Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)
Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8% note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Exports
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish
External Debt
$15,670,000,000 $
$22,810,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.5895 (2008 est.), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004)
Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) per US dollar - 108.33 (2008), 110.78 (2007), 103.99 (2006), 100.498 (2005), 101.194 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.400%
2.600%
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
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Area
108,889 km sq
65,610 km sq
Coastline
400 km
1,340 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
