Filed under the Americas and more precisely Central America, Guatemala is a sovereign state. In formal use it is Republic of Guatemala. Its capital, Guatemala City, shares its name with the country itself — a giveaway that this is a city-state or something close to one.
Some 18.4 million people call it home, placing it 70th of 250 by population — between Senegal above it and Ecuador below. Measured only against its own subregion, it is 3rd of 7 in size and 1st in population.
Its territory runs to 108,889 km², which ranks it 108th of the 250 countries and territories in this dataset — just behind Cuba and just ahead of Iceland. For scale, it is a little larger than Iceland.
Where Guatemala is and what surrounds it
The coordinates the dataset gives are 15.5° N, 90.3° W, which puts it in the northern hemisphere, roughly 1,725 km from the equator, in what geographers would call tropical latitudes.
Sudan, Chad and Niger sit at almost exactly the same latitude on other parts of the globe.
Its land neighbours number 4: Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. The largest of them by area is Mexico, which is also the most populous. Together those neighbours hold about 148.4 million people.
It has both a coastline and land borders, which is the most common arrangement of all.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Guatemala
Population divided by land area gives roughly 169 people per square kilometre, which makes it more crowded than the typical entry on this list. For comparison, the median entry on this list sits near 90 per square kilometre.
The one official language is Spanish. Spanish is one of the widely shared official languages here, listed by 23 other entries including Argentina, Belize, Bolivia and Chile.
People from Guatemala are called Guatemalans.
Inside the Americas it places 10th of 56 by population, and it accounts for 35% of everyone living in Central America.
Money, internet and phone codes
It uses the Guatemalan quetzal (Q, GTQ). No other entry in this dataset uses it, so the currency is specific to Guatemala.
The top-level domain is .gt. To phone it from abroad you dial +502. Its ISO codes are gt and GTM, which is what most databases and flag files use.
It holds a seat at the United Nations, one of 193 entries here that do. The other 57 entries are territories, dependencies or observers, which is why totals on this site run to 250 rather than the familiar 195.
Neighbouring countries
Guatemala shares borders with 4 countries:
Fun facts about Guatemala
- Spanish is official here and in 23 other entries worldwide.
- Population density works out at roughly 169 people per square kilometre.
- In land area it is a little larger than Iceland.
- The Guatemalan quetzal is used here and nowhere else on this list.
- Within Central America it is the 3rd largest of 7.
- People from Guatemala are known as Guatemalans.
- It lies about 1,725 km from the equator, in tropical latitudes.
Guatemala — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Guatemala?
- The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City. The city and the country share a name, which is typical of a city-state.
- What is the population of Guatemala?
- Guatemala has a population of about 18.4 million, which makes it the 70th most populous of the 250 countries and territories listed on this site. Senegal sits just above it and Ecuador just below.
- What language is spoken in Guatemala?
- The official language of Guatemala is Spanish. It is also official in 23 other entries on this list.
- Which countries border Guatemala?
- Guatemala borders 4 countries: Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. Mexico is the largest of them by area.
- What currency does Guatemala use?
- Guatemala uses the Guatemalan quetzal, written Q (currency code GTQ). No other entry in this dataset uses it.
- Where is Guatemala located?
- Guatemala is in Central America, part of the Americas. Its reference coordinates are 15.5° north and 90.3° west, roughly 1,725 km from the equator in tropical latitudes.
- Is Guatemala a country?
- Yes. Guatemala is a sovereign state and one of the 193 UN members listed on this site.
- How big is Guatemala?
- Guatemala covers 108,889 km², ranking 108th of 250 by land area. That makes it a little larger than Iceland.
