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MAIN ECONOMIC FIGURES

All the information found within this section is sole responsibility of FUNDESA (Guatemalan Development Foundation)

Country Profile



Official name: Republic of GuatemalaCapital: Guatemala CityHead of state: President Alfonso Portillo Next
Presidential elections: 2004
Currency: Quetzal (Q)
Official language: Spanish
Area: 108,890 square kilometers, (42,042 square miles).
Principal urban centers: Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, Escuintla, Cobán, Chichicastenango and Puerto Barrios.
Topography: Mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains.
Climate: Two predominant seasons; wet (May through October) and dry (November through April). Temperatures are moderate year round.
Demographic statistics Total Population: 11.3 millionRural population: 51.8 percentPercentage of males: 49.3Annual rate of growth: 2.64Life expectancy: 64.6 yearsPopulation density: 112 per square mileAdult literacy rate: 63.3 percent
Principal economic indicators Gross Domestic Product (GDP): US$18.3 billion (Largest in Central America)GDP growth rate: 3.6 percentGDP per capita: US$1,475.00External debt: US$1.42 billionLabor force: 4.3 millionInter-annual accumulated inflation: 4.9 per cent Exchange rate: US$1.00= Q7.80 (Rate floats freely)Time zone: EST -1 hour, GMT minus 6 hours
National public holidays: January 1, Holy Thursday, Holy Friday, May 1, June 30, August 15 (Guatemala City only), September 15, October 20, November 1, December 24 (half day) and December 25.

Region 1



Metropolitan Guatemala

Department: Guatemala
Population: 2,578,526
Area: 2,126 square kilometers
Average temperatures: 15-26°C
Annual projected rainfall: 1,256 mm
Mean altitude: 1,500 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Guatemala City, Mixco, Villa Nueva, and Amatitlán.

  • Protected areas:
    • Pacaya Volcano, Kaminal Juyú Archaeological Center and the Hipódromo del Norte Relief Map.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Corn, coffee, carrots, and apples.

  • Products with growth potential:
    • Snow peas, broccoli, cut flowers, and bromeliads.

  • Principal industries:
    • Light manufacturing, food processing, beverage bottling plants, retail, textile and clothing assemblage plants (drawback), and packaging of agro-industrial products.

  • Mineral deposits in the region: Antimony, barium, zinc, iron and manganese.

  • Infrastructure:

    • Hotel rooms available: 4,875
    Homes with electricity: 92%
    Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants: 88.2
    Pay telephones: 2,500
    AM Radio Stations: 31
    FM Radio Stations: 49
    Commercial TV Stations: 8
    Public health facilities: 16
    Private health facilities: 168
    Public education institutions: 287
    Private education institutions: 410

    Region 2



    Central Highlands

    Departments: 2 Chimaltenango, 3 Sacatepéquez and 4 Sololá.
    Population: 994,658
    Area: 3,505 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 18-24°C
    Annual projected rainfall: 952 - 1,587 mm
    Mean altitude: 1,530 - 2,114 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Chimaltenango, La Antigua Guatemala, Sololá and Panajachel.

  • Protected Areas:
    • The city of La Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlán Multe Area, Iximché Monument, San Pedro, Acatenango, Fuego and Agua Volcanoes.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Coffee, corn, wheat, baby vegetables, cut flowers, and fruits.

  • Agricultural products with growth potential:
    • Okra, melon and garlic.

  • Principal industries:
    • Drawback textile operations, hand-woven textiles, non-traditional vegetables packaging plants, and regional handicrafts.

  • Mineral deposits in the region:
    • Antimony, iron, titanium and copper.

  • Access:
    • The Inter-American Highway provides primary access to the region year-round.

  • Infrastructure:
    • Hotel rooms available: 2,630

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 72.7 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 22

  • Pay telephones:
    • 90

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 32

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 61

  • Public health facilities:
    • 7

  • Private health facilities:
    • 22

  • Public education institutions:
    • 20

  • Private education institutions:
    • 23
     
    Region 3



    Western Highlands

    Departments:     5 Quetzaltenango, 6 Totonicapán, 7 San Marcos, and 8 Huehuetenango.
    Population: 2,764,028
    Area: 4,203 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 12 - 19°C
    Annual proyected rainfall: 94 - 2,138 mm (regional average)
    Mean altitude: 1,900 - 2,495 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Quetzaltenango, Totonicapán, San Marcos, and Huehuetenango.

  • Protected areas:
    • Tajumulco Volcano.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Corn, wheat, coffee, fruits, and wool.

  • Products with growth potential:
    • Broccoli and forest products.

  • Principal industries:
    • Hand-woven and manufactured textiles, regional handicrafts for export, furniture, ceramics, and blown glass.

  • Principal industries:
    • Shoe manufacturing, regional handicrafts, bromeliad plantations, and forest products.

  • Mineral deposits in the region:
    • Barium, cobalt, zinc, silver, lead and titanium.

  • Access:
    • The region is accessible year round by the Inter-American Highway and by the Pacific Coastal Highway.

    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 1,650

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 53 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 19

  • Pay telephones:
    • 155

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 22

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 48

  • Public health facilities:
    • 14

  • Private health facilities:
    • 53

  • Public education institutions:
    • 52

  • Private education institutions:
    • 37
     
    Region 4



    Northern Highlands

    Departments: 9 Quiché, 10 Alta Verapaz, and 11 Baja Verapaz.
    Population: 1,606,561
    Area: 20,188 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 16 - 22°C (in department capitals)
    Annual projected rainfall: 789 - 1,265 mm (regional average)
    Mean altitude: 940 - 2,021 meters



  • Principal UrbAn centers:
    • Santa Cruz del Quiché, Cobán, Salamá, and Chichicastenango.

  • Protected areas:
    • Sierra de las Minas Biosphere, Lachuá National Park, Mario Dary Biotope (Quetzal Biotope), Sierra de los Cuchumatanes Multiple Use Area, and Semuc Champey River Monument.

  • Principal agricultural
    • products: Coffee, cardamom, rice, broccoli, corn, and black pepper.

  • Products with growth
    • potential: Rubber, cut flowers, garlic, and fruits.

  • Mineral deposits in the region:
    • Barium, cobalt, zinc, silver, lead and titanium.

  • Principal industries:
    • Shoe manufacture, regional handicrafts, bromeliad plantations, and forest products.

  • Access:
    • Good road access is restricted to the cities of Salamá and Cobán in Baja and Alta Verapaz and Santa Cruz del Quiché in the Department of El Quiché.
     
    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 990

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 37.8

  • Telephone lines per 1, 000 inhabitants:
    • 14

  • Pay telephones:
    • 60

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 7

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 18

  • Public health facilities:
    • 8

  • Private health facilities:
    • 4

  • Public education institutions:
    • 15

  • Private education institutions:
    • 16

    Region 5



    Petén

    Departments    : 12 Peten
    Population: 303,389
    Area: 35,854 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 22 - 34°C
    Annual projected rainfall: 1,270 mm
    Mean altitude: 127 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Flores

  • Protected areas:
    • Maya Biosphere Reserve, Tikal National Park, Cerro Cahui Biotope, Laguna El Tigre-Rio Escondido Biotope, San Miguel-La Palotada El Zotz Biotope, and Ceibal-Aguateca-Dos Pilas Monuments.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Corn, rice, and black beans.

  • Products with GROWTH potential:
    • Black pepper and forest products.

  • Principal industries:
    • Low-impact tourism, oil, precious woods, palm fronds, chicle, and wood ornaments.

  • Mineral deposits in the region:
    • Copper

  • Access:
    • The completion of a paved road provides adequate access to the region. Daily commercial flights from both Guatemala City and Mexico service the region.

    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 1,065

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 38.6 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 11

  • Pay telephones:
    • 25

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 5

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 4

  • Public health facilities:
    • 2

  • Private health facilities:
    • 3

  • Public education institutions:
    • 7

  • Private education institutions:
    • 3
     
    Region 6



    Izabal

    Departments: Izabal
    Population: 333,956
    Area: 9,038 square kilometers
    Average temperature: 20 - 28°C
    Annual projected rainfall: 3,075 mm
    Mean altitude: Sea level to 70 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Puerto Barrios

  • Protected areas:
    • Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve, Rio Dulce National Park, Chocón Machacas Biotope, Punta de Manabique Biotope, Cerro San Gil, Bocas del Polochic, and Quiriguá Monument.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Bananas, corn, black beans, rice, and plantains.

  • Products with growth potential:
    • Citrus and tropical fruits.

  • Principal industries:
    • Port operations, private marinas, oil pipeline terminal, fishing, and plywood manufacturing.

  • Access:
    • The region's principal cities can be reached by the Inter-Oceanic Highway, which is functional year-round.

    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 1,035

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 66.8 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 19

  • Pay telephones:
    • 150

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 8

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 30

  • Public health facilities:
    • 13

  • Private health facilities:
    • 9

  • Public education institutions:
    • 31

  • Private education institutions:
    • 22

    Region 7



    Eastern Plains

    Departments: 14 Jutiapa, 15 Jalapa, 16 Chiquimula, 17 Zacapa and 18 El Progreso
    Population: 1,325,105
    Area: 12,270 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 20 - 30°C
    Annual projected rainfall: 1,150 mm
    Mean altitude: 184 - 1,800 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Jutiapa, Jalapa, Guastatoya, Chiquimula and Zacapa.

  • Protected areas:
    • Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Rice, sugar cane, tobacco, cocoa, bananas, melons, okra, sesame seeds, grapes, corn, fruits, and black beans.

  • Products with growth potential:
    • Vegetables and tropical fruits.

  • Principal industries:
    • Cement production, agricultural fertilizers, and soft drink bottling plants.

  • Access:
    • Recent improvements to the Inter-Oceanic Highway facilitate access to the region.

    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 1,375

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 66.8 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 19

  • Pay telephones:
    • 150

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 8

  • FM Radio Stations: 30

  • Public health facilities:
    • 13

  • Private health facilities:
    • 9

  • Public education institutions:
    • 31

  • Private education institutions:
    • 22

    Region 8



    Pacific Coast

    Departments: 19 Escuintla, 20 Suchitepéquez, 21 Santa Rosa and 22 Retalhuleu
    Population: 1,522,575
    Area: 11,705 square kilometers
    Average temperatures: 20 - 30°C (In department capitals)
    Annual projected rainfall: 2,965 mm
    Mean altitude: Sea level to 212 meters



  • Principal urban centers:
    • Escuintla, Mazatenango, Cuilapa, Retalhuleu, Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa and Barberena.

  • Protected areas:
    • Pacaya volcano, Hawai National Park, and Monterrico Natural Reserve.

  • Principal agricultural products:
    • Sugar cane, cotton, bananas, coffee, cattle, cardamom, corn, black beans, soy beans, sesame seeds, fruits, shrimp, and rubber.

  • Products with growth potential:
    • Fruits, vegetable sponge (loofah), cashews, okra, ginger, and Tabasco peppers.

  • Principal industries:
    • Sugar and pepper mills, bottling plants, meat and seafood packing plants, shrimp farming, agro-chemical and fertilizer plants, distilleries, thermal power plants, vegetable oil, and petroleum refining.

  • Access:
    • A new privately operated toll highway recently completed expedites access to the region, which is serviced by the Pacific Coastal Highway year-round.

    Infrastructure

  • Hotel rooms available:
    • 1,280

  • Homes with electricity:
    • 68.9 percent

  • Telephone lines per 1,000 inhabitants:
    • 16

  • Pay telephones:
    • 125

  • AM Radio Stations:
    • 12

  • FM Radio Stations:
    • 32

  • Public health facilities:
    • 11

  • Private health facilities:
    • 9

  • Public education institutions:
    • 21

  • Private education institutions:
    • 25.

    all these informations are provided by courtesy of Destination Guatemala and Sol y Luna


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    © World INvestment NEws, 2001.
    This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Guatemala published in Forbes Global Magazine.
    June 11th, 2001 Issue.
    Developed by AgenciaE.Tv