GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Dramatic view of a volcano with clouds over Ciudad de Guatemala's architecture.Cityscape with a misty volcano backdrop, captured from above, showcasing urban sprawl and natural beauty.

Guatemala

North America · Central America

High safetyAffordable cost of livingMedium development

Access to essential health services is patchy.

Safety

87th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.025lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#87 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
23.4per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
42.7Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$6,360national income per person, US dollarsModerate
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
16.0New York = 100ModerateNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
14.3years of median income to buy a median flatExpensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 197% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 38% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$10K$20K$15,197 PPP$6,598Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,225 a person, $5,833 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2007, $2,459 a person, $6,238 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2008, $2,763 a person, $6,435 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2009, $2,612 a person, $6,377 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2010, $2,805 a person, $6,510 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2011, $3,169 a person, $6,784 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2012, $3,287 a person, $7,258 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2013, $3,444 a person, $7,700 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2014, $3,689 a person, $8,237 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2015, $3,894 a person, $8,934 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2016, $4,060 a person, $9,201 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2017, $4,325 a person, $9,560 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $4,353 a person, $9,947 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2019, $4,512 a person, $10,756 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $4,478 a person, $10,947 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2021, $4,913 a person, $11,825 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2022, $5,357 a person, $13,008 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2023, $5,754 a person, $13,752 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2024, $6,151 a person, $14,393 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $6,598 a person, $15,197 at PPP, inflation 1.5%$0$10K$20KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $2,225 a person, $5,833 at PPP, inflation 6.6%2007, $2,459 a person, $6,238 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2008, $2,763 a person, $6,435 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2009, $2,612 a person, $6,377 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2010, $2,805 a person, $6,510 at PPP, inflation 3.9%2011, $3,169 a person, $6,784 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2012, $3,287 a person, $7,258 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2013, $3,444 a person, $7,700 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2014, $3,689 a person, $8,237 at PPP, inflation 3.4%2015, $3,894 a person, $8,934 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2016, $4,060 a person, $9,201 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2017, $4,325 a person, $9,560 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2018, $4,353 a person, $9,947 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2019, $4,512 a person, $10,756 at PPP, inflation 3.7%2020, $4,478 a person, $10,947 at PPP, inflation 3.2%2021, $4,913 a person, $11,825 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2022, $5,357 a person, $13,008 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2023, $5,754 a person, $13,752 at PPP, inflation 6.2%2024, $6,151 a person, $14,393 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $6,598 a person, $15,197 at PPP, inflation 1.5%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Around the middle for life expectancy

Life expectancy
72.7years, at birthModerate
#108 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
58WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
24.1PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageHighWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
2.6%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
93 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
510EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet93 MbpsFast
Mobile59 MbpsSlow

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Cityscape with a misty volcano backdrop, captured from above, showcasing urban sprawl and natural beauty.
How it changed

Guatemala's Human Development Index

0.662Medium human development

137th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 21st of 23 in North America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #135Cape Verde0.668
  2. #136Namibia0.665
  3. #137Guatemala0.662
  4. #138Republic of the Congo0.649
  5. #139Honduras0.645
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.499 in 1990 to 0.662 in 2023.

0.450.570.700.66219902000201020231990: 0.4991991: 0.5031992: 0.5061993: 0.5101994: 0.5151995: 0.5221996: 0.5301997: 0.5391998: 0.5481999: 0.5562000: 0.5632001: 0.5672002: 0.5722003: 0.5772004: 0.5802005: 0.5832006: 0.5902007: 0.6012008: 0.6092009: 0.6162010: 0.6232011: 0.6282012: 0.6312013: 0.6332014: 0.6502015: 0.6382016: 0.6422017: 0.6472018: 0.6492019: 0.6532020: 0.6452021: 0.6392022: 0.6552023: 0.6620.450.570.7019902000201020231990: 0.4991991: 0.5031992: 0.5061993: 0.5101994: 0.5151995: 0.5221996: 0.5301997: 0.5391998: 0.5481999: 0.5562000: 0.5632001: 0.5672002: 0.5722003: 0.5772004: 0.5802005: 0.5832006: 0.5902007: 0.6012008: 0.6092009: 0.6162010: 0.6232011: 0.6282012: 0.6312013: 0.6332014: 0.6502015: 0.6382016: 0.6422017: 0.6472018: 0.6492019: 0.6532020: 0.6452021: 0.6392022: 0.6552023: 0.662

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
72.8 years2024at birthUp 4.6 years from 68.2 years in 2005
Internet users
60%2024of people onlineUp 54 points from 7% in 2006
Urban population
56%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 49% in 2006
Births per woman
2.292024births per womanDown 1.68 from 3.97 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
62%2021of energy usedDown 4 points from 66% in 2004
Access to electricity
91%2024of people with electricityUp 13 points from 78% in 2005
Infant mortality
172024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 17 from 34 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
1.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.2 t from 0.9 t in 2005
Forest area
33%2023of land under forestDown 5 points from 37% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Ancient Maya heartland, cheap and diverse, with high crime in the cities. The case against is patchy access to essential health services and polluted air.

About Guatemala

Guatemala is a Central American country of volcanic landscapes, highland Maya culture, colonial cities, and misty lake scenery centred on the magnificent Lake Atitlán. The indigenous Mayan presence is not a relic here but a living culture, visible in the markets, textiles, ceremonies, and languages still spoken across the highlands. It is one of the most culturally rich destinations in the Americas, though urban areas require the same safety awareness as anywhere in the region.

Practical facts

  • CapitalGuatemala City
  • LanguagesSpanish
  • CurrencyGuatemalan quetzal (GTQ)
  • Area107,160 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Guatemala's Human Development Index?

Guatemala's Human Development Index is 0.662 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #137 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Guatemala safe?

Guatemala scores 2.02 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #87 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Guatemala?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Guatemala at 40.4 (New York = 100); that is #65 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Guatemala?

Life expectancy at birth in Guatemala is 72.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #108 of 195 countries.