The growing “the Line” political scandal reached thehighest levels of the Guatemalan government in2015, resulting in the resignation and arrest of Pres.

Otto Pérez Molina in September. An international com-mission that was investigating organized crime’s involve-ment in government revealed a scheme through whichbusinesses allegedly had paid kickbacks to tax officials toavoid paying customs duties. The scandal forced manyother high-level resignations, including that of Vice Pres.Roxana Baldetti, who was also arrested. Meanwhile,Guatemalans elected a new president (the scandal aside,Pérez Molina was constitutionally prohibited from serv-ing another term), nonpoliti-cian and television comedianJimmy Morales.

Vital statisticsBirth rate per 1,000 pop-ulation (2013): 26.0(world avg. 19.5).

Death rate per 1,000population (2013): 4.9(world avg. 8.1).

Natural increase rate per1,000 population(2013): 21.1 (world avg.11.4).

Life expectancy at birth(2013): male 69.6 years;female 73.5 years.

DemographyPopulation (2015): 16,255,000.Density (2015): persons per sq mi386.6, persons per sq km 149.3.

Sex distribution (2013)1: male48.77%; female 51.23%.

Population projection: (2020)18,281,000; (2030) 22,566,000.

Major cities (2002)2: Guatemala City(2011) 1,168,000; Mixco 277,4003;

Villa Nueva 187,7003;Quetzaltenango 106,700;Escuintla 65,400.

Urban-rural (2014):

Guatemala

Official name: República de Guatemala(Republic of Guatemala).

Form of government: republic with one legisla-tive house (Congress of the Republic [158]).

Head of state and government: PresidentAlejandro Maldonado (interim).

Capital: Guatemala City.Official language: Spanish.Official religion: none.Monetary unit: quetzal (Q); valuation (Sept. 1,2015) 1 U.S.$ = Q 7.69; 1 £ = Q 11.79.

LIBERLIBERTADAD15 DE15 DE

SEPTIEMBRESEPTIEMBREDE 1821DE 1821

Ethnic composition (2002):

Age breakdown (2011):

Religious affiliation (2005):

Area and populationarea population area population

2015 2015Departments sq km estimate1 Departments sq km estimate1

Alta Verapaz 8,686 1,256,500Baja Verapaz 3,124 299,400Chimaltenango 1,979 685,500Chiquimula 2,376 406,400El Progreso 1,922 169,300Escuintla 4,384 761,100Guatemala 2,126 3,354,000Huehuetenango 7,400 1,264,400Izabal 9,038 456,000Jalapa 2,063 355,600Jutiapa 3,216 472,300

Petén 35,855 736,000Quetzaltenango 1,953 863,700Quiché 8,378 1,088,900Retalhuleu 1,856 332,800Sacatepéquez 465 343,200San Marcos 3,791 1,121,600Santa Rosa 2,955 375,000Sololá 1,061 491,500Suchitepéquez 2,510 568,600Totonicapán 1,061 537,600Zacapa 2,690 236,600TOTAL 108,889 16,176,1004

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National economyBudget (2010). Revenue: Q 37,425,000,000 (tax revenue 92.9%, of

which VAT 45.4%, corporate income taxes 17.4%; non-tax revenue 5.9%; grants/other 1.2%). Expenditures: Q48,385,000,000 (current expenditure 71.6%; capitalexpenditure 28.4%).

Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture,forestry, fishing (2012): sugarcane 23,653,028, bananas2,700,000, corn (maize) 1,723,848, potatoes 507,392,tomatoes 315,000, oil palm fruit 310,000, coffee 248,000,pineapples 240,000, dry beans 219,397, papayas 206,500,plantains 195,000; livestock (number of live animals;2013) 3,600,000 cattle, 2,768,500 pigs, 36,000,000 chick-ens; roundwood (2013) 19,852,690 cu m, of which fuel-wood 96%; fisheries production 37,304 (from aquacul-

ture 48%). Mining and quarrying (2012): zinc (2008) 14,000; silver204,555 kg; gold 6,473 kg. Manufacturing (value added in Q ’000,000;2007): food products, beverages, and tobacco products 24,429; textiles,wearing apparel, and footwear 8,340; cement, bricks, and rubber orplastic products 4,284. Energy production (consumption): electricity(kW-hr; 2011) 8,146,000,000 (8,489,000,000), by source (2012): fossilfuels 31.9%; renewable energy 68.1%, of which hydroelectric 48.1%,biomass 17.3%, geothermal 2.7%; coal (metric tons; 2011) none(469,000); crude petroleum (barrels; 2011) 4,290,000 (598,000); petro-leum products (metric tons; 2011) 32,000 (2,800,000); natural gas,none (none).

Average household size (2002): 4.4.Gross national income (GNI; 2014): U.S.$54,565,000,000 (U.S.$3,440per capita); purchasing power parity GNI (U.S.$7,260 per capita).

Public debt (external, outstanding; 2013): U.S.$7,058,000,000.Population economically active (2014): total 6,168,470; participation

rates (2013): age 10 and over, male 70.7%; female 35.2%; unemployed3.0%, of which youth (2012) ages 15–24, 4.9%.

Land use as % of total land area (2009): in temporary crops or left fal-low (2008) 12.4%, in permanent crops 8.8%, in pasture 18.2%, forestarea 34.7%.

MilitaryTotal active duty personnel (November 2014):

17,300 (army 89.9%, navy 5.2%, air force4.9%); paramilitary 25,000. Military expen-diture as percentage of GDP (2014): 0.5%;per capita expenditure U.S.$18.

Foreign trade9, 10

Imports (2014): U.S.$18,278,000,000 (industrialproducts 28.7%, consumer goods 28.5%, fuels andlubricants 19.3%, capital goods 17.5%). Major import sources:

Exports (2014): U.S.$10,808,000,000 (clothing11.8%, sugar 8.8%, coffee 6.2%, bananas 6.0%,precious stones and metals 3.6%). Major export destinations:

Transport and communicationsTransport. Railroads (2007): route length497 mi, 800 km12. Roads (2002): totallength 8,727 mi, 14,044 km(paved 39%). Vehicles (2009):passenger cars 1,373,86713.

Education and healthLiteracy (2010): total population age 15 andover literate 75.2%; males literate 80.6%;females literate 70.3%.

Health: physicians (200611) 12,273 (1 per 1,049persons); hospital beds (2005) 8,894 (1 per1,429 persons); infant mortality rate (2006)30.8; undernourished population (2006–08)2,900,000 (22% of total population based onthe consumption of a minimum daily require-ment of 1,690 calories).

1Official midyear projections. 2Urban populations of municipios. 3Within Guatemala department.4Detail does not add to total given because of rounding. 5Rough estimate; may also incorporate Mayanspiritual ritual. 610 years and older; employed only. 7Includes restaurants and hotels. 8Taxes less subsi-dies and less imputed bank service charges. 9Imports c.i.f.; exports f.o.b. 10Preliminary. 11January 1.12Last operating rail service was shut down in September 2007; no passenger service is available.13Includes 758,171 trucks and 90,526 buses. 14Subscribers.

Internet resources for further information:• Banco de Guatemala www.banguat.gob.gt• Instituto Nacional de Estadística www.ine.gob.gt

Structure of gross domestic product and labour force2010 2006

in value % of total labour % of labourQ ’000,000 value force6 force6

Agriculture 40,211.2 12.1 1,791,400 33.2Mining 6,423.5 1.9 7,500 0.1Manufacturing 60,575.2 18.3 854,800 15.9Construction 13,673.3 4.1 354,900 6.6Public utilities 7,088.7 2.1 12,400 0.2Transp. and commun. 24,674.9 7.4 160,700 3.0Trade 55,981.9 16.9 1,226,9007 22.87

Finance, real estate 40,051.6 12.1 176,100 3.3Pub. admin., defense 24,029.3 7.2 115,500 2.1Services 47,658.4 14.4 690,400 12.8Other 11,502.38 3.58 — —TOTAL 331,870.54 100.0 5,390,5004 100.0

Communications units unitsnumber per 1,000 number per 1,000

Medium date in ’000s persons Medium date in ’000s persons

TelephonesCellular 2014 16,91214 1,06614

Landline 2014 1,718 108

Internet users 2009 2,280 163Broadband 2014 38114 2414

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