| Unequal distribution of wealth and a rapid population | | | | care as facilities are focused in the metropolitan areas. |
| growth have given Guatemala one of the highest | | | | Then with the use of pesticides, the low availability of |
| poverty rates in Latin America despite the highest | | | | drinking water and waste disposal services in rural |
| GDP in Central America. More than 75 percent of the | | | | areas there is a raised occurrence of health problems. |
| national population lives below the poverty line and this | | | | Malnutrition of Guatemalan children is extremely high, |
| is even more severe among the rural and indigenous | | | | among the worst in the world with an overall stunting |
| population. | | | | rate of 44 percent of all children under five. Four fifths |
| Guatemala's income is one of the most unequal in the | | | | of malnourished children are poor, and higher among |
| world with the wealthiest 10 percent owning nearly 50 | | | | rural and indigenous children than urban or non - |
| percent of the national wealth and the poorest 10 | | | | indigenous. Malnutrition mirrors the geographic and |
| percent owning less than 1 percent. Land also is | | | | ethnic patterns of poverty, being higher among rural |
| concentrated to the few. | | | | children than urban (51% vs 32%). |
| Guatemala has a population of over 12 million, half of | | | | The poor are highly dependent on agriculture, some 87 |
| which are under 18 with approximately 60 percent of | | | | percent, as small scale subsistence farmers or |
| the population between 6 and 18 living in extreme | | | | agricultural day laborers. Non Spanish speakers also |
| poverty. The high level of poverty and the lack of | | | | face lower incomes. |
| social support programs mean child labor is the only | | | | Education is not a great priority for poor Guatemalans |
| way of survival for many families. It is thought | | | | as children are needed to work to contribute to the |
| approximately 14,500 children live on the streets | | | | family income. Only 44 percent of school age children |
| throughout the country with 4,500 street children | | | | attend classes and only 55.6 percent of the total |
| located in and around Guatemala city. | | | | population is literate. Child labor significantly inhibits the |
| Guatemala ranks among the worst for life expectancy | | | | ability to attend school. |
| (65 years at birth), infant mortality (40-45 per thousand) | | | | Although the indigenous represent 43 percent of the |
| and maternal mortality (270 per 100,000). About two | | | | population they actually claim less than a quarter of the |
| thirds of children live in poverty with 68 percent under | | | | total income and consumption for the country. Likewise |
| six and 63 percent of all children under 18 living below | | | | rural residents account for two thirds of the nation's |
| the poverty line. Public spending on health has not | | | | population but claim only a third of the total income and |
| increased sufficiently and public spending is not well | | | | consumption. Inequality is higher however in urban |
| targeted to the poor. | | | | areas than the rural. |
| The poor do not have easy access to good health | | | | |