Language
Spanish is the official and predominant language. Indigenous minorities speak Nahuatl and Kekchi.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	6.2 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	6.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	6.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	6.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	6.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	6.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	6.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	6.3 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	6.2 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
7.9 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Mixed descendants of Spanish colonisers and Native Americans make up 89 percent of the population and indigenous groups 10 percent. There is also a small European minority.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Mainly Catholic
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	60.4 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	60.1 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	59.8 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	59.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	59.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	58.9 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	58.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	58.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1939
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
92 (2007)
Source: UNESCO

Percentage of population under 15

2005	34.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	34.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	34.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	35.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	35.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	35.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Time zone
GMT -6

Climate description
Pacific coastline has a hot tropical climate with one rainy season between May-October; higher regions cooler; rainfall governed by altitude, with noticeable dry period between November-January.

Currency
U.S. dollar, colon

Telephone dialling code
(+) 503

Driving (left/right)
Right

Average life expectancy

2005	71.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	71.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	70.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	70.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	70.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	69.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	68.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	68.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	67.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	67.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	67.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	67.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	74.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	74.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	73.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	73.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	73.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	73.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	21 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	22 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	23 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	24 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	32 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	33 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	33 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	34 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	24 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	25 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	27 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	28 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	36 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	39 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	92 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	69 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	90 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	51 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	51 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	170 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	150 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	103	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	101	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	104	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	102	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	105	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	104	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	10 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	10 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	10 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	10 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	11 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	11 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	84 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	84 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	82 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	77 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	86 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	62 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	63 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	82 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	79.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	79.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	79.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	78.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	82.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	82.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	81.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	81.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	77.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	76.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	76.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	176 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	177 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	171 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	160 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	147 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	125 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	111 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	109 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	105 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	1133 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	1005 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	633 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	398 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	304 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	191 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	148 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	125 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	111 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	111 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	100 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	93 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	87 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	83 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	46 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	23 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	11 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	67 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	67	Transparency International 2007
2006	57 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	51 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	51 (joint)	Transparency International
2003	59 (joint)	Transparency International
2002	62 (joint)	Transparency International
2001	54 (joint)	Transparency International
2000	43 (joint)	Transparency International

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
Yes (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	19.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	19.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	31.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1990-2002	31.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	21.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	2850 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	2680 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	2530 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2400 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	2120 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	2070 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	2030 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	20.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	18.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	17.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	15.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	15.0 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	14.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	13.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	13.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.1  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	1.9  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	2.3  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	2.3  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	1.7  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	2.2  percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	4.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	4.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	3.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	2.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	1.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	3.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
0.7 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
38.8 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Physicians

2000-2004	124 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	124 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	126 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	121 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	0.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Very low risk - almost exclusively due to P.vivax - throughout the year in Santa Ana province and in rural areas of migratory influence from Guatemala.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	40 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	41 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	43 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	45 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	47 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	49 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	51 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	54 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

Number of refugees originating here

2008	5151	UNHCR
2007	6022	UNHCR
2006	6388	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	4281	UNHCR
2004	4497	UNHCR
2003	5658	UNHCR
2002	6632	UNHCR
2001	7150	UNHCR
2000	7756	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	32	UNHCR
2007	39	UNHCR
2006	39	UNHCR
2005	49	UNHCR
2004	235	UNHCR
2003	246	UNHCR
2002	84	UNHCR
2001	74	UNHCR
2000	72	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2007	4	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2006	6	Landmine Monitor Report 2008
2004	No data available
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military

2005	0.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	0.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	2.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	2.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	2.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	3.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	3.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003