Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves
Population
14,099,032
103,537
Life Expectancy
71.170 years
74.390 years
Capital City
Guatemala
Largest city
Guatemala City (population: 994,938)
Kingstown (population: 24,518)
Human Development Index
0.696
0.766
GDP per capita
$5,100 US
Literacy Rate
69.1%
96%
Corruption Perception Index
3.1
6.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12%
18.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
4.100%
Death Penalty
Legal
Legal
Political System
constitutional democratic republic
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Religions
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
English, French patois
Exports
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
External Debt
$15,670,000,000 $
Exchange Rate
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
0.400%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
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
Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
108,889 km sq
389 km sq
Coastline
400 km
84 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
