Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
14,099,032
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
71.170 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Guatemala
Amsterdam
Largest city
Guatemala City (population: 994,938)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.696
0.958
GDP per capita
$5,100 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
69.1%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
4.100%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
constitutional democratic republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Religions
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$15,670,000,000 $
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.5895 (2008 est.), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.400%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
Area
108,889 km sq
41,543 km sq
Coastline
400 km
451 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
