Guatemala
North America · Central America
Ancient Maya heartland, cheap and diverse, with high crime in the cities.
At a Glance
📈Guatemala's Human Development Index
0.629
Medium human development#134 of 191 countries worldwide, #21 of 23 in North America.
Higher than 30% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
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.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →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.
- Heart of the Maya civilisation — more major Maya sites than Mexico.
- World's largest exporter of cardamom — the spice most associated with India.
- Most active volcanos in Central America, with three that have erupted in the past decade.
Quick Facts
Capital
Guatemala City
Language
Spanish
Currency
Q GTQ
Area
107,160 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
93Mbps
Mobile
59Mbps
GDP / Capita
$7K
PPP / Capita
$15K
Inflation
1.5%
Unemployment
2.6%
Innovation (GII)
17.1
GNI / Capita
$6K
Tax Revenue
11.6%
FDI Inflows
1.6%
Education Spend
3.1%
Cost of Living
40.4
Price Level Index
50th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.490 → 0.629 (+0.139)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Guatemala's Human Development Index?
Guatemala's Human Development Index is 0.629 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #134 of 191 countries.
Is Guatemala safe?
Guatemala scores 2.02 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #87 of 160 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.