Guatemala

		Food For The Poor has 158 projects either completed or underway in Guatemala. To date, 3,003 housing-units have been built There are four Angels Of Hope orphanages benefiting 301 children in Guatemala Tilapia projects include 42 in-ground ponds and 34 10-foot diameter concrete pools. Learn more about our projects in Guatemala Guatemala Press Releases Food For The Poor Photographer Wins InterAction Photo Of The Year Bid On a Worthy Gift That Gives Twice Vocational Center in Guatemala Teaches Baking, Dressmaking and Literacy

General Information

While Guatemala is the largest Central American country in terms of population (13.8 million) and economic activity, its largely rural, Mayan population live in extremely difficult conditions.

Distribution of land, income and other wealth is controlled by a small percentage of Guatemala’s Spanish-speaking population.

An estimated 75% of Guatemalans live in poverty, and the roughly 5 million Mayans are isolated socially, economically and politically due to geographic and language barriers, as well as the lack of educational and economic opportunity.

The country’s social indicators are among the worst in the hemisphere. Overall adult literacy is estimated at 70 percent, but literacy among Mayan women is estimated as low as 30 percent. Less than half of rural Guatemalans have access to running water, only a quarter have access to electricity and less than one in ten have access to modern sanitation facilities. Infant, child and maternal mortality rates are among the highest in Latin America.

History

The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million refugees.

Fast Facts

• Area - 42,043 sq. miles (slightly larger than Ohio)
• Population - 13,824,463 (July 2011 est.)
• Capital - Guatemala City
• Independence Day - Sept. 15 (1821)
• Languages - Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna and Xinca)
• Religion - Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs
• Currency - Guatemalan Quetzales (GTQ) / 8.08 quetzales = $1 USD
  (Oct. 2010 est.)
• Unemployment - 3.2% (2005 est.)
• Literacy rate - Total population: 69.1% | Male: 75.4% | Female: 63.3%
  (Defined: age 15 and older can read and write) (2002 census)

Demographics