TOEFL Test Centers in Guatemala

EDU February 16, 2019

Guatemala Overview

Guatemala is a state in Central America with the capital Guatemala. It is about the same size as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg put together. The mountains are crowned by many, partly active volcanoes, and the lowlands are covered with dense rainforest. The climate is tropical. Guatemala is the most populous state in Central America. The largest population group with 56% are descendants from the connection between Europeans and members of the indigenous peoples (Mestizo). In no other country in Central America is the proportion of the indigenous population (38%) as large as here. They are often affected by poverty and have little say in politics and business. There is a small white minority there (2% of the population). She forms the upper class of society and owns most of the land. In addition to the official Spanish language, over 20 Mayan languages ​​are spoken. The cultural palette of the Christian nation includes the archaeological sites of the Mayan Empire, the architectural heritage of the Spanish conquerors, the colorful textile art of the indigenous peoples, but also modern, western influences in art, literature and music. Guatemala is an ancient settlement area of ​​the Maya, that of Mexico in 1524from was subjugated by the Spaniards. In 1839 the former Spanish colony became an independent republic. Power struggles between liberals and conservatives determined politics well into the 20th century. From the 1960s onwards, social tensions developed into a civil war. By being awarded the 1992 Nobel Peace Prize to the Quiché-Maya Rigoberta Menchú (* 1959) the attention of the world public was particularly drawn to the oppression of the indigenous population. In 1996 a peace agreement came into force and demilitarization began. To this day, unsolved problems are social inequality, corruption and criminal youth gangs. The most important export goods are textiles, chemical products and agricultural products such as coffee, sugar and bananas.

Country facts

• Official name: Guatemala
• License plate: GCA
• ISO-3166: GT, GTM (320)
• Internet domain:.gt
• Currency: 1 quetzal (Q) = 100 centavos
• Area: 108,890 km²
• Population (2018): 17.2 million
• Capital: Guatemala
• Official language (s): Spanish
• Form of government: Presidential Republic
• Administrative division: 22 departments
• Head of State: President Alejandro Giammattei (since January 14, 2020)
• Religion (s): Christians (Catholics; Protestants)
• Time zone: Central European Time –7 hours
• National Day: September 15th

Location and infrastructure

• Location (geographical): Central America
• Location (coordinates): between 13 ° 45 ‘and 17 ° 49’ north latitude and 88 ° 14 ‘and 92 ° 13’ west longitude
• Climate: alternately humid, tropical climate
• Highest mountain: Tajumulco (4,220 m)
• Road network (2016): 7 489 km (paved), 10 132 km (unpaved)
• Railway network (2018): 800 km

Population

• Annual population growth (2020): 1.7%
• Birth rate (2020): 23.3 per 1,000 residents.
• Death rate (2020): 4.9 per 1,000 residents.
• Average age (2020): 23.2 years
• Average life expectancy (2020): 72.4 years (men 70.3; women 74.5)
• Age structure (2020): 33.7% younger than 15 years, 4.7% older than 65 years
• Literacy rate (15-year-olds and older) (2015): 81.5%
• Mobile phone contracts (pre-paid and post-paid) (2017): 118 per 100 residents
• Internet users (2017): 41 per 100 residents

Economy

• GDP per capita (2018): US $ 4,575
• Total GDP (2018): US $ 79 billion
• GNI per capita (2018): US $ 4,400
• Education expenditure (2017): 2.8% of GDP
• Military expenditure (2018): 0.4% of GDP
• Unemployment rate (15 years and older) (2017): 2.7%

Culture

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, Guatemala was the focus of Mayan culture, as evidenced by cities with stone temples, palaces and artistic sculptures. The Maya had a pictorial writing and an excellent knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. In 1697 the last Mayan city was conquered by the Spanish conquistadors. One of the most famous Mayan sites is the ruined city of the same name, located in the 575 km² Tikal National Park. In Chichicastenango, a place in the western highlands, the holy book “Popol Vuh” of the Quiché Maya was discovered in 1690. The collection of myths and legends reports on the creation of the world and various miracle stories.

The ruins of Antigua Guatemala, founded in 1543 and once considered the most beautiful baroque city in Latin America, are an impressive cultural heritage of the Spanish colonial era. In 1773 it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and only partially rebuilt. Chichicastenango is the main pilgrimage destination of the Quiché Maya. The mixture of Mayan religion and Christianity is particularly evident at the Santo Tomás Festival in December, when candles are lit in the church of Santo Tomás in honor of Jesus and the Mayan gods. The main attraction for tourists is the Chichicastenango market, where Quiché-Maya sell their goods, especially hand-woven textiles.

In the Spanish-Christian country, over 20 Mayan languages ​​are spoken in addition to the official Spanish language. Since 1996, the Mayan language and culture have been officially upgraded through bilingual classes and their own television channel.

The most important representative of Guatemalan literature is Miguel Ángel Asturias (* 1899, † 1974). He wrote mainly epic works in the style of magical realism, which are often based on Mayan myths, including the “Legends from Guatemala” (1930). In 1967 he received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

In traditional Guatemalan music, Spanish and Afro-Caribbean elements merge with those of the Mayan culture. The national instrument is the marimba. Current bands play rock and pop music with Latin American characteristics.

Popular and competitive sport is football. Popular recreational sports among locals and tourists include white water rafting, kayaking on Lake Atitlan and in the Pacific, volcano climbing and mountain biking, diving and surfing.