Population and Demographics of Guatemala
Population changed +1.55% in 2024 · median age 23 years
In Guatemala, the 2024 age structure includes 31.58% children and 4.85% older adults, with a 26.73-point gap between the under-15 and 65-plus shares. The longer record adds perspective: the population changed by +57.3% between 2000 and 2024. By 2050, the medium path points to 24.67 million, equivalent to a +34.0% change from the 2024 estimate.
Population Over Time in Guatemala
Over the 24 years from 2000 to 2024, Guatemala added roughly 6.71 million people, leaving the 2024 total at 18.406M. The central 2050 projection is 24.671M, implying a +34.0% change from 2024 if that path is realized. The chart connects dated reference points only and should not be read as an annual interpolated series.
Age Structure and Sex Balance
Looking beyond the headline population number, Guatemala's 2024 age structure is young. Children under 15 make up 31.58% of the population, compared with 4.85% aged 65 or older, and 63.57% are 15 to 64. The age balance is weighted toward younger residents.
Population by broad age group
Guatemala's 2024 population is 50.4% female and 49.6% male in the World Bank series. Females exceed males by 0.8 percentage points.
Female and male population share
Females made up 50.4% of the population in the World Bank's 2024 series, compared with 49.6% males.
What Is Shaping Population Change
In the latest harmonized estimates, Guatemala shows +1.55% population change and fertility of 2.3, as the working-age group accounts for 63.57% of the population.
Guatemala's longer population series shows +57.3% change across 2000 to 2024, followed by a medium projection that is +34.0% different in 2050; this describes the trajectory without guessing at migration or natural increase.
2024 estimate for Guatemala. The world comparison value is 2.25 children per woman.
Guatemala vs. World
The world comparison highlights three contrasts for Guatemala. Annual change is +1.55% versus +0.87% globally, fertility is 2.3 versus 2.25, and median age is 23 versus 30.6 years.
| Indicator | Guatemala | World | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual population change | +1.55% | +0.87% | 2024 |
| Total fertility rate | 2.3 | 2.25 | 2024 |
| Median age | 23 | 30.6 | 2024 |
The table is built for like-for-like comparison, using 2024 values from a single harmonized source context linked to UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Key Takeaways
At 18.406M, the 2024 population is paired with an annual change rate of +1.55%.
The 2024 age structure is 31.58% under 15, 63.57% aged 15 to 64 and 4.85% aged 65 or older.
The World Bank 2024 sex-share series is 50.4% female and 49.6% male.
The 2050 medium projection is 24.671M, 34.0% above the 2024 estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Guatemala?
The 2024 harmonized population estimate for Guatemala is 18,406,359 people.
Is the population of Guatemala growing or declining?
In the 2024 estimate, Guatemala's population is growing, with annual change of +1.55%.
What percentage of the population of Guatemala is aged 65 or older?
People aged 65 or older account for 4.85% of Guatemala's 2024 population in the UN WPP-based broad age data.
What is the projected population of Guatemala in 2050?
The UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium projection puts Guatemala's 2050 population at 24,670,857.
What is the fertility rate in Guatemala?
The 2024 harmonized fertility estimate for Guatemala is 2.3 children per woman.
Sources & methodology
This profile uses United Nations World Population Prospects 2024 as the primary framework for globally comparable population, age, fertility and projection data. The World Bank is the primary source for the female population share. Some country values were accessed through secondary retrieval interfaces that republish or organize UN data; those interfaces are identified below as secondary and are not treated as the original statistical publishers.
View sources used for this page
Primary global framework for the population estimates and projections.
Harmonized 2024 country table based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized broad age shares based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Harmonized reference for the 2000 population point.
Harmonized 2050 country projection based on UN World Population Prospects 2024.
Used for the 2024 female share; the male share is calculated as the remainder to 100%.