General
Although there has been no formal census for many years it is believed that the total population of the country is in the region of 15 m to 16 m.
The main and official language of the country is Spanish, however, it is said to have 23 languages and around 120 dialects in the country.
The local currency is abbreviated as Q. which stands for Quetzales in Spanish and a current rate of exchange can be found in the Bank of Guatemala with the link in this site under Useful Links.
Guatemala is located between Mexico to the North and West, Belize to the East, Honduras to the South East and El Salvador to the South West, with the Pacific Ocean to the South West and Caribbean/Atlantic to the East. The country is mostly mountainous with relatively small coastal plains along the Pacific and Caribbean/Atlantic coasts, but with a large rolling limestone plateau to the North East.
Coordinates: 15° 30’ N, 90° 15’ W
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Climate
Approximate maximums and minimums and yearly rainfall:
| Locations | Altitude | Max | Min | Rainfall |
| Coastal | 0 to 3,000’ | 40° C | 20° C | 2,700 mm |
| Temperate | 3,000’ to 6,000’ | 30° C | <10° C | 1,200 mm |
| Highlands | > 6,000’ | 25° C | < 0° C | 805 mm |
Area:
| Total | 108,889 km2 |
| Water | 1,730 km2 |
| Land | 107,159 km2 |
Land boundaries:
| Total | 1,667 km |
| Mexico | 958 km |
| Belize | 266 km |
| Honduras | 244 km |
| El Salvador | 199 km |
| Coastline | 400 km |
Commerce:
Main Exports/Imports:
| Exports | Imports |
| Coffee | Fuels |
| Sugar | Machinery and transport equipment |
| Petroleum | Construction materials |
| Apparel | Grain |
| Bananas | Fertilisers |
| Fruits | Electricity |
| Vegetables | Mineral products |
| Cardamom | Chemical products |
| Plastic materials and products |
Main Trading Partners:
| Exports | % | Imports | % |
| US | 39.2% | US | 38.4% |
| El Salvador | 11.4% | Mexico | 11.9% |
| Honduras | 6.8% | China | 8.3% |
| Mexico | 5.4% | El Salvador | 5.1% |
| Nicaragua | 4.0% | Colombia | 4.2% |
Ports:
| Sea Ports | |||
| Port | Ocean | Exports | Imports |
| Puerto Quetzal | Pacific | Sugar, Coffee, Bananas, fish / seafood, cardamom | Vehicles, fertilisers, grains, steel, cement, chemicals, electric appliances, general merchandise |
| Other activities | |||
| Electricity Generation Fishing both local and international |
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| San Jose | Pacific | Molasses | Fuel |
| Champerico | Pacific | Local fishing | |
| Santo Tomas de Castilla | Atlantic | Coffee, bananas, melons, other produce, apparel | Fuels, fertilisers, general merchandise, grains, steel, cement, chemicals, electric appliances, vehicles |
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| Puerto Barrios
(Operated by Chiquita) |
Atlantic | Fresh vegetables, flowers, apparel | General merchandise |
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By air
| Name | Place | Exports | Imports |
| La Aurora International Airport | Guatemala City | Fresh vegetables, flowers, apparel | Electronic and electrical goods, spare parts, pharmaceuticals |
| Mundo Maya International Airport | Flores, Petén | Mainly used for tourism | |