|
Location
Central America
Capital
Guatemala City
Area
108,890 sq km
water 460 sq km
land 108,430 sq km
Border countries
Land boundary total: 1,687 km
Mexico north
Honduras east
Belize east
El Salvador south
Oceans
Coastline 400 km
Pacific Ocean south and west
Caribbean Sea east |
Figures and map from CIA Factbook |
Terrain
Mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Petén) elevation extremes
lowest: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest: Volcán Tajumulco 4,211 m
Climate
lowlands (coastal plains and Petén) hot and humid
highlands cool year round
Natural resources
petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
People
Population: 14,655,189 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years: 42.4%
- 15-64 years: 54.2%
- 65 years and over: 3.3%
- life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.14 years
- median age: total: 18.47 years
Rates
- population growth: 2.57% (2005 est.)
- birth: 34.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
- death: 6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
- net migration: -1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
- infant mortality total: 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births
- total fertility: 4.53 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Literacy (definition: age 15 and over can read and write)
total population: 70.6%
male: 78%
female: 63.3% (2003 est.)
Ethnic groups (approximate percentages)
- 55% mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindianin: in local Spanish called Ladino)
- 43% Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian
- 2% whites and others
Becky Harris Viaventure |
Religions
- Roman Catholic
- Protestant
- traditional indigenous beliefs
Languages
- 60% Spanish
- 40% Amerindian languages (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages)
Government
Republic of Guatemala
Constitutional democratic republic
Administrative divisions: 22 departments
Legal system: civil law
Independence from Spain : 15 September 1821
|
|