Guatemala: Flag and Facts
Guatemala's flag has light blue stripes on both sides of a white center stripe, with a coat of arms featuring a green-and-red quetzal bird.
- Official name
- Republic of Guatemala
- Capital
- Guatemala City
- Region
- Central America
- Population
- 18 million (2024)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Guatemalan quetzal
- Area
- 108,889 km² (42,042 sq mi)
- People
- Guatemalan
- Calling code
- +502
- Highest point
- Volcan Tajumulco (highest point in Central America) 4,220 m
- Independence
- 15 September 1821 (from Spain)
- National symbols
- quetzal (bird)
- Borders
- Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico
About Guatemala
The arms also show crossed rifles, crossed swords and a laurel wreath, plus a scroll marked with the date of independence, 15 September 1821. The rifles signal readiness to defend the country, the swords honor, and the laurel victory. Blue represents the two oceans on either side, and white means peace and purity.
The Maya civilization thrived here in the first millennium A.D. Spain ruled for nearly three centuries before independence. Over the later 20th century, military and civilian governments came and went, and a guerrilla war dragged on for 36 years until a peace deal in 1996. Two mountain chains running east to west split the country into highlands, a Pacific coast to the south, and the huge Peten lowlands in the north.
Did you know?
- Volcan Tajumulco, at 4,220 meters, is the highest point in all of Central America.
- The quetzal is Guatemala's national bird.
- Guatemala City has about 3.095 million residents.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Guatemala
What currency does Guatemala use?
The Guatemalan quetzal, named after the national bird.
How many people live in Guatemala?
About 18 million, based on a 2024 figure.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.