Guatemala: Map & History
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in northern Central America.
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Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in northern Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Gulf of Honduras to the northeast.
Modern Countries Once Part of Guatemala
At its mapped extent, Guatemala covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Guatemala's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Guatemala in Depth
History
The first evidence of human habitation in Guatemala dates to 12,000 BC. Archaeological evidence, such as obsidian arrowheads found in various parts of the country, suggests a human presence as early as 18,000 BC. There is archaeological proof that early Guatemalan settlers were hunter-gatherers. Maize cultivation had been developed by 3500 BC. Sites dating to 6500 BC have been found in the Quiché region in the Guatemalan Highlands, and in Sipacate and Escuintla on the central Pacific coast.
Archaeologists divide the pre-Columbian history of Mesoamerica into the Preclassic period (2000 BC to 250 AD), the Classic period (250 to 900 AD), and the Postclassic period (900 to 1500 AD).
Government and politics
Guatemala is a constitutional democratic republic whereby the President of Guatemala is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Congress of the Republic. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.
On 2 September 2015, Otto Pérez Molina resigned as President of Guatemala due to a corruption scandal and was replaced by Alejandro Maldonado until January 2016. Congress appointed former Universidad de San Carlos President Alfonso Fuentes Soria as the new vice president to replace Maldonado. Jimmy Morales subsequently assumed office on 14 January 2016. In January 2020, he was succeeded by Alejandro Giammattei.
Economy
Guatemala had a nominal GDP of US$113.9 billion and a PPP-adjusted GDP of $264.8 billion as of 2024, making it the largest economy in Central America. It has averaged 3.5% GDP annual growth over the past decade. However, Guatemala faces many social problems and is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. The income distribution is highly unequal, with 56% of the population living in poverty and 16.2% living in extreme poverty as of 2024.
Unstable and low-paying informal jobs are the main source of employment, and only 29% of Guatemalans have formal jobs. Guatemala's exports include fruits, vegetables, flowers, handicrafts, and cloths. It is a leading exporter of cardamom and coffee.
Culture
Guatemala City is home to many of the nation's libraries and museums, including the National Archives, the National Library, and the Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, which has an extensive collection of Maya artifacts. It also boasts private museums such as the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothing and the Museo Popol Vuh, which focuses on Maya archaeology. Both these museums are housed on the Universidad Francisco Marroquín campus. Most of the 329 municipalities in the country have at least a small museum.
Guatemala has produced many indigenous artists who follow centuries-old Pre-Columbian traditions.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Guatemala (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Guatemala: Key Facts
| Capital | Guatemala City |
|---|---|
| Official language | Spanish |
| Form of government | presidential system, representative democracy |
| Currency | quetzal |
| Founded | 1821 |
Preceded by
- State of Guatemala
Facts from Wikidata Q774 (CC0).
Interactive map
Guatemala on the World War I map →
See Guatemala’s territory change day by day from 23 April 1918, with every battle it fought.
Interactive map
Guatemala on the World War II map →
See Guatemala’s territory change day by day from 11 December 1941, with every battle it fought.
Guatemala Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Guatemala appears, with the other states of the time.
Guatemala Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 109,196 km² in 1916 CE.
Guatemala: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Guatemala exist?
Guatemala is dated to 1840 CE – 2024 CE, in the Industrial era.
What was the capital of Guatemala?
The capital of Guatemala was Guatemala City.
How large was Guatemala at its peak?
At its peak in 1916 Guatemala covered about 109,196 km².
How did the map of Guatemala change over time?
Guatemala appears on 4 dated world maps in the atlas, from 1850 CE to 1945 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.
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