1919: National Football Federation Established
In 1919, the National Football Federation of Guatemala was established.
1921: Census Records Used
In 1921, the census records were used as scrap paper.
1945: The Institute Indigents ta National Founded
In 1945, the Guatemalan government founded The Institute Indigents ta National (NH), the purpose of which was to teach literacy to Mayan children.
1947: Guatemalan Olympic Committee Founded
In 1947, the Guatemalan Olympic Committee was founded and recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
1950: Immigration Peak
Up to 1950, Guatemala was the Central American country that received the most immigrants, behind Costa Rica.
1952: Summer Olympics Participation
In 1952, Guatemala participated in the Summer Olympics.
1952: Partnership with SIL
In 1952, the SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) partnered with the Guatemalan Ministry of Education.
1965: Spanish Became Official Language
In 1965, Spanish became the official language of Guatemala.
1967: CONCACAF Championship Win
In 1967, Guatemala won the CONCACAF Championship.
1968: Summer Olympics Participation
Since 1968, Guatemala participated in every edition of the Summer Olympics.
February 1976: Major Earthquake
On February 4, 1976, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Guatemala along the Motagua Fault, resulting in over 25,000 deaths.
January 1980: Spanish Embassy Siege
In January 1980, indigenous K'iche' activists occupied the Spanish Embassy to protest army massacres. The Guatemalan government's assault resulted in a fire that killed most inside, leading to Spain severing diplomatic ties.
1980: Bilingual Education Expansion
In 1980, an experimental program was created in which children were to be instructed in their mother tongue until they are fluent enough in Spanish.
July 1982: Massacre of Achi-Maya
On July 18, 1982, a massacre of 188 Achi-Maya in Plan de Sanchez occurred.
1982: Rios Montt's 17-month rule begins
Efrain Rios Montt's 17-month rule began in 1982 and was marked by evidence of over 100 incidents involving at least 1,771 deaths, 1,445 rapes, and the displacement of nearly 30,000 Guatemalans.
1982: Guerrilla Groups Merge and Guatemalans Flee to Mexico
In 1982, guerrilla groups merged to form the URNG. As a result of army tactics, over 45,000 Guatemalans fled to Mexico and were placed in refugee camps.
1982: Overthrow of government and rise of Ríos Montt
In 1982, the government was overthrown, and General Efraín Ríos Montt became president of the military junta, continuing a campaign of violence. Guatemala became isolated internationally, despite support from the Reagan Administration.
1984: Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ
In 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 40,000 members.
1986: Free election and Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo wins
In 1986, following the calling for an election of a national constituent assembly, Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo from the Christian Democracy Party, won a free election.
1987: Bilingual Education Official
In 1987, bilingual education was made official in Guatemala.
1988: Winter Olympics Edition
In 1988, Guatemala appeared in a single Winter Olympics edition.
September 1991: Belize Independence Recognized
On September 6, 1991, Guatemala recognized Belize's independence, though a territorial dispute remains unresolved.
1992: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Rigoberta Menchú
In 1992, Rigoberta Menchú was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to bring international attention to the government-sponsored genocide against the indigenous population.
1995: Catholic Archdiocese Begins the Recovery of Historical Memory (REMHI) Project
In 1995, the Catholic Archdiocese of Guatemala started the Recovery of Historical Memory (REMHI) project to collect the facts and history of Guatemala's long civil war and confront the truth of those years.
1996: End of Guatemalan Civil War
In 1996, the Guatemalan Civil War concluded with a peace accord. Government forces and state-sponsored paramilitaries were deemed responsible for over 93% of the human rights violations during the war.
1996: Peace Accords
In 1996, the peace accords that ended the decades-long civil war removed a major obstacle to foreign investment.
1997: Healthcare Access Extended
Since the end of the Guatemalan Civil War in 1997, the Ministry of Health has extended healthcare access to 54% of the rural population.
April 1998: Bishop Gerardi Murdered
In April 1998, Bishop Juan José Gerardi Conedera was murdered shortly after announcing the release of the Recovery of Historical Memory Project's report.
April 1998: REMHI Presents "Guatemala: Nunca Más!" Report
In April 1998, REMHI presented the results of its work in the report "Guatemala: Nunca Más!", summarizing testimonies from witnesses and victims of repression during the Civil War, blaming the Guatemalan Army for 80% of the atrocities.
1998: Membership of the Church of Jesus Christ
In 1998, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 164,000 members.
1999: US President Clinton Acknowledges US Support for Brutal Civilian Killings
In 1999, US President Bill Clinton admitted that the US had been wrong to support the Guatemalan military forces involved in brutal civilian killings.
1999: Historical Clarification Commission Concludes State Actions Constituted Genocide
In 1999, the Historical Clarification Commission concluded that state actions constituted genocide, attributing over 93% of human rights violations to the Guatemalan military government, with Maya Indians accounting for 83% of the victims.
2000: FIFA Futsal World Cup Participation
In 2000, Guatemala participated for the first time in the FIFA Futsal World Cup as hosts.
November 2001: CID Gallup Catholic Religion Percentage
In November 2001, CID Gallup reported that 55% of people in Guatemala belonged to the Catholic religion.
2001: Army Officers Convicted for Bishop Gerardi's Death
In 2001, three Army officers were convicted in a civilian court for the murder of Bishop Gerardi and sentenced to 30 years in prison, marking the first trial of military members in a civilian court in Guatemalan history.
2003: Language Law
According to the Language Law of 2003, Mayan languages are recognized as national languages.
July 2004: Inter-American Court Condemned Massacre
In July 2004, the Inter-American Court condemned the 1982 massacre of Achi-Maya people and ruled that the Guatemalan Army had committed genocide.
October 2005: Hurricane Stan
In October 2005, Hurricane Stan caused significant flooding and mudslides in Guatemala, resulting in more than 1,500 deaths.
March 2006: DR-CAFTA Ratified
In March 2006, Guatemala's congress ratified the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA).
2007: Femicide Rate
From 2007 to 2012, Guatemala had around 9.1 murders for every 100,000 women.
2008: Femicide Officially Recognized as a Crime
In 2008, Guatemala became the first country to officially recognize femicide as a crime.
2008: FIFA Futsal World Cup
In 2008, Guatemala played in the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
2008: CONCACAF Futsal Championship
In 2008, Guatemala's national futsal team won the CONCACAF Futsal Championship as hosts.
2008: Tourism Contribution
In 2008, tourism's contribution to Guatemala's economy was estimated at $1.8 billion.
2009: Grand Prix de Futsal Participation
In 2009, Guatemala participated in the Grand Prix de Futsal.
2009: New York Grand Jury Indicts Portillo Cabrera
In 2009, a New York grand jury indicted Alfonso Portillo Cabrera for embezzlement.
January 2010: Arrest of Ex-President Alfonso Portillo
In January 2010, ex-President Alfonso Portillo was arrested while attempting to flee Guatemala.
May 2010: Alfonso Portillo Acquitted
In May 2010, Alfonso Portillo was acquitted by a panel of judges who threw out evidence and deemed witnesses unreliable.
2010: Population Age
In 2010, 41.5% of the population was below the age of 15, 54.1% were aged between 15 and 65 years of age, and 4.4% were aged 65 years or older.
2010: Guatemalan Economy Growth
In 2010, the Guatemalan economy grew by 3%, recovering from the 2009 crisis.
2011: Otto Pérez Molina Elected President
In 2011, Otto Pérez Molina was elected president of Guatemala, along with Roxana Baldetti, the first woman ever elected vice-president.
January 2012: Efrain Rios Montt Appears in Court on Genocide Charges
In January 2012, former dictator Efrain Rios Montt appeared in a Guatemalan court on genocide charges.
January 2012: Pérez Molina and Baldetti Begin Term
On January 14, 2012, Otto Pérez Molina and Roxana Baldetti began their term in office as President and Vice President of Guatemala, respectively.
September 2012: CID Gallup Catholic Religion Percentage
In September 2012, CID Gallup reported that 47.9% of people in Guatemala belonged to the Catholic religion.
2012: Guatemala Receives First Olympic Medal
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Erick Barrondo won Guatemala's first-ever Olympic medal in the men's 20-kilometer walk.
2012: Femicide Rate
From 2007 to 2012, Guatemala had around 9.1 murders for every 100,000 women.
2012: Erick Barrondo's Olympic Silver Medal
In 2012, Erick Barrondo won the first Olympic medal for Guatemala, a silver medal in race walking.
2012: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Runner-Up
In 2012, Guatemala's national futsal team was the runner-up in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship as hosts.
2012: Healthcare Spending
In 2012, per-capita average annual healthcare spending was only $368.
May 2013: Rios Montt Found Guilty of Genocide
On May 10, 2013, Rios Montt was found guilty of genocide and sentenced to 80 years in prison, marking the first time a national court found a former head of state guilty of genocide.
2013: Ministry of Health Lacked Financial Means
As of 2013, the Ministry of Health lacked the financial means to monitor or evaluate its programs.
2014: Grand Prix de Futsal Semifinals
In 2014, Guatemala reached the semifinals in the Grand Prix de Futsal.
2014: Government Considering Poppy and Marijuana Legalization
In 2014, the Guatemalan government was considering ways to legalize poppy and marijuana production.
January 2015: Resumption of Montt's Trial
In January 2015, the trial of Efrain Rios Montt resumed after his conviction was overturned.
April 2015: UN Anti-Corruption Report Implicates High-Profile Politicians
On April 16, 2015, a United Nations (UN) anti-corruption agency report implicated several high-profile politicians, including Baldetti's private secretary, in a scam known as "La Línea."
August 2015: Court Rules Rios Montt Can Stand Trial But Not Be Sentenced
In August 2015, a Guatemalan court ruled that Rios Montt could stand trial for genocide and crimes against humanity but could not be sentenced due to his age and health.
August 2015: CICIG and Attorney General Present Evidence Against President and Vice President
On Friday, August 21, 2015, the CICIG and Attorney General presented evidence implicating President Pérez Molina and former Vice President Baldetti as leaders of "La Línea." Baldetti was arrested the same day.
September 2015: Pérez Molina Resigns and is Summoned to Justice Department
In September 2015, Pérez Molina resigned and was summoned to the Justice Department for his first legal audience for the La Linea corruption case.
September 2015: Presidential Elections
In September 2015, legislative members of Libertad Democrática Renovada party (LIDER) were formally accused of bribery, causing a decline in presidential candidate Manuel Baldizón's popularity.
September 2015: President Resigned Due to Corruption Scandal
On September 2, 2015, President Otto Pérez Molina resigned due to a corruption scandal and was replaced by Alejandro Maldonado.
October 2015: Jimmy Morales Elected President
In October 2015, Jimmy Morales was elected as the new president of Guatemala.
2015: Jayro Bustamante's "Ixcanul"
In 2015, the Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante gained an international audience with his film "Ixcanul".
January 2016: Alejandro Maldonado Replaced
In January 2016, Alejandro Maldonado was replaced as President.
January 2016: Jimmy Morales Takes Office
In January 2016, Jimmy Morales took office as the President of Guatemala.
June 2016: UN Prosecutor Outlines "Cooperacha" Corruption Case
In June 2016, a United Nations-backed prosecutor described Pérez Molina's administration as a crime syndicate and outlined a corruption case called "Cooperacha," involving ministers pooling funds for luxurious gifts for Molina.
2016: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Bronze Medal
In 2016, Guatemala's national futsal team won the bronze medal in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship.
December 2017: Guatemala to Move Embassy to Jerusalem
In December 2017, President Morales announced that Guatemala will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
2017: United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Signed
In 2017, Guatemala signed the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
2018: Census Conducted
In 2018, a census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reported that 56% of the population is Ladino and 43.6% is Indigenous Guatemalan.
July 2019: Migration Deal Signed
In July 2019, the United States and Guatemala signed a deal to restrict migration and asylum seekers from Guatemala.
2019: Alejandro Giammattei Wins Presidency
In 2019, Alejandro Giammattei won the presidential election in Guatemala.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index
In 2019, Guatemala's Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score was 3.85/10, ranking it 138th globally out of 172 countries.
2019: Jayro Bustamante's Films
In 2019, Jayro Bustamante released the films "Temblores" and "La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)".
January 2020: Alejandro Giammattei Assumes Office
In January 2020, Alejandro Giammattei assumed office as the president of Guatemala.
January 2020: Alejandro Giammattei Succeeded Jimmy Morales
In January 2020, Alejandro Giammattei succeeded Jimmy Morales as President of Guatemala.
November 2020: Hurricane Eta
In November 2020, Hurricane Eta caused over 100 people to go missing or die in Guatemala, with the final death toll still uncertain.
November 2020: Protests Against President Giammattei and the Legislature
In November 2020, large protests and demonstrations occurred in Guatemala against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature due to cuts in educational and health spending.
2021: Population Size
In 2021, Guatemala had a population of 17,608,483 (est).
2021: Literacy Rate Increase
In 2021, significant strides in education led to an increase in literacy rates among the population aged 15 and above to 83.3%.
August 2023: Bernardo Arévalo Wins Presidential Election
In August 2023, Bernardo Arévalo of the Semilla Movement won Guatemala's presidential election.
January 2024: Arévalo's inauguration delayed
On 14 January 2024, Bernardo Arévalo's inauguration was delayed due to failure of the event's commission to approve a congressional delegation.
February 2024: Creation of Special Group Against Extortion (GECE)
On 8 February 2024, Arévalo and Francisco Jiménez announced the creation of the Special Group Against Extortion (GECE) within the National Civil Police (PNC) aimed at combatting violent crime and extortions.
April 2024: Presidential Salary Reduction
On 23 April 2024, Arévalo reduced the presidential salary by 25%, making the head of state of Guatemala no longer the highest-paid president in Latin America.
2024: Global Innovation Index Rank
In 2024, Guatemala was ranked 122nd in the Global Innovation Index.
2024: Estimated GDP
In 2024, Guatemala's estimated GDP (PPP) per capita is US$10,998.
2024: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Bronze Medal
In 2024, Guatemala's national futsal team won the bronze medal in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship.
2024: Global Hunger Index
In the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI), Guatemala ranks 81st out of 127 countries with sufficient data, with a score of 18.8, indicating a moderate level of hunger.
2024: Adriana Ruano Won Gold Medal
In the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Adriana Ruano won Guatemala's first ever gold medal in the shooting competition.
2024: Jean Pierre Brol Won Bronze Medal
In the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Jean Pierre Brol won Guatemala's second Olympic medal: a bronze medal, in the shooting competition.
