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more about guatemala
guatemala |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Guatemala n : a republic in Central America; noted for low per capita income and illiteracy; politically unstable [syn: {Guatemala}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Guatemala Guatemala:Geography Location: Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Honduras and Belize and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico Map references: Central America and the Caribbean Area: total area: 108,890 sq km land area: 108,430 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Tennessee Land boundaries: total 1,687 km Belize 266 km El Salvador 203 km Honduras 256 km Mexico 962 km Coastline: 400 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm International disputes: border with Belize in dispute; talks to resolve the dispute are stalled Climate: tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands Terrain: mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten) Natural resources: petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle Land use: arable land: 12% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 12% forest and woodland: 40% other: 32% Irrigated land: 780 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution natural hazards: numerous volcanoes in mountains, with frequent violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea Note: no natural harbors on west coast Guatemala:People Population: 10,998,602 (July 1995 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 43% (female 2,324,041; male 2,424,686) 15-64 years: 53% (female 2,939,170; male 2,934,334) 65 years and over: 4% (female 198,807; male 177,564) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.53% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 34.65 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 7.33 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: -2.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 64.85 years male: 62.27 years female: 67.56 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 4.63 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Guatemalan(s) adjective: Guatemalan Ethnic divisions: Mestizo - mixed Amerindian-Spanish ancestry (in local Spanish called Ladino) 56%, Amerindian or predominently Amerindian 44% Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant, traditional Mayan Languages: Spanish 60%, Indian language 40% (23 Indian dialects, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi) Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 55% male: 63% female: 47% Labor force: 3.2 million (1994 est.) by occupation: agriculture 60%, services 13%, manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%, utilities 0.7%, mining 0.3% (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) National holiday: Independence Day 15 September (1821) Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986 note: suspended 25 May 1993 by President SERRANO reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal Executive branch: chief of state and head of government: President Ramiro DE LEON Carpio (since 6 June 1993); Vice President Arturo HERBRUGER (since 18 June 1993); election runoff held on 11 January 1991 (next to be held November 1995); results - Jorge SERRANO Elias (MAS) 68.1%, Jorge CARPIO Nicolle (UCN) 31.9% note: President SERRANO resigned on 1 June 1993 shortly after dissolving Congress and the judiciary; on 6 June 1993, Ramiro DE LEON Carpio was chosen as the new president by a vote of Congress; he will finish off the remainder of SERRANO's term which expires 14 January 1996 cabinet: Council of Ministers; named by the president Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic (Congreso de la Republica): by agreement of 11 November 1993, a special election was held on 14 August 1994 to select 80 new congressmen (next election to be held in November 1995 for full four year terms); results - percent of vote by party; FRG 40%, PAN 31.25%, DCG 15%, UCN 10%, MLN 2.5%, UD 1.25%; seats - (80 total) FRG 32, PAN 25, DCG 12, UCN 8, MLN 2, UD 1 note: on 11 November 1993 the congress approved a procedure that would reduce its membership from 116 seats to 80; the procedure provided for a special election in mid-1994 to elect an interim congress of 80 members to serve until replaced in a general election in November 1995; the plan was approved in a general referendum in January 1994 and the special election was held on 14 August 1994 Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de Justicia); additionally the Court of Constitutionality is presided over by the President of the Supreme Court Political parties and leaders: National Centrist Union (UCN), (vacant); Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Oliverio GARCIA Rodas; Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo; National Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario SOLORZANO Martinez; Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA Perez; Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), Efrain RIOS Montt; Democratic Union UD Other political or pressure groups: Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations (CACIF); Mutual Support Group (GAM); Agrarian Owners Group (UNAGRO); Committee for Campesino Unity (CUC); leftist guerrilla movement known as Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union (URNG) has four main factions - Guerrilla army of the Poor (EGP); Revolutionary Organization of the People in Arms (ORPA); Rebel Armed Forces (FAR); Guatemalan Labor Party (PGT/O) Member of: BCIE, CACM, CCC, ECLAC FAO, G-24, G-77, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), NAM, OAS, OPANAL PCA, UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU WHO WIPO, WMO, WTO Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Edmond MULET chancery: 2220 R Street NW Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952 through 4954 FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908 consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn McAFEE embassy: 7-01 Avenida de la Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City mailing address: APO AA 34024 telephone: [502] (2) 311541 FAX: [502] (2) 318885 Flag: 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) 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 and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath Economy Overview: The economy is based on family and corporate agriculture, which accounts for 25% of GDP, employs about 60% of the labor force, and supplies two-thirds of exports. Manufacturing, predominantly in private hands, accounts for about 15% of GDP and 12% of the labor force. In both 1990 and 1991, the economy grew by 3%, the fourth and fifth consecutive years of mild growth. In 1992 growth picked up to almost 5% as government policies favoring competition and foreign trade and investment took stronger hold In 1993-94, despite political unrest, this momentum continued, foreign investment held up and annual growth was 4%. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $33 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 4% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $3,080 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 12% (1994 est.) Unemployment rate: 4.9%; underemployment 30%-40% (1994 est.) Budget: revenues: $604 million (1990) expenditures: $808 million, including capital expenditures of $134 million (1990) Exports: $1.38 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.) commodities: coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamon, beef partners: US 30%, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Germany, Honduras Imports: $2.6 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: fuel and petroleum products, machinery, grain, fertilizers, motor vehicles partners: US 44%, Mexico, Venezuela, Japan, Germany External debt: $2.2 billion ( 1992 est.) Industrial production: growth rate 1.9% (1991 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP Electricity: capacity: 700,000 kW production: 2.3 billion kWh consumption per capita: 211 kWh (1993) Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism Agriculture: accounts for 25% of GDP; most important sector of economy; contributes two-thirds of export earnings; principal crops - sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; livestock - cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens; food importer Illicit drugs: transit country for cocaine shipments; illicit producer of opium poppy and cannabis for the international drug trade the government has an active eradication program for cannabis and opium poppy Economic aid: recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-90), $1.1 billion; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $7.92 billion Currency: 1 quetzal Q = 100 centavos Exchange rates: free market quetzales Q per US$1 - 5.7372 (January 1995), 5.7512 (1994), 5,6354 (1993), 5.1706 (1992), 5.0289 (1991), 4.4858 (1990); note - black-market rate 2.800 (May 1989) Fiscal year: calendar year Guatemala:Transportation Railroads: total: 1,019 km (102 km privately owned) narrow gauge: 1,019 km 0.914-m gauge (single track) Highways: total: 26,429 km paved: 2,868 km unpaved: gravel 11,421 km unimproved earth 12,140 km Inland waterways: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season Pipelines: crude oil 275 km Ports: Champerico Puerto Barrios, Puerto Quetzal, San Jose, Santo Tomas de Castilla Merchant marine: none Airports: total: 528 with paved runways over 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 5 with paved runways under 914 m: 360 with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 12 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 146 Guatemala:Communications Telephone system: 97,670 telephones; fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala local: NA intercity: NA international: connection into Central American Microwave System; 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station Radio: broadcast stations: AM 91, FM 0, shortwave 15 radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 25 televisions: NA Guatemala:Defense Forces Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force Manpower availability: males age 15-49 2,574,501; males fit for military service 1,683,028; males reach military age (18) annually 123,715 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $121 million, 1% of GDP (1993)
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