t earthquakes;
Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms;
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Note:
no natural harbors on west coast

*Guatemala, People

Population:
10,446,015 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.63% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
36.19 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
55.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
63.99 years
male:
61.46 years
female:
66.65 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Guatemalan(s)
adjective:
Guatemalan
Ethnic divisions:
Ladino 56% (mestizo - mixed Indian and European ancestry), Indian 44%
Religions:
Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan
Languages:
Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi)
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
total population:
55%
male:
63%
female:
47%
Labor force:
2.5 million
by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction
4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)

*Guatemala, Government

Names:
conventional long form:
Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form:
Guatemala
local long form:
Republica de Guatemala
local short form:
Guatemala
Digraph:
GT
Type:
republic
Capital:
Guatemala
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
Independence:
15 September 1821 (from Spain)
Constitution:
31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986
note:
suspended on 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO; reinstated on 5 June 1993
following ouster of president
Legal system:
civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
Independence Day, 15 September (1821)
Political parties and leaders:
National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge CARPIO Nicolle; Solidarity Action
Movement (MAS), Jorg