The People

Most of the people are either ladinos (of mixed Indian and Spanish descent) or of pure Indian ancestry. The rest are mainly of Spanish ancestry; a few are blacks and mulattoes. The proportion of Indians in Guatemala is higher than in any other Latin American country. Chiefly the descendants of ancient Maya-Quiché tribes, Indians live in isolated mountain villages, retaining age-old ways of life.

Guatemala City, the capital, is the country's largest city, with a population of 1,167,495. Other major cities are Quezaltenango (103,631), Escuintla (69,532), Mazatenango (43,316), Puerto Barrios (39,379), and Retalhuleu (40,062).

The official language is Spanish. Indians speak various Maya-Quiché tongues, each with several dialects. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. Roman Catholics predominate.

Six years of elementary education are by law free and compulsory. However, there are too few teachers and schools, and more than 45 per cent of the people are illiterate. The University of San Carlos, in Guatemala City, is the country's chief institution of higher learning.