Identity
Name origin: the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies…
CIA 2026
Data as of May 5, 2026
Guatemala
North AmericaRegional Champion
Across North America, Guatemala stands first in renewable energy. Explore what drives its regional success.
Across North America, Guatemala stands first in renewable energy. Few in the region come close to matching it. Explore what drives its regional success.
15.5, -90.3 - North America
Area
109K km²
Pop.
18.26M
Stats
130
Reality brief
Guatemala is a country in North America with a population of 18.26M and an area of 108,889 km². Life expectancy is 72.6 years.
Short factual summary generated from the same country data used in game rounds.
Core numbers
Stats worth knowing
Fast scan first, deep dive later.
Population Density
169.14 /km²#70globally
How many people live in each square kilometer of land.
Land Area
107.2K km²#103globally
Total land area in square kilometers, excluding lakes, rivers, and territorial waters.
Life Expectancy
72.6 years#126globally
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
GDP Per Capita
$12,640.89#122globally
GDP per person adjusted for purchasing power in constant 2017 international dollars, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
Country briefing
Grounded facts about Guatemala
A quick real-world briefing before you dive deeper into rankings, surprises, and matchups.
Geography
Size snapshot: slightly smaller than Pennsylvania.
CIA 2026
Culture
Major languages include Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, and more.
CIA 2026
Cities
Cities in Guatemala
Browse this country's cities before City Detective asks you to guess.
Top stats
Where They Stand Out
The strongest source-backed stats before the deeper data table.
Inequality (Gini)
45.2#9globallyTop stat
A measure of income inequality where 0 means everyone earns the same and 100 means one person has everything.
Renewable Energy (%)
62.1%#35globally
The percentage of energy consumption that comes from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydro.
Highest Elevation
4.2K m#39globally
Highest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Reality checks
Did You Know?
The stats that tend to surprise players in real rounds.
Only ranks #97 in r&d spending (% gdp)
#970.06% of GDPR&D Spending (% GDP)
Research and development spending as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #152 in military spending
#1520.37% of GDPMilitary Spending
Military expenditure as a share of GDP, from World Bank Open Data.
Only ranks #150 in hospital beds (per 1,000)
#1500.40 per 1kHospital Beds (per 1,000)
The number of hospital beds available per 1,000 people.
Keeps unemployment rate unusually low
#1672.2%Unemployment Rate
The percentage of the workforce that is unemployed but actively looking for work.
Keeps youth unemployment rate unusually low
#1624.8% of youth labor forceYouth Unemployment Rate
Share of the labor force ages 15-24 that is unemployed from the World Bank latest available country value.
Compared with the region
How Guatemala Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
Guatemala
North America avg
World avg
GDP per Capita
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
- Country
- $14,368.66
- Region avg
- $38,271.63
- World avg
- $31,844.55
Guatemala$14,368.66
North America$38,271.63
World$31,844.55
-55% below worldWB 2023
Life Expectancy
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
- Country
- 72.6 years
- Region avg
- 75.5 years
- World avg
- 73.7 years
Guatemala72.6 years
North America75.5 years
World73.7 years
-2% below worldWB 2023
Human Development Index
Composite 0-1 index of life expectancy, education, and income, from Our World in Data using the latest available country values in TerraBrawl.
- Country
- 0.66
- Region avg
- 0.77
- World avg
- 0.74
Guatemala0.66
North America0.77
World0.74
-11% below worldOWID 2023
Internet Users
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
- Country
- 56%
- Region avg
- 76.55%
- World avg
- 70.29%
Guatemala56%
North America76.55%
World70.29%
-20% below worldWB 2023
Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Play this countryFactbook notes
About Guatemala
Country briefing
The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D.
Read the full Factbook note
The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict.
Geography & Climate6 facts
- 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
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
- Terrain
- two east-west trending mountain chains divide the country into three regions: the mountainous highlands, the Pacific coast south of mountains, and the vast northern Peten lowlands
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower
- Natural Hazards
- numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms volcanism: significant volcanic activity in the Sierra Madre range; Santa Maria (3,772 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; Pacaya (2,552 m) is one of the country's most active volcanoes, with frequent eruptions since 1965; other historically active volcanoes include Acatenango, Almolonga, Atitlan, Fuego, and Tacana; see note 2 under "Geography - note"
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Pennsylvania
People & Culture4 facts
- Languages
- Spanish (official) 69.9%, Maya languages 29.7% (Q'eqchi' 8.3%, K'iche 7.8%, Mam 4.4%, Kaqchikel 3%, Q'anjob'al 1.2%, Poqomchi' 1%, other 4%), other 0.4% (includes Xinca and Garifuna) (2018 est.)
- Religions
- Evangelical 45.7%, Roman Catholic 42.4%, none 11%, unspecified 0.9% (2023 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Mestizo (mixed Indigenous-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Maya 41.7%, Xinca (Indigenous, non-Maya) 1.8%, African descent 0.2%, Garifuna (mixed West and Central African, Island Carib, and Arawak) 0.1%, foreign 0.2% (2018 est.)
- Major Cities
- 3.095 million GUATEMALA CITY (capital) (2023)
Government & History10 facts
- Government Type
- presidential republic
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Capital Coordinates
- 14 37 N, 90 31 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Republic of Guatemala
- Name Origin
- the Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala"
- Independence
- 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
- National Symbols
- quetzal (bird)
- National Anthem
- "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 4 (3 cultural, 1 mixed)
Economy & Trade7 facts
- Overview
- developing Central American economy; steady economic growth fueled by remittances; high poverty and income inequality; limited government services, lack of employment opportunities, and frequent natural disasters impede human development efforts and drive emigration
- Industries
- sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism
- Agricultural Products
- sugarcane, bananas, oil palm fruit, maize, cantaloupes/melons, potatoes, milk, tomatoes, chicken, pineapples (2023)
- Export Partners
- USA 33%, El Salvador 11%, Honduras 9%, Nicaragua 6%, Mexico 4% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- garments, bananas, coffee, palm oil, raw sugar (2023)
- Import Partners
- USA 30%, China 19%, Mexico 11%, El Salvador 4%, Costa Rica 3% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- refined petroleum, video displays, cars, trucks, packaged medicine (2023)
Infrastructure & Defense4 facts
- Military Forces
- Army of Guatemala (Ejercito de Guatemala; aka Armed Forces of Guatemala or Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala): Land Forces (Fuerzas de Tierra), Naval Forces (Fuerzas de Mar), and Air Force (Fuerza de Aire) (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-28 for voluntary service for men and women (17-21 for military schools); all Guatemalan men 18-49 are subject to selective compulsory service; service obligation is 12-24 months (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 25.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 1.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 2.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 42% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); geothermal: 2.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 25.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- 4 privately owned national terrestrial TV channels dominate TV broadcasting; multi-channel satellite and cable services are available; 1 government-owned radio station and hundreds of privately owned radio stations (2019)
Source:World Factbook archive 2026
Data vault
Deep Dive
Every tracked stat, grouped for fast scanning.
Society & Equality2 statsBest: #9
Environment9 statsBest: #35
Renewable Energy (%)
Electricity Access (%)
Irrigated Land
3.4K km²#63
Forest Area
Protected Land (%)
Total CO2 Emissions
Air Pollution (PM2.5)
Forest Coverage (%)
CO2 Per Capita
Land & Sea4 statsBest: #39
Highest Elevation
4.2K m#39
Lowest Elevation
0 m#97
Land Border Length
1.7K km#100
Coastline Length
400 km#118
Demographics12 statsBest: #44
Teen Birth Rate
Population
Youth Population (%)
Population Density
Birth Rate
Dependency Ratio
Fertility Rate
Land Area
Urban Population (%)
Elderly Population (%)
Median Age
Death Rate
Education & Future6 statsBest: #57
Wealth & Economy10 statsBest: #69
GDP (Nominal)
GDP Growth Rate
High-Tech Exports (%)
Inflation Rate
GDP Per Capita
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
FDI Inflows (% GDP)
Government Debt (% GDP)
Youth Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate
Health & Survival9 statsBest: #76
Child Mortality
Infant Mortality
Health Spending (% GDP)
Obesity Rate
Doctors (per 1,000)
Life Expectancy
Suicide Rate
Smoking Rate
Hospital Beds (per 1,000)
Military & Defense2 statsBest: #76
Lifestyle5 statsBest: #76
Infrastructure3 statsBest: #80
Energy1 statsBest: #91
Electric Generating Capacity
5.00M kW#91
Keep exploring
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Share a country stat
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Guatemala
#70 in Population
The total number of people living in the country.
Top third globally
18.26M
Frequently Asked Questions about Guatemala
What is the population of Guatemala?
Guatemala has a population of 18.26M, ranking #70 globally by population.
What continent is Guatemala in?
Guatemala is located in North America. It has an area of 108,889 km².
What is the life expectancy in Guatemala?
Life expectancy in Guatemala is 72.6 years, ranking #126 globally.
What is the GDP per capita of Guatemala?
Guatemala's GDP per capita (PPP) is $14,368.66, ranking #121 globally.
What is Guatemala known for in global statistics?
Guatemala ranks particularly high in Population (#70), Population Density (#70), Land Area (#103).
What is Guatemala's Human Development Index?
Guatemala has an HDI of 0.662, ranking #137 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
How densely populated is Guatemala?
Guatemala has a population density of 169.1 people per km², ranking #70 globally.