Guatemala, formally the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America, surrounded by Mexico to the north as well as west, Belize as well as the Caribbean to the northeast, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast as well as the Pacific Ocean to the south.

With an approximated population of around 17.2 million, it is one of the most heavily populated nation in Central America and is the 11th most populous country in the Americas. Guatemala is a depictive freedom; its resources and biggest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, likewise called Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America.

The core of the Maya civilization, which extended throughout Mesoamerica, was historically based in the region of modern Guatemala. In the 16th century, the majority of this area was conquered by the Spanish and also asserted as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala acquired independence in 1821 from Spain and Mexico. In 1823 Guatemala entered into the Federal Republic of Central America, which liquified by 1841.

From the mid- to late 19th century, Guatemala experienced chronic instability and civil quarrel. Starting in the early 20th century, it was ruled by a collection of dictators backed by the United Fruit Company and the United States federal government. In 1944, the tyrannical leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic armed forces coup, launching a decade-long transformation that led to brushing up social and also financial reforms. A U.S.-backed armed forces stroke of genius in 1954 finished the revolution as well as mounted a dictatorship.

From 1960 to 1996, Guatemala withstood a bloody civil war combated between the US-backed government and also leftist rebels, including genocidal carnages of the Maya population committed by the military. Because a United Nations– bargained peace accord, Guatemala has actually attained both economic growth as well as successful democratic political elections, although it remains to fight with high prices of destitution and criminal activity, medicine cartels, as well as instability. Since 2014, Guatemala ranks 31st of 33 Latin American and Caribbean nations in terms of the Human being Advancement Index.

Guatemala’s wealth of biologically substantial as well as special environments consists of numerous native types and contributes to Mesoamerica’s classification as a biodiversity hotspot.