History of Guatemala in Timeline

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a Central American country bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast, Honduras to the east, and El Salvador to the southeast. It is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the south and the Gulf of Honduras to the northeast.

1900: Historical Population

In 1900, Guatemala's population was only 885,000, marking the fastest population growth in the Western Hemisphere during the 20th century.

1904: Contract with UFCO

In 1904, Estrada Cabrera signed a contract with UFCO's Minor Cooper Keith, giving the company tax exemptions, land grants, and control of all railroads on the Atlantic side in Guatemala.

1906: Revolts against Estrada Cabrera

In 1906, Estrada Cabrera faced serious revolts against his rule, which were supported by some Central American nations, but Estrada succeeded in suppressing them. Elections were held, and Estrada Cabrera retaliated by having the president-elect murdered.

1907: Assassination attempt on Estrada Cabrera

In 1907, Estrada Cabrera narrowly survived an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded near his carriage in Guatemala. It has been suggested that the extreme despotic characteristics of Estrada did not emerge until after this event.

1917: Guatemala earthquake

In 1917, Guatemala City was badly damaged in the Guatemala earthquake.

1919: National Football Federation Established

In 1919, the National Football Federation of Guatemala was established to organize the country's national league and lower-level competitions.

April 1920: Estrada Cabrera forced to resign

In April 1920, Estrada Cabrera was forced to resign after new revolts. The national assembly charged that he was mentally incompetent and appointed Carlos Herrera in his place.

1920: Carlos Herrera becomes President

In 1920, Carlos Herrera became President of Guatemala.

September 1921: Guatemala joins the Federation of Central America

On September 9, 1921, Guatemala joined with El Salvador and Honduras in the Federation of Central America.

1921: José María Orellana becomes President

In 1921, José María Orellana became President of Guatemala.

1921: Census Records Used as Scrap Paper

The census records for 1921 in Guatemala were used as scrap paper and no longer exist, although their statistical information was preserved.

January 1922: End of Federation of Central America

On January 14, 1922, Guatemala left the Federation of Central America.

1926: Orellana in office

In 1926, José María Orellana was president of Guatemala.

1929: The Great Depression damages the Guatemalan economy

The Great Depression began in 1929 and badly damaged the Guatemalan economy, causing a rise in unemployment and leading to unrest among workers and laborers.

1931: Jorge Ubico wins election

In 1931, Jorge Ubico won the election to become president of Guatemala, in which he was the only candidate, and quickly adopted authoritarian policies.

1931: Lázaro Chacón González in office

In 1931, Lázaro Chacón González was president of Guatemala.

1940: Census Records Burned

The 1940 census records for Guatemala were burned.

1941: Guatemala aligns with the U.S. against Germany

In 1941, when the US declared war against Germany, Ubico acted on American instructions and arrested all people in Guatemala of German descent. He also permitted the US to establish an air base in Guatemala to protect the Panama Canal.

July 1944: Ubico forced to resign

On July 1, 1944, Ubico was forced to resign from the presidency in response to a wave of protests and a general strike inspired by brutal labor conditions among plantation workers in Guatemala.

October 1944: Military coup led by Arana and Árbenz

On October 20, 1944, General Juan Federico Ponce Vaides was forced out of office by a coup d'état led by Major Francisco Javier Arana and Captain Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán; about 100 people were killed in the coup in Guatemala.

1944: Liberal presidents of Guatemala

Between 1871 and 1944, Manuel Barillas was unique among liberal presidents of Guatemala: he handed over power to his successor peacefully.

1944: Overthrow of Jorge Ubico

In 1944, authoritarian leader Jorge Ubico was overthrown by a pro-democratic military coup, which initiated a decade-long revolution leading to social and economic reforms in Guatemala.

1945: Foundation of The Institute Indigents ta National

In 1945, the Guatemalan government founded The Institute Indigents ta National (NH) to teach literacy to Mayan children in their mother tongue.

1947: Guatemalan Olympic Committee Founded

In 1947, the Guatemalan Olympic Committee was founded and recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

1950: Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán wins election

In 1950, Jacobo Árbenz Guzmán won the largely free and fair elections in Guatemala and continued the moderate capitalist approach of Arévalo.

1950: Immigration to Guatemala

Up to 1950, Guatemala was the Central American country that received the most immigrants, behind Costa Rica. These immigrants included politicians, refugees, entrepreneurs and families looking to settle.

1952: Summer Olympics Participation

Guatemala participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics.

1952: Passage of Decree 900

In 1952, Decree 900, a sweeping agrarian reform bill, was passed in Guatemala, transferring uncultivated land to landless peasants.

1952: Operation PBFortune authorized

In 1952, US President Harry Truman authorized Operation PBFortune to topple Árbenz in Guatemala, but the operation was aborted when too many details became public.

1952: Partnership with SIL

In 1952, the SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) partnered with the Guatemalan Ministry of Education, leading to numerous written works in Mayan languages and advancement in the translation of the New Testament.

August 1953: Operation PBSuccess authorized

In August 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower authorized the CIA to carry out Operation PBSuccess in Guatemala.

June 1954: Invasion of Guatemala and resignation of Árbenz

On June 18, 1954, a force of 480 men led by Carlos Castillo Armas invaded Guatemala, backed by a heavy campaign of psychological warfare. Árbenz resigned on June 27.

July 1954: Castillo Armas becomes president

Following negotiations in San Salvador, Carlos Castillo Armas became president of Guatemala on July 7, 1954.

1954: U.S.-backed military coup

In 1954, a U.S.-backed military coup ended the revolution in Guatemala and installed a dictatorship.

July 1957: Assassination of Carlos Castillo Armas

On July 26, 1957, President Carlos Castillo Armas was assassinated by Romeo Vásquez, a member of his personal guard, in Guatemala.

November 1960: Failed revolt against Ydigoras' government

On November 13, 1960, a group of left-wing junior military officers led a failed revolt against Ydigoras' government in Guatemala.

1960: Beginning of the Guatemalan Civil War

In 1960, the Guatemalan Civil War began, fought between the U.S.-backed government and leftist rebels, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the Guatemalan military.

1961: Training of Cuban exiles in Guatemala

In 1961, Ydigoras authorized the training of 5,000 anti-Castro Cubans in Guatemala and provided airstrips for the US-sponsored Bay of Pigs Invasion.

February 1962: Attack on United Fruit Company offices

On February 6, 1962, the MR-13 attacked the offices of the United Fruit Company in Bananera, sparking strikes and walkouts throughout Guatemala.

March 1963: Military coup led by Peralta Azurdia

In March 1963, Ydigoras' government was ousted in a coup led by Defense Minister Colonel Enrique Peralta Azurdia, after Ydigoras had pledged to allow Arévalo return from exile and run in a free and open election in Guatemala.

1965: Spanish as Official Language

In 1965, when Spanish became the official language of Guatemala, the government started several programs, such as the Bilingual Castellanizacion Program and the Radiophonic Schools, to accelerate the move of Mayan students to Spanish.

1966: Julio César Méndez Montenegro elected president

In 1966, Julio César Méndez Montenegro was elected president of Guatemala, initiating a period known as the "Democratic Opening", with military advisers from the United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) were sent to Guatemala to train Guatemala's armed forces.

1967: CONCACAF Championship Win

In 1967, the Guatemala national football team won the CONCACAF Championship.

1968: Summer Olympics Participation

Guatemala participated in every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1968.

1970: Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio elected president

In 1970, Colonel Carlos Manuel Arana Osorio was elected president of Guatemala.

1972: Guerrilla movement enters the country

In 1972, members of the guerrilla movement entered Guatemala from Mexico and settled in the Western Highlands.

1974: Disputed election of Kjell Laugerud García

In the disputed election of 1974, General Kjell Laugerud García defeated General Efraín Ríos Montt, who claimed that he had been cheated out of a victory through fraud in Guatemala.

February 1976: Major earthquake

On February 4, 1976, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Guatemala, killing more than 25,000 people.

February 1976: Major earthquake destroys cities

On February 4, 1976, a major earthquake destroyed several cities in Guatemala and caused more than 25,000 deaths.

1978: Romeo Lucas García assumes power

In 1978, General Romeo Lucas García assumed power in Guatemala in a fraudulent election.

1979: US Bans Military Aid to Guatemala

In 1979, US President Jimmy Carter, due to the Guatemalan Army's human rights abuses, ordered a ban on all military aid to Guatemala.

January 1980: Spanish Embassy Siege and Fire

On January 31, 1980, indigenous K'iche' activists took over the Spanish Embassy to protest army massacres. The Guatemalan government launched an assault, resulting in a fire and multiple deaths. The Spanish ambassador disputed the government's version of events, leading Spain to sever diplomatic ties with Guatemala.

1980: Experimental Bilingual Education Program

In 1980, an experimental program was created in Guatemala where children were instructed in their mother tongue until they were fluent enough in Spanish.

July 1982: Massacre of Achi-Maya in Plan de Sanchez

On July 18, 1982, a massacre of 188 Achi-Maya occurred in Plan de Sanchez.

1982: Efrain Rios Montt's Rule Begins

In 1982, Efrain Rios Montt's rule began and lasted for 17 months.

1982: Guerrilla Groups Merge and Guatemalans Flee to Mexico

In 1982, the four guerrilla groups merged to form the URNG. As a result of the Army's tactics, more than 45,000 Guatemalans fled to Mexico.

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 and repression.

1983: Efrain Rios Montt's Rule Ends

In 1983, Efrain Rios Montt's rule ended after 17 months.

1984: Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In 1984, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had 40,000 members in Guatemala.

1986: Free Election Won by Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo

In 1986, a free election was won by Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo of the Christian Democracy Party.

1987: Bilingual Education Made Official

In 1987, bilingual education was made official in Guatemala after a successful pilot program.

1988: Winter Olympics Edition

In 1988, Guatemala appeared in a single Winter Olympics edition.

September 1991: Guatemala Recognizes Belize's Independence

On September 6, 1991, Guatemala recognized Belize's independence, though the territorial dispute remained unresolved.

1992: Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Rigoberta Menchú

In 1992, Rigoberta Menchú was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing international attention to the genocide against the indigenous population.

1995: Catholic Archdiocese Begins Memory Project

In 1995, the Catholic Archdiocese of Guatemala began the Recovery of Historical Memory (REMHI) project, to collect the facts and history of Guatemala's civil war.

1996: End of the Guatemalan Civil War

In 1996, the Guatemalan Civil War ended with a peace accord between the guerrillas and the government, brokered by the United Nations.

1996: Peace Accord

In 1996, the United Nations negotiated a peace accord in Guatemala, resulting in economic growth and successive democratic elections.

1996: End of Civil War

In 1996, the peace accords that ended the decades-long civil war removed a major obstacle to foreign investment in Guatemala. Tourism has become an increasing source of revenue.

1997: Healthcare Access Expansion

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 After Report Release

In April 1998, Bishop Juan José Gerardi Conedera was murdered two days after announcing the release of the "Guatemala: Nunca Más!" report.

April 1998: REMHI Presents "Guatemala: Nunca Más!" Report

On April 24, 1998, the Recovery of Historical Memory (REMHI) project presented its report, "Guatemala: Nunca Más!", summarizing testimony and statements of victims of repression during the Civil War.

1998: Increase in Church Membership

By 1998, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints grew to 164,000 members and continued to expand in Guatemala.

1998: Hurricane Mitch

In 1998, Guatemala was impacted by Hurricane Mitch.

1999: US President Clinton Acknowledges Support for Guatemalan Military

In 1999, US President Bill Clinton stated that the US was wrong to have supported the Guatemalan military forces involved in brutal killings.

1999: Historical Clarification Commission Concludes State Actions Constituted Genocide

In 1999, the Historical Clarification Commission concluded that state actions constituted genocide.

2000: FIFA Futsal World Cup Participation

In 2000, Guatemala participated for the first time in the FIFA Futsal World Cup as hosts.

2001: Religious Affiliation

In 2001, 55% of people in Guatemala identified as Catholic, 30% as Protestant, and 12.7% claimed no religious affiliation.

2001: Army Officers Convicted in Gerardi Murder Case

In 2001, three Army officers were convicted for the murder of Bishop Gerardi and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

2003: Language Law

According to the Language Law of 2003, twenty-one Mayan languages are recognized as national languages in Guatemala.

July 2004: Inter-American Court Condemns Plan de Sanchez Massacre

In July 2004, the Inter-American Court condemned the July 18, 1982 massacre of 188 Achi-Maya in Plan de Sanchez, ruling the Guatemalan Army had committed genocide.

October 2005: Hurricane Stan

In October 2005, Hurricane Stan struck Guatemala, killing more than 1,500 people due to flooding and mudslides.

March 2006: Ratification of DR-CAFTA

In March 2006, Guatemala's congress ratified the Dominican Republic–Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA) between several Central American nations and the US.

2007: Femicide Rate in Guatemala

From 2007 to 2012, Guatemala had the third-highest femicide rate in the world, with around 9.1 murders for every 100,000 women.

2008: FIFA Futsal World Cup Participation

From 2008 onwards, Guatemala has played in every FIFA Futsal World Cup competition.

2008: Guatemala Recognizes Femicide as a Crime

In 2008, Guatemala became the first country to officially recognize femicide, the murder of a female because of her sex, as a crime.

2008: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Win

In 2008, the Guatemalan national futsal team won the CONCACAF Futsal Championship as hosts.

2008: Tourism revenue

Tourism in Guatemala contributed an estimated $1.8 billion to the economy in 2008.

2009: Crisis in Guatemala

In 2009, Guatemala faced an economic crisis due to falling demands from the United States and other Central American markets and the slowdown in foreign investment in the middle of the Great Recession.

2009: New York Grand Jury Indicts Alfonso Portillo

In 2009, a New York grand jury had indicted Alfonso Portillo Cabrera for embezzlement.

2009: Poverty Rate

In 2009, the CIA World Fact Book estimated that 54.0% of the population of Guatemala lived in poverty.

2009: Grand Prix de Futsal Participation

Since 2009, Guatemala has participated in every Grand Prix de Futsal.

January 2010: Ex-President Alfonso Portillo Arrested

In January 2010, ex-President Alfonso Portillo was arrested while trying to flee Guatemala.

May 2010: Alfonso Portillo Acquitted

In May 2010, Alfonso Portillo was acquitted.

2010: GDP and economic sectors

In 2010, Guatemala's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power parity (PPP) was estimated at US$70.15 billion. The service sector was the largest component of GDP at 63%, followed by the industry sector at 23.8% and the agriculture sector at 13.2%. Inflation was 3.9% in 2010.

2010: Guatemalan economy growth

In 2010, the Guatemalan economy grew by 3%, recovering gradually from the 2009 crisis.

2011: Otto Pérez Molina Elected President

In 2011, Otto Pérez Molina was elected president.

January 2012: Efrain Rios Montt Appears in Court on Genocide Charges

In January 2012, Efrain Rios Montt appeared in a Guatemalan court on genocide charges.

January 2012: Pérez Molina and Baldetti Begin Term

In January 2012, Otto Pérez Molina and Roxana Baldetti began their term in office.

2012: Guatemala Wins First Olympic Medal

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Guatemala received its first-ever Olympic medal when Erick Barrondo won the men's 20 kilometer walk.

2012: Femicide Rate in Guatemala

From 2007 to 2012, Guatemala had the third-highest femicide rate in the world, with around 9.1 murders for every 100,000 women.

2012: Healthcare Spending

In 2012, per-capita average annual healthcare spending in Guatemala was only $368.

2012: Religious Affiliation

In 2012, the Catholic population in Guatemala declined to 47.9%, while the Protestant population grew to 38.2%. Those claiming no religious affiliation were down to 11.6%.

2012: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Runner-up

In 2012, the Guatemalan national futsal team was the runner-up in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship as hosts.

2012: Literacy Rate

In 2012, the literacy rate among the population aged 15 and above in Guatemala was 74.5%.

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.

2013: Ministry of Health Financial Constraints

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: Consideration of Legalizing Poppy and Marijuana Production

In 2014, the government of Guatemala was considering ways to legalize poppy and marijuana production, hoping to tax production and use tax revenues to fund drug prevention programs and other social projects.

January 2015: Rios Montt's Trial Resumes

In January 2015, Rios Montt's trial resumed.

April 2015: UN Report Implicates Politicians in Corruption

On April 16, 2015, a United Nations (UN) anti-corruption agency report implicated several high-profile politicians in corruption.

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 deteriorating health.

August 2015: CICIG and Attorney General Present Evidence Against Pérez Molina and Baldetti

On Friday, August 21, 2015, the CICIG and Attorney General Thelma Aldana presented evidence that President Pérez Molina and former vice President Baldetti were the actual leaders of "La Línea". Baldetti was arrested the same day.

September 2015: Pérez Molina Resigns and is Summoned to Justice Department

In September 2015, President Pérez Molina resigned and was summoned to the Justice Department for the La Linea corruption case.

September 2015: Decline in Electoral Prospects for Manuel Baldizón

In September 2015, several legislators and members of Libertad Democrática Renovada party (LIDER) were formally accused of bribery-related issues, prompting a large decline in the electoral prospects of its presidential candidate, Manuel Baldizón.

September 2015: Otto Pérez Molina Resigns

On September 2, 2015, Otto Pérez Molina resigned as President of Guatemala due to a corruption scandal and was replaced by Alejandro Maldonado.

October 2015: Jimmy Morales Elected President

In October 2015, former TV comedian Jimmy Morales was elected as the new president of Guatemala after huge anti-corruption demonstrations.

2015: Gold production

In 2015, Guatemala's gold production reached 6 tons.

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2015: Ixcanul film release

In 2015, Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante released "Ixcanul", a film focused on Guatemalan contemporary society and politics, gaining an international audience.

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January 2016: Jimmy Morales Assumes Office

In January 2016, Jimmy Morales assumed office as President of Guatemala, succeeding Alejandro Maldonado.

June 2016: UN Prosecutor Outlines Cooperacha Corruption Case

In June 2016, a United Nations-backed prosecutor described the administration of Pérez Molina as a crime syndicate and outlined the Cooperacha (Kick-in) corruption case.

2016: CONCACAF Futsal Championship Bronze Medal

In 2016, the Guatemalan national futsal team won the bronze medal in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship.

December 2017: Guatemala to Move Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem

In December 2017, President Morales announced that Guatemala will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

2017: Guatemala Signs UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

In 2017, Guatemala signed the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

2018: Ethnic Composition

According to the 2018 Census conducted by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), 56% of Guatemala's population is Ladino and 43.6% are Indigenous Guatemalans.

August 2019: Alejandro Giammattei Wins Presidential Election

In August 2019, Alejandro Giammattei won the presidential election.

2019: Alejandro Giammattei Wins Presidential Election

In 2019, Alejandro Giammattei won the presidential election.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index

In 2019, Guatemala had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.85/10, ranking it 138th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: Temblores and La Llorona film releases

In 2019, Guatemalan director Jayro Bustamante released "Temblores" and "La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)", films focused on Guatemalan contemporary society and politics, gaining an international audience.

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January 2020: Alejandro Giammattei Assumes Presidency

In January 2020, Alejandro Giammattei assumed office as President of Guatemala.

January 2020: Alejandro Giammattei Replaces Jimmy Morales as President

In January 2020, Alejandro Giammattei replaced Jimmy Morales as the president of Guatemala.

January 2020: Alejandro Giammattei Succeeds Jimmy Morales

In January 2020, Alejandro Giammattei succeeded Jimmy Morales as President of Guatemala.

November 2020: Hurricane Eta

In November 2020, Hurricane Eta impacted Guatemala, resulting in more than 100 people missing or killed.

November 2020: Protests Against President Giammattei

In November 2020, large protests and demonstrations occurred in Guatemala against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature.

2021: Literacy Rate Increase

By 2021, the literacy rate among the population aged 15 and above in Guatemala increased to 83.3%.

2021: Population Estimate

In 2021, Guatemala had an estimated population of 17,608,483.

August 2023: Bernardo Arévalo Wins Presidential Election

In August 2023, Bernardo Arévalo won Guatemala's presidential election.

2023: Opposition seeking to weaken Arévalo's administration

Throughout 2023, Arévalo's opposition sought to weaken his administration through prosecutions of Semilla party members and indigenous leaders of the 2023 protests.

January 2024: Bernardo Arévalo's inauguration delayed

In January 2024, Bernardo Arévalo's inauguration as the 52nd president of Guatemala was delayed due to the event's commission failing to approve a congressional delegation.

February 2024: Creation of the Special Group Against Extortion (GECE)

In February 2024, Arévalo and the Minister of the Interior, Francisco Jiménez, announced the creation of the Special Group Against Extortion (GECE), a special police force aimed at combatting violent crime and extortions. The United States government donated equipment to support the new task force.

April 2024: Presidential salary reduction

In April 2024, President Arévalo reduced the presidential salary by 25%, fulfilling a campaign promise. Vice President Herrera also announced a 25% reduction in her salary.