Guatemala

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.gt

Internet hosts

357,552 (2012) country comparison to the world: 60

Internet users

2.279 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 72

Telephone system

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala domestic: state-owned telecommunications company privatized in the late 1990s opening the way for competition; fixed-line teledensity roughly 10 per 100 persons; fixed-line investments are being concentrated on improving rural connectivity; mobile-cellular teledensity approaching 150 per 100 persons international: country code - 502; landing point for both the Americas Region Caribbean Ring System (ARCOS-1) and the SAM-1 fiber optic submarine cable system that together provide connectivity to South and Central America, parts of the Caribbean, and the US; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.626 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 65

Telephones - mobile cellular

20.716 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 47

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Budget

revenues: $5.799 billion expenditures: $7.091 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010 est.) NA% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.6% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 13.43% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$2.039 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 -$1.523 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$16.17 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $15.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

55.1 (2007) country comparison to the world: 11 55.8 (1998)

Economy - overview

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of the average for Latin America and the Caribbean. The agricultural sector accounts for 13% of GDP and 38% of the labor force; key agricultural exports include coffee, sugar, bananas, and vegetables. The 1996 peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, and since then Guatemala has pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) entered into force in July 2006 spurring increased investment and diversification of exports, with the largest increases in ethanol and non-traditional agricultural exports. While CAFTA-DR has helped improve the investment climate, concerns over security, the lack of skilled workers and poor infrastructure continue to hamper foreign direct investment. The distribution of income remains highly unequal with the richest 20% of the population accountingfor more than 51% of Guatemala's overall consumption. More than half of the population is below the national poverty line and 13% of the population lives in extreme poverty. Poverty among indigenous groups, which make up 38% of the population, averages 73% and extreme poverty rises to 28%. Nearly one-half of Guatemala's children under age five are chronically malnourished, one of the highest malnutrition rates in the world. Given Guatemala's large expatriate community in the United States, it is the top remittance recipient in Central America, with inflows serving as a primary source of foreign income equivalent to nearly two-fifths of exports or one-tenth of GDP. Economic growth fell in 2009 as export demand from US and other Central American markets dropped and foreign investment slowed amid the global recession. The economy gradually recovered in 2010-12.

Exchange rates

quetzales (GTQ) per US dollar - 7.88 (2012 est.) 7.7854 (2011 est.) 8.0578 (2010 est.) 8.1616 (2009) 7.5895 (2008)

Exports

$9.864 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $10.55 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom

Exports - partners

US 37.9%, El Salvador 10.5%, Honduras 6.8%, Mexico 5.1% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$50.3 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$78.42 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 83 $76.06 billion (2011 est.) $73.23 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 13% industry: 23.8% services: 63.2% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $5,200 (2011 est.) $5,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.1% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 3.9% (2011 est.) 2.9% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 42.4% (2006)

Imports

$15.57 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $15.37 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity, mineral products, chemical products, plastic materials and products

Imports - partners

US 40.4%, Mexico 11.6%, China 8.2%, El Salvador 4.5% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

4.1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 79

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 6.2% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

14.6% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Labor force

5.571 million (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 38% industry: 14% services: 48% (2011 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

54% (2011 est.)

Public debt

29.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 29.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.311 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $6.184 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$21.76 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $20.64 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.68 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $18.31 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.854 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $7.506 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 3.5% (2010 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

12.97 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Crude oil - exports

12,620 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Crude oil - production

10,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Crude oil - proved reserves

83.07 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - consumption

8.161 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Electricity - exports

193.3 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Electricity - from fossil fuels

58.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

29.1% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 19

Electricity - imports

525.6 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.673 million kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Electricity - production

8.146 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 209

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.96 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Refined petroleum products - consumption

80,810 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Refined petroleum products - exports

4,162 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - imports

68,910 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

Refined petroleum products - production

1,132 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Area

total: 108,889 sq km country comparison to the world: 107 land: 107,159 sq km water: 1,730 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Climate

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Coastline

400 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m note: highest point in Central America

Environment - current issues

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.01 cu km/yr (6%/13%/80%) per capita: 160 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Geography - note

no natural harbors on west coast

Irrigated land

2,000 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 1,687 km border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Land use

arable land: 13.22% permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005)

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

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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 (elev. 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 (elev. 2,552 m), which erupted in May 2010 causing an ashfall on Guatemala City and prompting evacuations, 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

Natural resources

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Terrain

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau

Total renewable water resources

111.3 cu km (2000)

Administrative divisions

22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Capital

name: Guatemala City geographic coordinates: 14 37 N, 90 31 W time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; suspended 25 May 1993; reinstated 5 June 1993; amended November 1993

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala conventional short form: Guatemala local long form: Republica de Guatemala local short form: Guatemala

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Arnold A. CHACON embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: DPO AA 34024 telephone: [502] 2326-4000 FAX: [502] 2326-4654

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Francisco VILLAGRAN de Leon chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4953 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix, Providence, San Francisco

Executive branch

chief of state: President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Otto Fernando PEREZ MOLINA (since 14 January 2012); Vice President Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias (since 14 January 2012) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held on 11 September 2011; runoff held on 6 November 2011 (next to be held in September 2015) election results: Otto PEREZ MOLINA elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote - Otto PEREZ MOLINA 53.7%, Manuel BALDIZON 46.3%

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue, with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) representing liberty and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles signifying Guatemala's willingness to defend itself and a pair of crossed swords representing honor and framed by a laurel wreath symbolizing victory; the blue bands stand for the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and the sea and sky; the white band denotes peace and purity

Government type

constitutional democratic republic

Independence

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; the Congress ratified Statute of Rome on 18 January 2012, and ICCt jurisdiction entered into force on 23 February 2012

International organization participation

BCIE, CACM, CD, CELAC, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, SICA, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSC (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitucionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges and five alternate judges are elected by Congress for concurrent five-year terms); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members are elected by Congress to serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)

Legal system

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members elected through a party list proportional representation system) elections: last held on 11 September 2011 (next to be held in September 2015) election results: percent of vote by party - PP 26.62%, UNE-GANA 22.67%, UNC 9.50%, LIDER 8.87%, CREO 8.67%, VIVA-EG 7.87%, Winaq-URNG-ANN 3.23%, PAN 3.12%, FRG 2.74%, PU 2.70%, other 3.59%; seats by party - PP 57, UNE-GANA 48, LIDER 14, UCN 14, CREO 12, VIVA-EG 6, PAN 2, Winaq-URNG-ANN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, VICTORIA 1; note - changes in party affiliation now reflect the following seat distribution: as of 2 March 2012 - PP 62, LIDER 25, UCN 18, Independents 12, CREO 11, GANA 9, UNE 8, VIVA 3, EG 3, PAN 2, FRG 1, PU 1, Winaq 1, URNG 1, VICTORIA 1

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional de Guatemala" (National Anthem of Guatemala) lyrics/music: Jose Joaquin PALMA/Rafael Alvarez OVALLE note: adopted 1897, modified lyrics adopted 1934; Cuban poet Jose Joaquin PALMA anonymously submitted lyrics to a public contest calling for a national anthem; his authorship was not discovered until 1911

National holiday

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

National symbol(s)

quetzal (bird)

Political parties and leaders

Commitment, Renewal, and Order or CREO [Rodolfo NEUTZE]; Democratic Union or UD [Edwin Armando MARTINEZ Herrera]; Encounter for Guatemala or EG [Nineth MONTENEGRO]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Jaime Antonio MARTINEZ Lohayza]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Hector Alfredo NUILA Ericastilla]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Luis Fernando PEREZ]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Juan GUTIERREZ]; National Unity for Hope or UNE; National Welfare or Bien [Fidel REYES Lee]; Nationalist Change Union or UCN [Mario ESTRADA]; New National Alternative or ANN [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ingrid Roxana BALDETTI Elias]; Renewed Democratic Liberty or LIDER [Manuel BALDIZON]; Unionista Party or PU [Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen]; Victoria (Victory) [Abraham RIVERA]; Winaq [Rigoberta MENCHU]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Alliance Against Impunity or AI (which includes among others Center for Legal Action on Human Rights (CALDH), and Family and Friends of the Disappeared of Guatemala (FAMDEGUA)); Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF (which includes among others the Agrarian Chamber (CAMAGRO) and the Industry Chamber of Guatemala (CIG)); Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce (Camara de Comercio); International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala or CICIG; Mutual Support Group or GAM; Movimiento PRO-Justicia

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - active duty members of the armed forces and police may not vote by law and are restricted to their barracks on election day

Background

The Mayan 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 conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees. In January 2012, Guatemala assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-13 term.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,165,870 females age 16-49: 3,371,217 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 2,590,843 females age 16-49: 2,926,544 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 171,092 female: 168,151 (2010 est.)

Military branches

National Army of Guatemala (Ejercito Nacional de Guatemala, ENG), Guatemalan Navy (Marina Nacional, includes Marines), Guatemalan Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca, FAG) (2009)

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 165

Military service age and obligation

all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to 24 months; women can serve as officers (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.4% (male 2,684,966/ female 2,587,063) 15-64 years: 58.6% (male 4,006,895/ female 4,253,546) 65 years and over: 4% (male 262,968/ female 303,594) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

26.48 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 52

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.7% (2002) country comparison to the world: 42

Death rate

4.92 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Demographic profile

Guatemala is a predominantly poor country that struggles in several areas of health and development, including infant, child, and maternal mortality, malnutrition, literacy, and contraceptive awareness and use. The large indigenous population is disproportionately affected. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and has the highest fertility rate in Latin America. It also has the highest population growth rate in Latin America, which is likely to continue in the long term because of its large reproductive-age population and high birth rate. Almost half of Guatemala's population is under age 19, making it the youngest population in Latin America. Guatemala's total fertility rate has slowly declined during the last few decades due in part to limited government-funded health programs. However, the birth rate is still more than three children per woman and is markedly higher among its rural and indigenous populations. Guatemalans have a history of emigrating legally and illegally to Mexico, the United States, and Canada because of a lack of economic opportunity, political instability, and natural disasters. Emigration, primarily to the United States, escalated during the 1960-1996 civil war and accelerated after a peace agreement was signed. Thousands of Guatemalans who fled to Mexico returned after the war, but labor migration to southern Mexico continues.

Education expenditures

3.2% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 125

Ethnic groups

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,600 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 49

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

62,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Health expenditures

5.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 120

Hospital bed density

0.6 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 25.16 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 78 male: 27.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official) 60%, Amerindian languages 40% note: there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.17 years country comparison to the world: 142 male: 69.29 years female: 73.14 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 69.1% male: 75.4% female: 63.3% (2002 census)

Major cities - population

GUATEMALA CITY (capital) 1.075 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

120 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 64

Median age

total: 20.4 years male: 19.7 years female: 21.1 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan

Net migration rate

-2.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Physicians density

0.9 physicians/1,000 population (1999)

Population

14,099,032 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Population growth rate

1.948% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 59

Religions

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 89% of population rural: 73% of population total: 81% of population unimproved: urban: 11% of population rural: 27% of population total: 19% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 11 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2007)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.18 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Urbanization

urban population: 49% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

annual ministerial meetings under the Organization of American States-initiated Agreement on the Framework for Negotiations and Confidence Building Measures continue to address Guatemalan land and maritime claims in Belize and the Caribbean Sea; Guatemala persists in its territorial claim to half of Belize, but agrees to Line of Adjacency to keep Guatemalan squatters out of Belize's forested interior; both countries agreed in April 2012 to hold simultaneous referenda, scheduled for 6 October 2013, to decide whether to refer the dispute to the ICJ for binding resolution; Mexico must deal with thousands of impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Illicit drugs

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2005, cultivated 100 hectares of opium poppy after reemerging as a potential source of opium in 2004; potential production of less than 1 metric ton of pure heroin; marijuana cultivation for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: undetermined (three decades of internal conflict that ended in 1996 displaced mainly the indigenous Maya population and rural peasants; drug cartel and gang violence) (2011)

Airports

291 (2012) country comparison to the world: 24

Airports - with paved runways

total: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 4 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 276 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 79 under 914 m: 194 (2012)

Heliports

1 (2012)

Pipelines

oil 480 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Railways

total: 332 km country comparison to the world: 118 narrow gauge: 332 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

total: 14,095 km country comparison to the world: 124 paved: 4,863 km (includes 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 9,232 km (2000)

Waterways

990 km (260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season) (2012) country comparison to the world: 66