Electricity:** 120V at 60Hz.

### Culture and Symbols
*   **Motto:** "Libre Crezca Fecundo" (Grow Free and Fertile).
*   **Anthem:** "National Anthem of Guatemala."
*   **Flag:** Flag of Guatemala (Image available).
*   **Coat of Arms:** Coat of arms of Guatemala.
*   **Languages:** Spanish (Official), plus a wide array of indigenous languages such as K’iche’, Q’eqchi’, Kaqchikel, Mam, and others.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c902eg0lkp7o)
2. [Source](https://rulers.org/rulg2.html#guatemala)
3. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/guatemala)
4. Constitution of Guatemala
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. BnF authorities
7. [Source](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb-2021e/northamerica)
8. [Source](https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/guatemala_e.htm)
9. [Interpol](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
10. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Americas/GUATEMALA)
11. [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
12. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/guatemala)
13. [International Hydrographic Organization](https://www.iho.int/srv1/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=452&lang=en)
14. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
15. [Source](http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries.html)
16. [Source](https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Member-Countries?csid=-1&cid=134)
17. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
18. [Source](https://public.wmo.int/en/members/guatemala)
19. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
20. [Source](https://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/global/pdf/about-us/wco-members/list-of-members-with-membership-date.pdf)
21. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_parties_to_the_Treaty_on_the_Non-Proliferation_of_Nuclear_Weapons)
22. [Source](https://www.ncnk.org/sites/default/files/content/resources/publications/NCNK_Issue_Brief_DPRK_Diplomatic_Relations.pdf)
23. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
24. [Source](https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/)
25. FIPS 10-4
26. datos.bne.es
27. MusicBrainz
28. [Human Development Report. 2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
29. World Bank Open Data
30. [Source](http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2017/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=32&pr.y=7&sy=2015&ey=2022&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=258&s=NGDPD%2CPPPGDP%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPPC&grp=0&a=)
31. [Source](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI)
32. [Source](http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS)
33. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
34. [Source](https://esadir.cat/Toponims/Toponims_del_mon/America/Guatemala)
35. The National Terminology Database for Irish
36. [Source](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017)
37. BBC Things
38. [Source](http://chartsbin.com/view/edr)
39. [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
40. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DEMO_DS)
41. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3372)
42. BabelNet
43. [International Numbering Resources Database](http://www.itu.int/net/itu-t/inrdb/e129_important_numbers.aspx)
44. [World Plugs](http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm)
45. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)
46. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=239)
47. ASC Leiden Thesaurus dataset of 5 June 2018
48. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
49. [Gazetteer](https://github.com/EnvironmentOntology/gaz/blob/master/src/ontology/gaz_countries.csv)
50. iNaturalist