Guatemala

Guatemala is a country located in Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras between Honduras and Belize, covering an area of approximately 108,889 square kilometers. As of 2024, Guatemala has a population of over 18.2 million, with Spanish as the official language spoken by 69.9% and numerous Maya languages spoken by 29.7%. The country features two east-west trending mountain chains dividing it into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast, and the vast northern Peten lowlands, with a tropical climate of hot, humid conditions in lowlands and cooler temperatures in highlands. Guatemala City serves as the capital, and the government operates as a presidential republic.

Guatemala has a developing economy with a GDP of $113.20 billion and a GDP per capita of $12,600, driven by sugar, textiles, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, and tourism. Key agricultural products include sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, and coffee, while natural resources include petroleum, nickel, and hydropower. The literacy rate stands at 82.1% with a life expectancy of 72.7 years. Despite steady economic growth fueled by remittances, Guatemala faces high poverty at 56% and significant income inequality, with limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impeding human development and driving emigration.