Guatemala

Interesting Facts About Guatemala

• Guatemala experienced the fastest population growth in the Western Hemisphere during the 20th century, expanding from only 885,000 in 1900 to over 17 million by 2021.
• Indigenous Guatemalans make up 43.6% of the national population, one of the largest percentages in the Americas, with the Maya people comprising 41.7% of the total population.
• Twenty-one Mayan languages are spoken throughout Guatemala, recognized as national languages alongside Spanish under the Language Law of 2003.
• The Garífuna people, descended from Black Africans and indigenous peoples from St. Vincent, live primarily in Livingston and Puerto Barrios on the Caribbean coast.
• German settlers in Guatemala are credited with bringing the tradition of Christmas trees to the country.
• Guatemala's ethnic composition reflects centuries of mixed heritage, with 56% of the population identifying as Ladino, reflecting mixed indigenous and European ancestry.

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