Guatemala: environment

Where does Guatemala's electricity come from?

Hydropower supplied 34.7% of the electricity on Guatemala's national grid in 2025, coal 16.8%, biomass 10.8% and petroleum coke 10.2%, according to the Wholesale Market Administrator's 2025 statistical report. Imports supplied 15.5%, bunker fuel 3.9%, solar 3.4%, wind 2.2% and geothermal 1.7%.

The AMM counts 53% of supply as renewable, 31% as non-renewable and 16% as imported. Production on the national grid was 13,308.41 GWh in 2025, 1.46% more than in 2024, while consumption grew 4.81% to 14,042.01 GWh, and peak demand reached 2,204.22 MW. Guatemala both imports and exports power through the Central American regional market; it exported 1,108.76 GWh in 2025.

Official sources: 2025 statistical report

How much CO2 does Guatemala emit?

Greenhouse gas emissions from energy products in Guatemala were 75,310.4 thousand tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024, according to the Banco de Guatemala's environmental accounts. Carbon dioxide made up 95.5% of the total.

Households were the largest source of carbon dioxide, with 46,026.7 thousand tonnes, or 64.0% of the total, mainly because many cook with firewood. The emissions account follows the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting and covers emissions from the use of fuels, not from land use or farming, so it is not the same as Guatemala's national greenhouse gas inventory reported to the UN by the Ministry of Environment. Tables for 2013 to 2024 are on the bank's environmental accounts tables page.

Official sources: environmental accounts · environmental accounts tables page

How much firewood is used for energy in Guatemala?

Wood supplied 44.2% of Guatemala's total energy supply in 2024, 406,704.2 terajoules out of 920,442.6, according to the Banco de Guatemala's environmental accounts. Households consumed 83.8% of that wood energy.

The same accounts show that 72.3% of the timber products supplied in the economy in 2024, 31,754.9 thousand cubic metres, was firewood burnt by households, and that wood made up 76.1% of all energy extracted from the environment. Only 7.2% of extracted energy came from other renewable sources such as water, sun and wind. Forest data for the accounts come from the National Forest Institute (INAB) and other bodies.

Official sources: environmental accounts

How much water does Guatemala use?

Guatemala's economy used 60,302.5 million cubic metres of water in 2024, according to the Banco de Guatemala's environmental accounts. 69% went to consumptive uses and 31% to hydroelectric generation.

Agriculture, forestry, livestock and fishing used 39,579.9 million cubic metres, 65.6% of the total, and 90% of farm water was rain falling on rain-fed crops. 63% of the water used went back into the environment, and 37% was actually consumed. The water account uses data from bodies including the municipal water company of Guatemala City (EMPAGUA) and INSIVUMEH. Detailed tables are on the bank's environmental accounts tables page.

Official sources: environmental accounts · environmental accounts tables page

What is Guatemala's carbon footprint per person?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 1.1 tonnes. Its high point since 2005 was 2019, at 1.1 tonnes; its low point was 2010, at 0.8 tonnes. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 2.3 tonnes, and Guatemala placed 30th highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 126th of 186.

How much greenhouse gas does Guatemala emit?

43.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent: that is total greenhouse gas emissions in Guatemala for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 12th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 19.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Worldwide: 86th of 186.

What share of Guatemala's energy comes from renewables?

In 2021, the renewable share of final energy use in Guatemala was 62.1%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 2nd highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 18.9%. Of 191 countries with 2021 data, 35th highest.

How much of Guatemala is forest?

In 2024, forest area as a share of land in Guatemala was 33.1%, according to the FAO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 50.6%, and Guatemala placed 25th highest of 32. World rank, highest first: 95th of 190.

What is PM2.5 air pollution in Guatemala?

29.7 micrograms per cubic metre: that is average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Guatemala for 2023, according to the Global Burden of Disease study. Its high point since 2005 was 2013, at 32.0 micrograms per cubic metre; its low point was 2007, at 26.8 micrograms per cubic metre. Latin America & Caribbean median: 15.7 micrograms per cubic metre; Guatemala is 3rd highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 50th of 192.

What share of Guatemala is protected land?

The latest figure from the UN Environment Programme, for 2025, is 20.1%. The peak was 31.7% in 2013 and the low 20.0% in 2018. Latin America & Caribbean median: 20.1%; Guatemala is 17th highest of 33. Worldwide: 83rd of 192.

What is water stress in Guatemala?

In 2022, water stress in Guatemala was 5.7%, according to the FAO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 7.7%, and Guatemala placed 21st highest of 32. Of 175 countries with 2022 data, 114th highest.