Guatemala, located in Central America, is one of the most populated countries in the region. Guatemala’s population is over 17 million people and continues to grow rapidly. It is a multinational state inhabited by many ethnic groups.
The main ethnic group in Guatemala are the Mayans, who make up about 40% of the country’s population. The major Mayan ethnic groups include the Quechua, Kaqchikel, Kahchikel, and Quiché. The country is also home to ethnic groups of Spaniards, Blacks, Garifunas and other peoples. The ethnic composition of Guatemala’s population is one of the most diverse in Central America.
In recent years, Guatemala has witnessed intense migration. Large numbers of Guatemalans move abroad in search of better lives and economic opportunities. Some countries, such as the United States and Mexico, attract Guatemalans for their job market and living conditions. However, this process also has a negative impact on the demographic situation in the country, as population growth slows down.
Thus, the population of Guatemala is a diverse mosaic of ethnic groups that combine in a unique sociocultural context. The dynamics of the population and its ethnic composition are closely related to socio-economic processes in the country and global migration trends. Understanding this topic helps to better understand the complexities and characteristics of Guatemala as a country and its people.
Population of Guatemala
The ethnic composition of Guatemala is very diverse. Major ethnic groups include Mayans (about 41% of the population), Mestizo (about 41%), Guatemalan Indians (about 9%), and Whites (about 2%). In addition, there are small groups of people with African, Asian and other mixed ancestry in the country.
The Maya are the largest ethnic group in Guatemala. They are divided into several subgroups, each of which has its own unique history, culture and traditions. Mestizos are a population that represents a mixture of European and local Indian peoples. Guatemalan Indians are a group consisting of various Indian peoples such as Quechua, Quiché, Mam and others.
In recent decades, Guatemala’s population has grown rapidly, but the birth rate has been gradually declining. However, the country also experiences high early childhood mortality and low life expectancy. Such factors influence the dynamics and structure of the population in Guatemala.
Number
At the beginning of 2021, the population of Guatemala is approximately 18.1 million. Over the past decades, the country’s population has been growing steadily, but the growth rate is slowing down.
Most of Guatemala’s population lives in rural areas — about 60%. However, in recent years there has been an active process of urban overpopulation, especially in the capital of the country, Guatemala City.
The ethnic composition of the Guatemalan population is very diverse. The main ethnic groups are Mayans (about 39% of the population), Mestizo (about 41%) and Europeans (about 18%). Representatives of other Indian peoples and a small number of Africans also live in the country.
Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, which affects the socio-economic status of the population and the demographic indicators of the country.
One of the features of Guatemala’s population is its high birth rate and low death rate. Despite this, the country faces serious challenges such as lack of access to health care and low life expectancy.
Current Population
Today, the population of Guatemala is estimated at approximately 17.5 million people. This makes it the most populous country in Central America and the fourth largest in Latin America.
Guatemala’s population is growing every year, but the rate of growth has slowed compared to past decades. In recent years, the average annual population growth rate is about 1.6%. It is noted that the main contribution to population growth is made by natural increase — the difference between the number of births and deaths.
It should be noted that in Guatemala the proportion of youth in the population is very high. It is estimated that about 30% of the population are children and adolescents under 14 years of age. This creates certain challenges for the country in the areas of education, health and social welfare.
Population growth dynamics
According to official data, in 2021 the population of Guatemala is approximately 18 million. This figure is significantly higher than in the last century, when the country’s population was only a few million people.
The main factor influencing population growth is natural increase. The birth rate in Guatemala is high, and families usually contain large numbers of children. However, in recent years there has been a slight decline in the birth rate, which may be due to the development of education, an increase in living standards and the availability of contraception.
Migration also has a significant impact on population growth. Many Guatemalans emigrate to other countries in search of better lives and economic opportunities. This leads to a decrease in the population of Guatemala, but the impact of migration on population growth dynamics depends significantly on various factors, such as the economic situation in the country and the political situation.
Overall, despite some slowdown in growth rates, Guatemala’s population continues to increase. This may create certain challenges for the country, such as the need to ensure a sufficient supply of labor, development of infrastructure and environmental protection, as well as the fight against poverty and inequality.
Ethnic composition
- The Maya are the largest ethnic group in Guatemala, making up about 41% of the population. The Maya are the descendants of the ancient Mayan civilizations and include various subgroups such as the Qeqchi, Quiche, Kaqchikel, Poconchi, Kaqchikel and others.
- Ladino — This ethnic group makes up approximately 41% of Guatemala’s population. Ladinos are the descendants of Spanish colonialists and the local Indian population. They speak Spanish and predominate in the cities and coastlines of the country.
- The Quechuas are a small ethnic group comprising about 9% of the population. Quechuas inhabit the mountainous regions of Guatemala and speak Quechua.
- The Garifuna are an ethnic group that makes up about 2% of Guatemala’s population. The Garifuna are the descendants of African slaves brought to Guatemala during colonization. They predominantly live on the Caribbean coast and maintain their unique culture and language.
- Other Ethnic Groups — These groups include Mestizo (a mixture of Mayan and Ladino), Garifuna Creole, Guatemalan Jews, Arabs and other minorities.
This diversity of ethnic groups makes Guatemala a unique country with diverse cultural traditions and languages.
Main ethnic groups
The largest ethnic group in Guatemala are the Mayans, who make up about 43 percent of the country’s population. The Mayans inhabit primarily northern and western Guatemala, as well as some border regions with Mexico and Belize.
Other significant ethnic groups in Guatemala include the mestizos, heirs of the mixing of the Spanish colonizers with the natives, who make up about 41 percent of the population; Garifuna, African descendants living on the Caribbean coast; and the Queche, who are the second most populous Mayan people.
The remainder of the population in Guatemala consists of various ethnic groups, including Guatemalan Africans, Jews, and small groups of immigrants from other Central American countries.
Preserving the languages and traditions of ethnic groups is an important aspect of Guatemalan culture. Although Spanish remains the dominant language in the country, many Mayans and other ethnic groups continue to use their native languages in everyday life and in communication with each other.
Thus, Guatemala is a unique multi-ethnic society where ethnic groups with different languages and traditions coexist together and contribute to the richness and cultural heritage of the country.
Social and ethnic diversity
The largest group of the population are the mestizos, who are a mixture of Indians and Europeans. Their percentage of the total population of Guatemala reaches about 60%. Mestizos have a mixed linguistic and cultural heritage and often speak Spanish, the official language of the country.
Also, a significant part of the population are Indians, whose roots go back to the ancient Mayan civilization. They maintain their traditions and customs, and also speak their own languages. The Indians of Guatemala are represented by different ethnic groups, including Quechua, Qeqchi, Mam and others.
A small proportion of the population are Afro-Guatemalans, descendants of African slaves who were brought to Guatemala during colonial times. They have their own unique culture and traditions, although they are largely assimilated with the mestizos.
This diversity of ethnic groups makes Guatemala a unique place where cultures of different nationalities merge and interact. It also contributes to the preservation of many traditions and customs of the population and makes the country interesting to study and travel.
Dynamics
Guatemala’s population has changed demographically over time. According to data collected by Guatemala’s National Institute of Statistics, the country’s population numbered about 16 million in 1995 and exceeded 17 million in 2020.
The most noticeable trend in Guatemala’s population dynamics is its rapid growth. From 1970 to 2020, the country’s population has almost doubled. This growth is due to the high birth rate and low death rate that characterize Guatemalan society.
However, in addition to rapid growth, there are a number of other demographic trends. For example, the proportion of the young population is decreasing, while the proportion of older people is increasing.
The ethnic composition of the population also influences the dynamics of the country. One of the main ethnic groups is the Mayans, who make up about 40% of the population of Guatemala. There is currently an increase in the proportion of the population identifying as Mayan.