Reuters AlertNet Lite

PEOPLE

Language
Spanish is the official language. More than 20 indigenous languages - Xinca, Garifuna and various Mayan languages - are also spoken.
Source: Reuters AlertNet

Population

2009	14.0 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	13.0 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	12.9 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	12.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	12.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	12.1 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	11.8 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	11.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	11.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
27.5 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Well over half of Guatemalans are of Mayan descent. There is also a large Ladino population (who may be descended from Native Americans or Spaniards but don't identify themselves as indigenous). And there are small groups of indigenous Garifuna - a black indigenous community - and Xinca.
Source: Reuters AlertNet

Religion
Mainly Catholic. The number of Protestant groups has been growing. Mayan spiritual practices are also followed, usually alongside Catholicism.
Source: Reuters AlertNet

Percentage urban population

2007	48.1 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	47.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	47.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	46.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	46.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	45.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	45.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	45.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1946 1985
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
93 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	43.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT -6

Climate description
In the north, hot, tropical climate with rain throughout the year but wetter between May-October; the mountainous west and south has moderate rainfall and a dry season between November-April; the Pacific coast has a similar dry and wet season, but rainfall is heavier and night temperatures are higher.

Currency
Quetzal

Telephone dialling code
(+) 502

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	69.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	67.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	67.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	65.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	65.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	64.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	66.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	63.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	63.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	62.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	62.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	62.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	73.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	71.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	68.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	68.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	29 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	31 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	32 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	33 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	35 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	36 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	39 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	41 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	43 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	45 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	47 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	49 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	59 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	41 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	290 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	240 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	118	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	118	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	117	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	121	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	119	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	120	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	23 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	23 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	24 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	16 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	22 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	23 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	96 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	95 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	84 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	86 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	61 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	81 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	69.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	69.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	69.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	69.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	68.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	75.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	75.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	63.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	63.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	62.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	61.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	61.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	106 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	106 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	104 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	98 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	91 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	78 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	72 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	66 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	60 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1092 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	891 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	551 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	355 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	256 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	168 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	134 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	100 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	76 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	102 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	102 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	102 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	79 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	62 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	46 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	34 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	96 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	111 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	111 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	107 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	122 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	100 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	81 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	65 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	13.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	13.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	16 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	16.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	2450 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2080 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	1930 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	1740 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1670 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	1660 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	1730 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	33.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	30.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	27.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	24.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	21.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	20.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	18.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	19.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.7 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	2.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	5.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	5.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	6.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	6.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	6.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.9 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
43.4 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	No data available per 100,000 people
1990-2004	90 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	109 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	90 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.vivax throughout the year below 1500 metres. High risk in the departments of Alta Verapez, Baja Verapez, Peten and San Marcos. Moderate risk in the departments of Escuintla, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Suchitepequez and Zacapa.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	63 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	64 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	65 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	65 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	66 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	67 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	67 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	68 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	5934	UNHCR
2007	6161	UNHCR
2006	6496	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	3379	UNHCR
2004	4376	UNHCR
2003	6696	UNHCR
2002	13888	UNHCR
2001	16867	UNHCR
2000	20711	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	130	UNHCR
2007	379	UNHCR
2006	382	UNHCR
2005	391	UNHCR
2004	656	UNHCR
2003	715	UNHCR
2002	733	UNHCR
2001	729	UNHCR
2000	720	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

2008	Undetermined	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2007	Undetermined	Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) 2008
2005	242000	IDMC 2006

Landmine casualties per year

2007	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	2	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	0.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
1999-2001	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	1.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	2.3 percent	U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) 2005
2001	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

PEOPLE

USEFUL INFORMATION

STANDARD OF LIVING

ECONOMY & AID

HEALTH

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Countries

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