Updated December 28, 2023
Guatemala: An Overview
Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America,
Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) to assist Guatemala in
has strived to consolidate its democracy since the 1990s. It
investigating, prosecuting, and dismantling illegal groups
has faced many political and social challenges, as well as
and clandestine structures. The United States provided
widespread corruption, impunity, and human rights abuses.
more than $44.5 million in funding for CICIG over the
Traditionally, the United States and Guatemala have had
course of the commission’s 12-year mandate (2007-2019).
close relations, with friction at times over certain issues,
CICIG and Guatemalan attorneys general secured
such as democratic governance and migration. Government
convictions of dozens of high-level officials, including a
corruption, migration, and food security in Guatemala have
former president and vice president for graft and customs
been long-standing concerns for some in Congress.
fraud. CICIG’s work angered many elites, including then-
President Jimmy Morales (2016-2020), himself under
Figure 1.Guatemala Map
investigation, who refused to extend its mandate.
Guatemala at a Glance
Area: 42,000 square miles, about the size of Tennessee
Population: 19.0 mil ion (2023, IMF est.)
Ethnic Composition: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish;
Ladino in local Spanish) 62.8%, Maya 34.9%, Xinka (Indigenous,
non-Maya) 2.1%, Garifuna 0.1%, foreign 0.1% (2018 est., INE)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/Per Capita GDP:
$102.8 bil ion/$5,410 (2023, current prices, IMF est.)
Key Import Partners: United States (31.9%), China (18.2%),

Mexico (10.1%), El Salvador (3.3%) (2022, TDM)
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Key Export Partners: United States (31.1%), El Salvador
(13.1%), Honduras (10.1%), Nicaragua (6.4%) (2022, TDM)
Political Situation
Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF); National
Guatemala has a long history of internal conflict and
Statistics Institute of Guatemala (INE); Trade Data Monitor
violence, including a 36-year civil war (1960-1996). For
(TDM).
most of that time, the Guatemalan military held power and
brutally repressed citizens’ human rights, with an estimated
death toll of over 200,000 people and forcible
2023 Elections
disappearance of some 45,000 (Indigenous people made up
After a tumultuous preelection period and first-round
the majority of these victims). In 1986, Guatemala
presidential election marred by alleged irregularities and the
established a civilian democratic government, although
disqualification of several leading candidates, Guatemala
military repression continued. In December 1996, then-
held a runoff election on August 20. Anti-corruption,
President Álvaro Arzú (1996-2000) and the Guatemalan
center-left candidate Bernardo Arévalo captured 58% of the
National Revolutionary Unit (URNG), with support from
vote, according to Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal
the U.N. mission in Guatemala, signed peace accords to end
(TSE), defeating centrist candidate Sandra Torres, who won
the conflict. Goals put forth in the accords (e.g., eradicating
37.2% of the vote.
extreme poverty, integrating indigenous Guatemalans,
bolstering institutions) remain unfulfilled. Successive
Despite this wide margin of victory, President-elect
governments have failed to strengthen the Guatemalan
Arévalo has faced a turbulent path to office. Certification
justice system to punish perpetrators of grave human rights
delays, raids on the TSE, and the spread of propaganda
abuses and massive corruption; Indigenous Guatemalans
against Arévalo’s party, Movimiento Semilla (Semilla),
continue to face poverty and social exclusion.
have hindered the transition process. U.S.-sanctioned
Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras, the Public
Democratically elected civilian governments have led
Ministry’s Office of the Special Prosecutor Against
Guatemala for over 30 years, but democratic institutions
Impunity, and political opponents of Semilla are primarily
remain fragile, largely due to high levels of state capture by
responsible for these actions. The State Department,
elites. In 2007, Guatemala requested that the United
Organization of American States, and European Union have
Nations establish the International Commission against
expressed concerns over the threats to Guatemala’s
democratic transition of power. The Guatemalan
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Guatemala: An Overview
Constitutional Court issued a statement in December 2023
among other Guatemalan officials and economic elites,
commanding the Guatemalan Congress to guarantee the
pursuant to the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced
effective inauguration of all officials elected in the 2023
Engagement Act (P.L. 116-260, Division FF, Subtitle F)
electoral process. The statement may guarantee that
and Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign
Arévalo takes office, but the next Guatemalan Congress—
Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act,
where Semilla has 23 out of 160 seats—could make
2022 (P.L. 117-103, Division K). The Biden
governing difficult. Newly elected authorities are scheduled
Administration also has redirected some aid due to
to be inaugurated on January 14.
corruption issues and imposed visa sanctions on almost 300
individuals, including over 100 members of the Guatemalan
Economic and Social Conditions
Congress and private sector representatives and their
Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America,
families, for corruption-related abuses. Some Guatemalan
with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of $102.8
officials have also been placed on the State Department’s
billion in 2023, according to the International Monetary
Section 353 Corrupt and Undemocratic Actors list, and
Fund. Despite a growing economy, more than 55% of the
others have been sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order
population and 79% of Indigenous Guatemalans live in
13818, which builds on and implements the Global
poverty. Guatemala’s tax-to-GDP ratio is the third lowest in
Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
Latin America, severely limiting the funds available for
public services and investments.
U.S. Assistance. For FY2024, the Biden Administration
requested $164.5 million for Guatemala—$138.7 million in
Guatemala is home to one of the youngest populations in
Development Assistance (DA), $25 million in Global
Latin America, with roughly 60% of citizens under 29 years
Health Programs (GHP), and $800,000 in International
of age, according to Guatemala’s National Institute of
Military Education and Training (IMET). In FY2023, the
Statistics. Young Guatemalans living in poverty typically
United States allocated $121.3 million—$80.9 million in
experience food insecurity and poor access to education.
DA, $40.15 million in GHP, and $320,000 in IMET.
According to the World Bank, 47% of children under the
Guatemala may receive additional assistance through
age of five have stunted growth.
regional programs for Central America. In FY2023, the
United States also provided $15.5 million in humanitarian
U.S.-Guatemalan Relations and
assistance to address food insecurity, climate shocks,
Legislative Activity
gender-based violence, and other humanitarian needs.
Both Congress and the Biden Administration seek to
promote human rights, dismantle corruption, increase
Congressional Actions and Restrictions. Similar to prior
citizen security, ensure transparency and accountability,
years, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2023 (P.L.
address the root causes of migration, and suppress gangs
117-328), requires the State Department to withhold 60%
and drug trafficking in Guatemala.
of Economic Support Fund and security assistance to the
Guatemalan government until the Secretary of State
U.S.-Guatemalan engagement increased under the Biden
certifies that the Guatemalan government has met
Administration initially, but U.S concerns about anti-
conditions related to corruption and public integrity, human
democratic and corrupt practices by Guatemalan officials
rights, and migration, among other issues. Congress may
have since strained relations. President-elect Arévalo seeks
consider whether to adjust the percentage of withholdings
to restrengthen cooperation with the United States. Arévalo
based on progress made by the Guatemalan government.
views fighting corruption, reestablishing democratic
The State Department reprogrammed some FY2021
institutions, and providing resources to help Guatemalans
assistance to other countries due to the Guatemalan
improve their socioeconomic conditions as key policies to
government’s failure to meet those criteria and has yet to
address the drivers of emigration. Emigration rates could
issue certifications for FY2022 or FY2023.
rise if electoral turmoil and economic instability intensify.
P.L. 117-328 also prohibits Foreign Military Financing
Migration. In FY2023, the U.S. Border Patrol encountered
(FMF) to Guatemala. Although some members may
around 231,500 Guatemalans at the Southwest border. The
consider allowing FMF in the future due to Guatemala’s
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has
role in curbing irregular migration, others may be
identified the lack of economic opportunities, extortion,
concerned due to Guatemala’s misuse of Department of
crime and violence, and corruption as the top drivers of
Defense-provided equipment on multiple occasions from
irregular migration. In June 2023, the U.S. and Guatemalan
August 2018 to October 2021, including intimidating U.S.
governments announced that Guatemala, with support from
officials and Guatemalan protesters.
various U.N. agencies, would host a Safe Mobility Office.
Congress also may consider policies to enhance pressure on
Such offices seek to reduce irregular migration by
those hampering democratic processes in Guatemala and to
informing individuals about legal pathways to the United
respond to the erosion of the rule of law. Congress may, for
States or other countries.
example, consider reauthorizing or modifying the sanctions
authority in the United States-Northern Triangle Enhanced
Corruption. The Biden Administration has taken various
actions intended to stem Guatemala’s backsliding on
Engagement Act (P.L. 116-260, Division FF, Subtitle F),
which expired on December 27, 2023.
corruption and the rule of law under outgoing President
Alejandro Giammattei. It has imposed visa sanctions on
Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras and her family,
Karla I. Rios, Analyst in Latin American Affairs
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Guatemala: An Overview

IF12340


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