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Population
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Total population (millions): |
12.6
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| Source : World Bank - World Development Indicators |
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| Urban population:
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47%
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| Source : World Bank - World Development Indicators |
| Average annual population growth:
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2.6%
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| Source : World Bank - World Development Indicators |
| Surface area (km²) : |
108,890
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Population origin
| Origin of the population | % Of the population | | Amerindian | 46.2 % | | Half-caste | 4.,4 % | | European | 4.8 % | | African | 2.1 % | | Other | 1.5 % |
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| Main Cities |
Population |
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Guatemala City |
942 348 |
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Mixco |
277 400 |
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Villa Nueva |
187 700 |
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Quezaltenango |
106 700 |
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Escuintla |
65 400 |
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Amatitlán |
55 800 |
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Local time
| It is |
%T:%M %A |
in Guatemala (GMT-6 ).
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Languages
Official language: Spanish
There are also 21 Maya languages. The Garifuna is spoken by the black community of the Caribbean coast.
English is the main foreign business language.
Free translation tools
Babel Fish
Free English-Spanish-English translation of texts and web pages
Systran
Free French-Spanish-French translation of texts and web pages
Dictionarios.com
Free Spanish-Catalan-English-French Dictionary
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Religion
Religious practises :
Catholics 74.8%
Protestants 24.5%
Others 0.7% Catholicism remains the main religion. However, since the 80s, protestant sects have made their appearance. 75% of them are Pentecostists. They enjoy a great popularity, and in some villages, they have managed to overblow the indian community. Where the syncretism of Maya and Catholic beliefs had flourished, you will see side to side Jehova witnesses, adventists of the 7th day, Mormons, etc. The Maya religion, based on nature, is resisting as strong as possible, to this invasion. Thus, the Maximón is still venerated in Santiago Atitlán and San Simón in Zunil.
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Political context
Guatemala is a Republic state based on parliamentary democracy with presidential form of government. The country (official name: Republic of Guatemala) has a pluriform multi-party political system, but the tradition of military dominance still continues.
President is both the chief of the state and head of the government. President holds the executive powers which include implementation of the law in the country and running the day-to-day affairs. Both President and Vice-President are elected by popular vote for a four-year term. Council of Ministers (the cabinet) is appointed by the President.
The legislature in Guatemala is unicameral. The parliament called Congress of the Republic has 158 members which are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The country's constitution provides for a separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judiciary. President cannot dissolve the parliament; however the President has the power to veto acts of the parliament which in turn can be overridden by supermajority of legislators. The people of Guatemala have limited political rights.
The judiciary is not independent in Guatemala. It lacks transparency and accountability. The main source of the law is the constitution of 1985 which was amended in 1993. The legal system is based on civil law system and judicial review of various legislative acts. Guatemala has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction. The judicial language used in the country is Spanish, though there are 23 other officially recognized Amerindian languages.
Guatemala is not ruled by law. Guatemala remains one of the most violent countries in Latin America. Foreign nationals cannot expect a fair trial from country's judicial system. A high degree of corruption exists in the country; especially administration, judiciary and corporate sector are plagued with corruption. E fforts to promote transparency have made little progress.
Major political parties
Guatemala has a multi-party system, with 2-3 strong parties. The main political parties in the country are:
- GANA (Grand National Alliance)-consisting of PP (Patriotic Party-a nationalist party), MR (Reform Movement - advocates economic & political reforms) and PSN (National Solidarity Movement - right-wing, draws support from younger generation);
- UNE (National Unity for Hope) - a left-wing, nationalist gathering of political parties;
- FRG (Guatemalan Republican Front) - conservative, draws strong support from country's rural community.
Major political leaders
President: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since January 2008) - UNE
Vice President: Rafael ESPADA (since January 2008)
Next political election dates
Presidential: September 2011
Parliamentary: September 2011
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| The Pacific Coast benefits from temperatures close to 38°C; the level of humidity decreases a little bit over the dry season. In the mountains, the nights are icy, the days are damp and cold during the rainy season, and warm and pleasant during the dry season (from October to May). In the Peten, the climate varies from warm and humid to warm and dry. On the Caribbean Coast, it is hot and humid all year long.
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| Number of visitors
in Guatemala
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2004
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2005
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2006
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World rank |
| Number of visitors (1000) |
1,182 |
.. |
.. |
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| Source : World Tourisme Organization, data available in November 2005 |
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Tourist sites
Guatemala Ciudad: one of the biggest built-up areas of Central America. It extends along an eroded and deeply gullied mountains range. The city, which is split into 15 "zonas", is not very nice and people are mainly driven there for professional reasons or for its communication platform role, than for its tourist interest. In the Zona 1, the Plaza Mayor is a classic example of the Spanish colonial plan, and is lined up in the North by the Government Palace and in the East, by the Catedral Metropolitana, which is massive and austere. Behind the cathedral, the Mercado Central mainly sells artcraft for tourists. The Zona 10 holds several museums, of which the Museo Popol Vuh ( Maya art and colonial Spanish) and the Museo Ixchel (beautiful costumes and pieces of art from the high plateaux). In Zona 13, the Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología (Maya art) and the Museo Nacional de Arte Moderno (contemporary Guatemalan art) can be visited. It is in Zona Viva that elegant restaurants and nightclubs are gathered.
Antigua: capital of Guatemala from 1543 to 1773, until a terrible earthquake destroyed it. Appearing among the oldest and the most beautiful cities of America, it underwent no less than 16 earthquakes. However, some colonial buildings, such as La Merced, the Iglesia of San Francisco and the Convento de las Capucinas, resisted.
Pacaya Volcano : if the safety rules enable it, do not miss the ascent of the Pacaya volcano (2,552 m), in the surroundings of Antigua. The walking is definitely long and tiring but there are no difficult ways. Once at the summit, the view is fabulous: about every 15 minutes, a rumbling fills the air and makes the ground shake, then a column of stones and smoke bursts out of the volcano, followed by a jet of lava.
Panajachel: situated at the edge of Atitlan's lago, this village has somehow a "French Riviera" atmosphere and it will offer you everything you might have missed while on the high plateaux: comfortable hotels, nice restaurants, friendly cafés with terraces where you'll be able to lazy in the sun, observing the animation of the street.
Chichicastenango: it is a big coulourful market. All the farmers of the surroundings gather there and, on Sundays, the cofradias (religious brotherhoods) march in procession at the end of the market, accompanied with firecrackers and music.
Tikal: jewel of Peten, Tikal raises its huge pyramids over the canopée where the howler monkeys rock and the parrots and toucans nest. The rich given off flavors of the jungle, the peaceful atmosphere and perception of the animal life confer to this place an unspeakable atmosphere and a definite harmony. This former Maya town is located in the middle of Tikal's vast national park, 575 m² protected zone where thousand of vestiges are scattered.
Livingston: located on the Caribbean Coast, in the North of Puerto Barrios, Livingston is only accessible by sea or river route. On your arrival, you will be surprised to find these black Guatemalans who speak as good Spanish as Garifuna, and often English. Music, nonchalance and heat are the main assets of this place.
For more information about tourism
in Guatemala
, check out the following web site(s) :
Tourism Board of Guatemala
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Food
Traditional dishes
The classic dish is composed of rice, kidney beans (frijoles con arroz), a little bit of avocado, sliced tomatoes and a piece of excessively cooked meat, the whole accompanied with tortillas (small pancakes made of corn). You can also find some enchiladas (omelets stuffed with beans, meat or cheese), tamales (rolls made of corn filled with meat or vegetables) or some pollo asado (roasted chicken), with no surprises and usually good. The coffee is excellent, as well as the local beer (Gallo, Moza or Dorado) and the brown rum (Ron Zacapa Centenario or Ron Botrán Añejo). You might also been offered some Quetzalteca, a white drink, cane sugar based.
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