Guatemala is located in the subtropical region of the northern hemisphere of the American continent. It has an extension of 108,889 Km2, borders to the North and West with the RepublicMexico, to the East with Belize, Caribbean Ocean, Honduras and El Salvador and to the South with the Pacific Ocean. of Its official name is Republic of Guatemala and the Mayan name is Iximulew (Land of Maize). Guatemala has 22 departments and a population of more than 12 millions. Its languages are Spanish and 23 Indigenous Languages, which 21 are Mayan, 1 is Garifuna and 1 is Xinca. According to UN Human Development Report, Guatemala has the most unequal situation regarding wealth distribution, which is based in racism and exclusion. Some characteristics of Guatemala that can be stressed, according to the Statistical Compendium 2004 about Human Development and rural, done by PNUD shows us that Guatemala continues to be a rural country since 53.9% of the population comes from rural areas. There is a significant gap between human development of the rural population (0.610) and the urban population (0.747). Agriculture has been diminishing its importance among the national economy, having been replaced by the commercial activity as a sector that generates more incomes in the national economy since mid 90’s. The high land concentration was slightly reduced, having a Gini coefficient of 0.81 in year 1979 to 0.785 in 2003, showing the largest reductions in Alta and Baja Verapaz, Quiché, Huehuetenango, Jutiapa, Totonicapán and Jalapa. Though a relative global economy stagnation, there has been a meaningful change in the composition of the exports, demonstrated in that in 2003 clothing constituted the export main figure. Its raw value superseded the total raw value of traditional exportations (sugar, banana, coffee, cardamom and petroleum). Remittances have increased in year 2003, 44.5% of urban and 55.2% of rural livelihood received external remittances. As a stress trend since 1990 women’s employment outside home grew from 24.5 to 44.6% In each of the following categories you will find detailed information about Guatemala's current context: |
