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Guatemala
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FactsBackground: 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. note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP (official exchange rate): $40.77 billion (2010 est.); GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (2010 est.); 0.6% (2009 est.); 3.3% (2008 est.); GDP - per capita (PPP): $5,200 (2010 est.); $5,200 (2009 est.); $5,300 (2008 est.); note: data are in 2010 US dollars GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.3%; industry: 24.4%; services: 62.3% (2010 est.); Population below poverty line: 56.2% (2004 est.); Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.3%; highest 10%: 42.4% (2006); Labor force: 4.26 million (2010 est.); Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 50%; industry: 15%; services: 35% (1999 est.); Unemployment rate: 3.2% (2005 est.); Budget: revenues: $4.897 billion; expenditures: $6.124 billion (2010 est.); Industries: sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism; Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (2010 est.); Electricity - production: 8.425 billion kWh (2007 est.); Electricity - consumption: 7.115 billion kWh (2007 est.); Electricity - exports: 131.9 million kWh (2007 est.); Electricity - imports: 8.11 million kWh (2007 est.); Statistics: CIA World Factbook. PressEl Periódico(Independent), Guatemala City Prensa Libre(independent), Guatemala City Guatemala in the NewsDisplaying 1 to 4 of 9 items. What to Expect of Guatemala's Otto Pérez MolinaGuatemala's shift in leadership from Colom to Pérez Molina speaks to security issues but raises concerns about indigenous and human rights. Baby Hotel: The Gateway to Guatemalan AdoptionGuatemala, a small country of only 11.2 million, has passed Korea and is now the third-largest source of foreign adoption for the United States, trailing only the empires of Russia and China. Under Mud and Despair, Guatemala Looks Abroad for HelpLandslides the week before last caused by the rain from Hurricane Stan in the Caribbean wiped out a town next to Santiago called Panabáj, burying more than 500 people under mud and rock that fell from thousands of feet above them. The Hour of Justice Approaches for Ríos MonttIn an article for Mexico City’s Proceso, Velia Jaramillo reports on former coup-leader Ríos Montt’s loss in the Nov. 9 elections and the efforts to bring him to trial for genocide. |
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