Note: Profiles of all nations are given with info on religious stats and
socio-economics in that nation for your
consideration.
Christian dating :
Guatemala
Geography
Area: 108,890 sq. km. (42,042 sq. mi.); about the size of Tennessee.
Cities: Capital--Guatemala City (metro area pop. 2.5 million).
Other major cities--Quetzaltenango, Escuintla.
Terrain: Mountainous, with fertile coastal plain.
Climate: Temperate in highlands; tropical on coasts.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Guatemalan(s).
Population (2004 est.): 14.3 million.
Annual population growth rate (2004 est.): 2.61%.
Ethnic groups: Mestizo (mixed Spanish-Indian), indigenous.
Christian singles note-Religions: Roman Catholic, Protestant,
traditional Mayan.
Languages: Spanish, 24 indigenous languages (principally Kiche,
Kaqchikel, Q'eqchi, and Mam).
Education: Years compulsory--6. Attendance--41%. Literacy—70.6%.
Health: Infant mortality rate—36.9/1,000. Life expectancy--65.19
yrs.
Work force salaried breakdown: Services--40%; industry and
commerce--37%; agriculture--15%; construction, mining,
utilities--4%. Fifty percent of the population engages in some form
of agriculture, often at the subsistence level outside the monetized
economy.
Government
Type: Constitutional democratic republic.
Constitution: May 1985; amended November 1993.
Independence: September 15, 1821.
Branches: Executive--president (4-year term). Legislative--unicameral
158-member Congress (4-year term). Judicial--13-member Supreme
Court of Justice (5-year term).
Subdivisions: 22 departments (appointed governors); 331 municipalities
with elected mayors and city councils.
Major political parties: Gran Alianza Nacional (GANA--a coalition of
three parties), Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG), National Advancement
Party (PAN), National Union for Hope (UNE), New Nation Alliance (ANN),
Unionists (Unionistas), Patriot Party (PP)
Suffrage: Universal for adults 18 and over who are not serving on active
duty with the armed forces or police. A variety of procedural obstacles
have historically reduced participation by poor, rural, and indigenous
people.
Economy
GDP (2002 est.): $23 billion ($46.2 billion PPP).
Annual growth rate (2002 est.): 2.2%.
Per capita GDP (2002 est.): $2,068 ($3,700 PPP).
Natural resources: Oil, timber, nickel.
Agriculture (22% of GDP): Products--coffee, sugar, bananas,
cardamom, vegetables, flowers and plants, timber, rice, rubber.
Manufacturing (13% of GDP): Types--prepared food, clothing and
textiles, construction materials, tires, pharmaceuticals.
Trade (2002): Exports--$2.24 billion: coffee, sugar, cardamom,
bananas, fruits and vegetables, petroleum, apparel. Major markets--U.S.
30%, Central American Common Market (CACM) 39%. Imports--$6.08
billion: fuels and lubricants, industrial machinery, motor vehicles,
iron, and steel. Major suppliers--U.S. 36%, CACM 11%, Mexico 10%.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-More than half of Guatemalans are descendants of
indigenous Mayan peoples. Westernized Mayans and mestizos (mixed
European and indigenous ancestry) are known as Ladinos. Most of
Guatemala's population is rural, though urbanization is accelerating.
The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, into which many
indigenous Guatemalans have incorporated traditional forms of worship.
Protestantism and traditional Mayan religions are practiced by an
estimated 40% and 1% of the population, respectively. Though the
official language is Spanish, it is not universally understood among the
indigenous population. However, peace accords signed in December
1996 provide for the translation of some official documents and voting
materials into several indigenous languages.
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