Geography of Guatemala

Guatemala is a country in Central America that has many different landscapes. Most of the country is mountainous, but the southern coast and the large northern area called Petén are flat and low. Guatemala is surrounded by Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Gulf of Honduras to the east, Honduras also to the east, El Salvador to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

Two big mountain chains run from west to east across Guatemala. They split the country into three main areas. The first is the highlands, where the mountains are. The second is the Pacific coast, which lies south of the mountains. The third is the limestone plateau of the Petén region, located north of the mountains. These different areas have their own weather, heights, and scenery, creating a mix of tropical lowlands and highland valleys and peaks.

Regions

Main article: Regions of Guatemala

Guatemala has many mountains, especially in the western part of the country. The Sierra Madre mountain chain runs from the Mexican border down toward El Salvador. It includes Tajumulco Volcano, the highest point in Guatemala and all of Central America, standing at 4,220 meters or 13,845 feet. This area has many volcanoes, including three that are still active: Pacaya, Santiaguito, and Fuego.

Another mountain chain starts near the Mexican border and goes east. These mountains are separated from the Sierra Madre by a valley called Motagua, where the Motagua river flows. Some big cities, like the capital Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango, are located in the highland areas. The largest lake, Lago de Izabal, is near the coast.

Climate

Guatemala has a hot and humid climate in the Pacific and Petén Lowlands. The highlands are more temperate, but some areas can get very cold. The eastern parts are hot and drier.

Because Guatemala is near the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, it can be affected by hurricanes. Big storms like Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and Hurricane Stan in 2005 caused flooding and landslides that harmed many people.

Forests

Global Forest Watch looks at how much tree cover there is in Guatemala and how it changes over time using pictures from satellites. Trees are counted if they are taller than about 5 meters. Tree cover loss means that trees were removed in a certain year, no matter why.

Guatemala lost about 18,906 square kilometers of tree cover between 2001 and 2024. In the year 2000, there were about 76,911 square kilometers of trees with dense cover. The charts show how much tree cover was lost each year and what is left from the year 2000 after all the loss.

Guatemala has shared a plan with the world to help protect its forests. This plan was checked and updated in 2024. It focuses on stopping the loss of forests and improving forest health.

Geographic data

Guatemala is a country in Central America with a total area of 108,889 km². It shares borders with Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Gulf of Honduras to the east, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The country has a coastline of 400 km along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

Guatemala has several natural features, including active volcanoes and areas that can experience earthquakes. The Caribbean coast is sometimes affected by hurricanes and tropical storms, which can cause flooding and landslides. Important natural resources in Guatemala include petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, and hydropower. The country faces environmental challenges such as deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution.

Geographic coordinates

15°30′N 90°15′W / 15.500°N 90.250°W / 15.500; -90.250

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

• Total: 108,889 km²
• Land: 107,159 km²

Land boundaries

• Total: 1,667 km
• Border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 199 km, Honduras 244 km, Mexico 958 km

Coastline

400 km

Maritime claims

• Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22 km)
• Exclusive economic zone: 114,170 km² (44,080 mi²) and 200 nmi (370 km)
• Continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Extreme points

• Northernmost point – border with Mexico, Petén Department
• Southernmost point – border with El Salvador, near Garita Chapina, Jutiapa Department
• Westernmost point – border with Mexico on Pacific coast, San Marcos Department
• Easternmost point – border with Honduras, Izabal Department
• Lowest point – Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea: 0 m
• Highest point – Volcán Tajumulco: 4,220 m

Natural resources

Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use

• Arable land: 14.32%
• Permanent crops: 8.82%
• Other: 76.87% (2012 est.)

Irrigated land

3,121 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources

111.3 km³ (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

• total: 3.46 km³/yr (15%/31%/54%)
• per capita: 259.1 m³/yr (2006)

Natural hazards

Several active volcanoes, occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast subject to hurricanes and other tropical storms, causing flooding, mudflows and landslides

Environment—current issues

Deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment—international agreements

• Party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution (MARPOL 73/78), Wetlands
• Signed, but not ratified: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Geography—note

No natural harbors on west coast