Guatemala: flag, capital, currency and history
Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America, the Americas. Its capital is Guatemala City. The currency is the Guatemalan quetzal. Languages spoken include Spanish.
Quick facts about Guatemala
- Official name
- Republic of Guatemala
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Region
- Americas, Central America
- Currency
- Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, Q)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +502
- Internet domain
- .gt
- Area
- 108,889 km² (42,042 sq mi)
- Land borders
- Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico
- Demonym
- Guatemalan
- National day
- Independence Day, September 15
Flag of Guatemala
Download the flag of Guatemala as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇬🇹.
History of Guatemala
Guatemala was a core region of Maya civilisation, whose cities flourished especially in the Classic period from about 250 to 900 CE. Spanish forces under Pedro de Alvarado conquered the highlands from 1524, and the territory became the Captaincy General of Guatemala. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821, after which the region briefly joined Mexico and then the Federal Republic of Central America. Guatemala became a separate republic in the 1840s. An armed internal conflict lasted from 1960 to 1996, ending with peace accords. Guatemala City is the capital.
Key dates
- c. 250The Classic period of Maya civilisation begins in the region.
- 1524Pedro de Alvarado leads the Spanish conquest of Guatemala.
- 1821Central American provinces declare independence from Spain on 15 September.
- 1823The Federal Republic of Central America is formed, including Guatemala.
- 1840sGuatemala emerges as a separate independent republic.
- 1960An armed internal conflict begins.
- 1996Peace accords end the internal conflict.
A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.
Currency of Guatemala
Guatemala uses the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, Q). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.
Festivals and greetings in Guatemala
Celebrations observed in Guatemala, with free greeting images and wishes you can personalise.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Guatemala?
The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City.
What currency does Guatemala use?
Guatemala uses the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ, symbol Q).
What languages are spoken in Guatemala?
Languages used in Guatemala include Spanish.
What is the calling code of Guatemala?
The international calling code of Guatemala is +502. Its internet domain is .gt.
Which countries border Guatemala?
Guatemala shares land borders with Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico.
On which continent is Guatemala?
Guatemala is in Central America, part of the Americas, in the region of Central America.
What is the national day of Guatemala?
Guatemala marks Independence Day on September 15.
Neighbours of Guatemala
More countries in Central America
Country data from the open mledoze/countries dataset (ODbL), with corrections. Flags from flag-icons (MIT).