Population and Demographics

Though most of Guatemala's population is rural, urbanisation is accelerating. Guatemala City (approx. 3 million residents) is expanding at a rapid rate, and Quetzaltenango, the second largest city (approx. 300,000 residents), is growing as well.

The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Protestantism and traditional Mayan religions are practiced by an estimated 33% and 1% of the population, respectively. It is common for traditional Mayan practices to be incorporated into Christian ceremonies and worship, a process known as syncretism.

Racial stratification is complex and fluid in Guatemalan politics, culture and identity. Over 40% of Guatemalans are Mestizo, 35% are perceived as 'unmixed' indigenous or American Indian groups, and the rest are in the Ladino upper-middle class of more Spanish/European (including of English, French, German, Italian and Polish) ancestry. Other racial groups include small numbers of black Africans and Garifuna of mixed African and indigenous Caribbean origins live on the country's eastern end. East Asians, mostly of Chinese descent, make up 1% of the population, descendants of farm workers and railroad labourers in the early 20th century.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 12,293,545
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098)
  • 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184)
  • 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 18.9 years
  • Male: 18.5 years
  • Female: 19.4 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.27%
• Birth Rate: 29.88 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 5.2 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: -1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 0.99 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 33.55 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 69.38 years
  • Male: 67.65 years
  • Female: 71.18 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 3.82 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: 1.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: 78,000
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) 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 0.2%
  • Other 0.1%
• Religions:
  • Roman Catholic
  • Protestant
  • Indigenous Mayan beliefs
• Languages:
  • Spanish 60%
  • Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognised Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 70.6%
  • Male: 78%
  • Female: 63.3%