A country of striking features and a strong indigenous culture, Guatemala’s natural beauty and powerful identity stand in stark contrast to its bloody past and troubled present. Mountainous, heavily forested and dotted with Mayan ruins, lakes, volcanoes, orchids and exotic birds, Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries in Central America. Its indigenous population, the Maya, make up about half of the population. Mayan languages are spoken alongside Spanish, the official tongue. Many Guatemalans are of mixed Amerindian-Hispanic origin.
Guatemala’s beauty and strength of identity have not been accompanied by cohesion and prosperity. In 1996 the country emerged from a 36-year-long civil war in which more than 200,000 people were killed or disappeared.
In spite of an official finding that 93% of all atrocities carried out during the war had been committed by the security forces, moves to bring those responsible to account started only after a long delay.
Guatemalans live in one of the most inequitable societies in the region. Poverty is particularly prevalent in rural areas and in indigenous communities.
Illiteracy, infant mortality and malnutrition are among the highest in the region, life expectancy is among the lowest and the country is one of the most violent in Latin America.
- Population: 12,7 million (2007)
- Capital: Guatemala City
- Major languages: Spanish, more than 20 indigenous languages
- Major religion: Christianity, indigenous Mayan beliefs
- Life expectancy: 63 years (men), 69 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 quetzal = 100 centavos
- Main exports: Coffee, sugar, bananas, fruits and vegetables, meat, petroleum, cardamom
- GNI per capita: US $2,640 (World Bank, 2007)
