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Guatemala: Hispanic Reading Room Country Guide

This guide provides curated Library of Congress resources for researching Guatemala, including digitized primary source materials in a wide variety of formats, books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching.

Introduction

Guatemala, view of Guatemala City. [between 1908 and 1919]. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

The Library of Congress holds thousands of collection materials about and from Guatemala. Curated by librarians in the Hispanic Reading Room, this guide is part of a series of Country Guides that provide quick references for countries and regions from the Luso-Hispanic world. The Hispanic Reading Room is the Library’s portal to the Caribbean, Latin America, Spain and Portugal; the indigenous cultures of those areas; and peoples throughout the world historically influenced by Luso-Hispanic heritage, including Latinos in the U.S. This guide offers links to diverse resources on Guatemala from across the Library including digitized primary sources, selected books and periodicals, online databases, and tips for searching. For specific questions or assistance using the Library’s resources, use the Ask a Librarian service to contact a reference librarian.

Guatemala: Quick Facts

United States. Central Intelligence Agency. Guatemala. [2000]. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.

Official Name: Republic of Guatemala

Capital: Guatemala City

Date of Independence: September 15, 1821

Head of State/Government: President Alejandro Giammattei

Population: 16.6 million (2019)

Languages: Spanish, K’iche’, Q'eqchi', Kaqchikel, Mam, Poqomchi, Tz’utujil, Achí, Q’anjob’al, Ixil, Akatek, Jakaltek, Chuj, Poqomam, Ch'orti', Awakatek, Sakapultek, Sipakapa, Garífuna, Uspantek, Uspantek, Mopan, Itza, Xinca.

States: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.