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Guatemala

Guatemala. By Peyton Johnson. An Overview. Guatemala is located in Central America, their capital Guatemala City Country population (July 2011 estimate): 13,824,463 It is the most populous country in Latin America. Population breakdown (%): Ages 0-14 31.8% Ages 15-64 58% Ages 65+ 3.9%.

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Guatemala

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  1. Guatemala By Peyton Johnson

  2. An Overview • Guatemala is located in Central America, their capital Guatemala City • Country population (July 2011 estimate): 13,824,463 • It is the most populous country in Latin America • Population breakdown (%): • Ages0-14 31.8% • Ages 15-64 58% • Ages 65+ 3.9%

  3. Las Lenguas de Guatemala • The official language of Guatemala is Spanish spoken by 60% of the population • Other Amerindian languages (23 different languages) are spoken by 40% of the population

  4. The Ethnicity Breakdown • The ethnic breakdown of Guatemala (%): • Mestizo 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: .2% • Other: .1% • They have 2.12 immigrants for every 1,000 population Mayans

  5. Economic Demographic • They have an unemployment rate of 3.2% • Population below the poverty line is 56.2% • GINI coefficient of 55.1 • The bottom 10%: 1.3% • The top 10%: 42.4% • World Rank 79

  6. Industries • Sugar, textiles, clothing • Coffee export: • Crash in coffee prices left coffee (their primary export) in depression- which had had a severe impact on rural income

  7. Economic Growth • Because Guatemala is the most populous country in Latin America and signed their peace treaty in 1996 that should have led to economic growth but there was a financial crisis in 1998. • Economic growth fell in 2009 due to the decline of export demand from the US and other Central American countries decline but started to rise again in 2010 and should be back to a normal growth rate by 2012.

  8. Government • They have a constitutional democratic republic and their current leader is President ÁlvaroColom Caballeros • Their capital is Guatemala City • They gained their independence from Spain September 18th, 1821

  9. President Álvaro Colom Caballeros • b. 1951 in Guatemala City • Elected president in 2008 after running unsuccessfully in 1999 and 2003 • He was an industrial engineer and became a textile entrepreneur • In the 1990´s became the director of the national peace fund • Helped resettle refugees after the civil war

  10. Timeline- 1821 • On September 18th, 1821 Guatemala gained independence from Spain

  11. Timeline-1944 • Gen. Jorge Ubico’s dictatorship was overthrown by the “October Revolutionaries” • The October revolutionaries were a group of military officers, students, and liberal professionals who didn’t agree with his rule • After he was overthrown an elected civilian president took over in 1945 to 1951

  12. Timeline- A Civil War • There was a 36 year Guerrilla war from 1960-1996 • Began when left-wing guerilla groups started battling government military forces • More than 100,000 dead, up to 83% of those killed were Mayan, and over a million refugees were left

  13. A Civil War cont. • So many Mayans were killed because the army was afraid that they were going to be potential allies to the rebels because of their poverty and marginalization • A peace treaty was signed by the government in 1996

  14. What is a “Left Wing”? • n. members of a liberal or radical political party, or those favoring extensive political reform. • The part of a political or social organization advocating a liberal or radical position Not quite the right left wing. 

  15. US Relationship • They have a close relationship • The relationship is strained at times due to human and civil right issues • US is a member of the “Friends of Guatemala” along with Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Norway, and Venezuela

  16. Issues in the country • Drugs • They are close to Mexico and so are a major staging area for drugs • Violence • Includes murder, rape, armed assault • Deforestation • Between 1990 and 2007 they lost 17% of their forests

  17. Food • While most Guatemalans are of both indigenous and European decent, their food contains ingredients that are standard for Latin America • Corn, tomatoes, beans, tomatillos, peppers, and plantains • Some dishes that are from Guatemala are Jocón, pepián, and hilachas as well as several versions of the tamale

  18. Hitting Home 

  19. Sources • https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gt.html#top • http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/guatemala.htm • http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2045.htm • http://www.answers.com/topic/lvaro-colom-caballeros • http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html#crime • http://www.guardian.co.uk/journalismcompetition/deforestation-guatemala • http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/latin_america/jan-june11/timeline_03-07.html • http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/05/05/AR2009050503809.html • http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/left+wing • http://www.whats4eats.com/central-america/guatemala-cuisine • http://www.heritage.org/index/Country/Guatemala

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