th: 61 years male, 66 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 4.8 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Guatemalan(s); adjective--Guatemalan

_#_Ethnic divisions: Ladino (mestizo--mixed Indian and European
ancestry) 56%, Indian 44%

_#_Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic; also Protestant,
traditional Mayan

_#_Language: Spanish, but over 40% of the population speaks an Indian
language as a primary tongue (18 Indian dialects, including Quiche,
Cakchiquel, Kekchi)

_#_Literacy: 55% (male 63%, female 47%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 2,500,000; agriculture 60%, services 13%,
manufacturing 12%, commerce 7%, construction 4%, transport 3%,
utilities 0.8%, mining 0.4% (1985)

_#_Organized labor: 8% of labor force (1988 est.)

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Guatemala

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Guatemala

_#_Administrative divisions: 22 departments (departamentos,
singular--departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango,
Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal,
Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu,
Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez,
Totonicapan, Zacapa

_#_Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain)

_#_Constitution: 31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986

_#_Legal system: civil law system; judicial review of legislative
acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of Ministers
(cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Congress of the Republic
(Congreso de la Republica)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Justice (Corte Suprema de
Justicia)

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jorge SERRANO
Elias (since 14 January 1991); Vice President Gustavo ESPINA Salguero
(since 14 January 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders:
National Centrist Union (UCN), Jorge CARPIO Nicolle;
Solidarity Action Movement (MAS), Jorge SERRANO Elias;
Christian Democratic Party (DCG), Alfonso CABRERA Hidalgo;
National Advancement Party (PAN), Alvaro ARZU Irigoyen;
National Liberation Movement (MLN), Mario SANDOVAL Alarcon;
Social Democratic Party (PSD), Mario SOLARZANO Martinez;
Popular Alliance 5 (AP-5), Max ORLANDO Molina;
Revolutionary Party (PR), Carlos CHAVARRIA;
Na