republic under an authoritarian military-dominated regime
Independence date
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)
Religions
Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
Sunni Muslim 74%, other Muslim (includes Alawite, Druze) 16%, Christian (various denominations) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)
Languages
Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom
crude oil, minerals, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, textiles, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat
External Debt
$15,670,000,000 $
$7,074,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.5895 (2008 est.), 7.6833 (2007), 7.6026 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465 (2004)
Syrian pounds (SYP) per US dollar - 46.5281 (2008 est.), 50.0085 (2007), 51.689 (2006), 50 (2005), 48.5 (2004) note: data for 2004-06 are the public sector rate; data for 2002-03 are the parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut; the official rate for repaying loans was 11.25 Syrian pounds per US dollars during 2004-06,
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.400%
5.900%
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
Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey
Area
108,889 km sq
185,180 km sq
Coastline
400 km
193 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus
