King: Albert II Prime Minister-designate: Elio di Rupo
President: Otto Perez Molina
Population
10,438,353
14,099,032
Life Expectancy
79.650 years
71.170 years
Capital City
Brussels
Guatemala
Largest city
Brussels (population: 1,019,020)
Guatemala City (population: 994,938)
Human Development Index
0.948
0.696
GDP per capita
$38,200 US
$5,100 US
Literacy Rate
99%
69.1%
Corruption Perception Index
7.3
3.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
36.2%
12%
Wealthiest Citizens
Albert Frere ($2.4bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
7.700%
4.100%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Legal
Political System
federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
constitutional democratic republic
Independence date
4 October 1830 (a provisional government declared independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King LEOPOLD I ascended to the throne)
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religions
Roman Catholic 75%, other (includes Protestant) 25%
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Languages
Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Exports
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
External Debt
$1,399,000,000,000 $
$15,670,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6802 (2008), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.5895 (2008 est.), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.300%
0.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
2
0
Location
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
