 CAPITAL CITY OF Guatemala: Guatemala
LANGUAGE OF Guatemala: Spanish
CURRENCY OF Guatemala: US dollar (USD)
COMMENTS ABOUT Guatemala:
The Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize and the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast.
Cities : Guatemala City (capital), La Antigua Guatemala, Panajachel, Coban, Escuintla, Flores, Huehuetenango, Melchor de Mencos, Puerto Barrios, Puerto San Jose, Quetzaltenango, Sayaxche, Santiago Atitlan
Best Places : Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Santiago Atitlan, San Pedro la Laguna, Lake Izabal, Livingston, Monterrico, Rio Dulce, Aguateca, Cancuen, Ceibal, Dos Pilas, El Mirador, El Peru/Waka, El Zotz, Gumarcaj, Iximche, Mixco Viejo, Nakbe, Nakum, Naranjo, Piedras Negras, Quirigu, San Bartolo Pre-Classic Mural, Tikal, Uaxactun, Yaxha, Zaculeu
Electricity : 115-230V/60Hz (USA plug)
Calling Code : +502
Time Zone : UTC-6
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 led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees.
CLIMATE OF Guatemala: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
RELIGION OF Guatemala: Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
POPULATION OF Guatemala: 14,280,596 (July 2004 est.)>
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Guatemala: Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but widespread political violence and corruption scandals continue to dampen investor confidence. The distribution of income remains highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty line. Ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit.
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