NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Guatemala
Republica de Guatemala
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Guatemala was freed of Spanish colonial rule 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 conflict, which had led to the death of more than 100,000 people and had created some 1 million refugees. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico |
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Geographic coordinates:
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15 30 N, 90 15 W |
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Map references:
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Central America and the Caribbean |
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Area:
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total: 108,890 sq km
water: 460 sq km land: 108,430 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Tennessee |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km |
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Coastline:
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400 km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 5.03% other: 82.43% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,250 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol |
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Geography - note:
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no natural harbors on west coast |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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13,314,079 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.8% (male 2,841,486; female 2,725,343)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 3,629,363; female 3,630,273) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 227,369; female 260,245) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.57% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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34.17 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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6.67 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-1.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 66.85 years
female: 69.66 years (2002 est.) male: 64.16 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.51 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.38% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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73,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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3,600 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish or assimilated Amerindian - in local Spanish called Ladino), approximately 55%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian, approximately 43%, whites and others 2% |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs |
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Languages:
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Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca) |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.6% male: 68.7% female: 58.5% (2000 est.) |