Located in northern Central America, Guatemala borders with Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, and Belize. A designated biodiversity “hotspot”, Guatemala encompasses fourteen distinct eco-regions. Its natural beauty is punctuated by 34 volcanoes set amidst fertile lands, home to a largely impoverished agricultural economy.

Guatemala is at the cultural crossroads of ancient Mayan and Spanish influences. It is the most populous Central American country with over 13 million inhabitants, 60% of which have indigenous roots. The main official language is Spanish, although there are 22 Mayan languages officially recognized by the state.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) 35.8% of the population lives in poverty (less than $2 per person per day), and 15.2% in extreme poverty (less than $1 per person per day). The United Nations identifies the Guatemala Human Development Index as the second lowest in all of the Americas, second only to Haiti.