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Introduction
Geography
People & Society
Goverment
Economy
Energy
Communications
Transportation
Military
Transnational issues

Guatemala

(CONTAIN DESCRIPTION)

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Introduction ::Guatemala

Background:

Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees. In January 2012, Guatemala assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.

Geography ::Guatemala

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

Geographic coordinates:

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 108,889 sq km

country comparison to the world: 107

land: 107,159 sq km

water: 1,730 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,687 km

border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline:

400 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

note: highest point in Central America

Natural resources:

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.78%

permanent crops: 8.68%

other: 77.55% (2011)

Irrigated land:

3,121 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources:

111.3 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 3.461 cu km/yr (15%/31%/54%)

per capita: 259.1 cu m/yr (2006)

Natural hazards:

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms

volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (elev. 3,772 m) has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, is one of the country's most active volcanoes with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana

Environment - current issues:

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

no natural harbors on west coast

People and Society ::Guatemala

Nationality:

noun: Guatemalan(s)

adjective: Guatemalan

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)

Languages:

Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40%

note: there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Demographic profile:

Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America. It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue in the long term because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations.

Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960-1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.

Population:

14,373,472 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.8% (male 2,691,572/female 2,591,873)

15-24 years: 22.2% (male 1,599,368/female 1,592,830)

25-54 years: 31.8% (male 2,170,071/female 2,402,330)

55-64 years: 5.1% (male 354,266/female 380,414)

65 years and over: 4.1% (male 274,254/female 316,494) (2013 est.)

population pyramid:

Median age:

total: 20.4 years

male: 19.7 years

female: 21.1 years (2012 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.948% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

Birth rate:

26.48 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 52

Death rate:

4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 186

Net migration rate:

-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

Urbanization:

urban population: 49% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities - population:

GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 1.075 million (2009)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female

total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

120 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 64

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.16 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 78

male: 27.34 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.17 years

country comparison to the world: 142

male: 69.29 years

female: 73.14 years (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.08 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 54

Health expenditures:

6.9% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 86

Physicians density:

0.9 physicians/1,000 population (1999)

Hospital bed density:

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 98% of population

rural: 87% of population

total: 92% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2% of population

rural: 13% of population

total: 8% of population (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access:

improved:

urban: 87% of population

rural: 70% of population

total: 88% of population

unimproved:

urban: 13% of population

rural: 30% of population

total: 22% of population (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

62,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 53

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,600 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 49

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria

water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

13% (2009)

country comparison to the world: 57

Education expenditures:

2.8% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 149

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 69.1%

male: 75.4%

female: 63.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 10 years (2007)

Government ::Guatemala

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala

conventional short form: Guatemala

local long form: Republica de Guatemala

local short form: Guatemala

Government type:

constitutional democratic republic

Capital:

name: Guatemala City

geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W

time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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; suspended 25 May 1993; reinstated 5 June 1993; amended November 1993

Legal system:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; the Congress ratified Statute of Rome on 18 January 2012, and ICCt jurisdiction entered into force on 23 February 2012

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police may not vote by law and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window

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elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 11 September 2011; runoff held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held in September 2015)

election results: Otto PEREZ MOLINA elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Otto PEREZ MOLINA 53.7%, Manuel BALDIZON 46.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members elected through a party list proportional representation system)

elections: last held on 11 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2015)

election results: percent of vote by party - PP 26.62%, UNE-GANA 22.67%, UNC 9.50%, LIDER 8.87%, CREO 8.67%, VIVA-EG 7.87%, Winaq-URNG-ANN 3.23%, PAN 3.12%, FRG 2.74%, PU 2.70%, other 3.59%; seats by party - PP 57, UNE-GANA 48, LIDER 14, UCN 14, CREO 12, VIVA-EG 6, PAN 2, Winaq-URNG-ANN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, VICTORIA 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 2 March 2012 - PP 62, LIDER 25, UCN 18, Independents 12, CREO 11, GANA 9, UNE 8, VIVA 3, EG 3, PAN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, Winaq 1, URNG 1, VICTORIA 1

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges and five alternate judges are elected by Congress for concurrent five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members are elected by Congress to serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Rodolfo NEUTZE]; Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector Alfredo NUILA Ericastilla]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Luis Fernando PEREZ]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ]; National Unity for Hope or UNE; National Welfare or Bien [Fidel REYES Lee]; Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]; New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]; Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]; Unionista Party or PU [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]; Victoria (Victory) [Abraham RIVERA]; Winaq [Rigoberta MENCHU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Alliance Against Impunity or AI (which includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), and Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)); Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF (which includes among others the Agrarian Chamber (CAMAGRO) and the Industry Chamber of Guatemala (CIG)); Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (Camara de Comercio); International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala or CICIG; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Movimiento PRO-Justicia

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon

chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952

FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, McAllen (TX), Miami, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold A. CHACON

embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City

mailing address: DPO AA 34024

telephone: [502] 2326-4000

FAX: [502] 2326-4654

Flag description:

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) representing liberty 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 signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and purity

National symbol(s):

quetzal (bird)

National anthem:

name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)

lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE

note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911

Economy ::Guatemala

Economy - overview:

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for 13% of GDP and 38% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include coffee, sugar, bananas, and vegetables. The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006 spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accounting for more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line and 13% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up 38% of the population, averages 73% and extreme poverty rises to 28%. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income equivalent to nearly two-fifths of exports or one-tenth of GDP. Economic growth fell in 2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets dropped and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession. The economy gradually recovered in 2010-12.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$78.42 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 83

$76.06 billion (2011 est.)

$73.23 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$50.3 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 104

3.9% (2011 est.)

2.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,200 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 154

$5,200 (2011 est.)

$5,100 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13%

industry: 23.8%

services: 63.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force:

5.571 million (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 38%

industry: 14%

services: 48% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.1% (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 32

3.5% (2010 est.)

Population below poverty line:

54% (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3%

highest 10%: 42.4% (2006)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

55.1 (2007)

country comparison to the world: 10

55.8 (1998)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

Budget:

revenues: $5.799 billion

expenditures: $7.091 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

11.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 205

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-2.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

Public debt:

29.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 116

29.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

6.2% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

13.6% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 61

13.43% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$7.854 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

$7.506 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$21.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

$20.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$18.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

$18.31 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Industries:

sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

Current account balance:

-$2.039 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 137

-$1.523 billion (2011 est.)

Exports:

$9.864 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

$10.55 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom

Exports - partners:

US 37.9%, El Salvador 10.5%, Honduras 6.8%, Mexico 5.1% (2011)

Imports:

$15.57 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

$15.37 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products

Imports - partners:

US 40.4%, Mexico 11.6%, China 8.2%, El Salvador 4.5% (2011)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.311 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 83

$6.184 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

$15.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar -

7.88 (2012 est.)

7.7854 (2011 est.)

8.0578 (2010 est.)

8.1616 (2009)

7.5895 (2008)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Energy ::Guatemala

Electricity - production:

8.146 billion kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - consumption:

8.161 billion kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - exports:

193.3 million kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - imports:

525.6 million kWh (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

2.673 million kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

58.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

29.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

12.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 19

Crude oil - production:

10,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

Crude oil - exports:

12,620 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 193

Crude oil - proved reserves:

83.07 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 77

Refined petroleum products - production:

1,132 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 114

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

80,810 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 86

Refined petroleum products - exports:

4,162 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - imports:

68,910 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 57

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 151

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 202

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

country comparison to the world: 95

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

12.97 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 94

Communications ::Guatemala

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.626 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 65

Telephones - mobile cellular:

20.716 million (2011)

country comparison to the world: 47

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala

domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 150 per 100 persons

international: country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

Broadcast media:

4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2007)

Internet country code:

.gt

Internet hosts:

357,552 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 60

Internet users:

2.279 million (2009)

country comparison to the world: 72

Transportation ::Guatemala

Airports:

291 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 24

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15

2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 4 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 276

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 79

under 914 m: 194 (2012)

Heliports:

1 (2012)

Pipelines:

oil 480 km (2010)

Railways:

total: 332 km

country comparison to the world: 118

narrow gauge: 332 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)

Roadways:

total: 14,095 km

country comparison to the world: 124

paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways)

unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)

Waterways:

990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) (2012)

country comparison to the world: 66

Ports and terminals:

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Military ::Guatemala

Military branches:

National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG), Guatemalan Navy (Marina Nacional, includes Marines), Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG) (2009)

Military service age and obligation:

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months; women can serve as officers (2009)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 3,165,870

females age 16-49: 3,371,217 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,590,843

females age 16-49: 2,926,544 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 171,092

female: 168,151 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.4% of GDP (2009)

country comparison to the world: 166

Transnational Issues ::Guatemala

Disputes - international:

annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: undetermined (more than three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; ongoing drug cartel and gang violence) (2011)

Illicit drugs:

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem