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 border countries: 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) lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m
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, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea
Geographic note: no natural harbors on west coast
People ------
Population: 11,277,614 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (male 2,464,498; female 2,362,457) 15-64 years: 54% (male 3,026,834; female 3,031,278) 65 years and over: 3% (male 184,927; female 207,620) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.48% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 33.96 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 7.15 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: -1.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 50.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.24 years male: 62.64 years female: 67.97 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.5 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan
Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominantly 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 (1995 est.) total population: 55.6% male: 62.5% female: 48.6%
The 1996 Cia World Factbook · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.