Poverty and living standards in Peten, Guatemala: official figures

50.6% of people in Peten lived in poverty in the 2023 ENCOVI (national: 56.0%), 8th lowest of 22 departments.

Poverty rate (ENCOVI 2023)

50.6%

2023

What is the extreme poverty rate in Peten?

8.4% of people in Peten lived in extreme poverty in 2023 (national: 16.2%), 10th lowest of 22.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How deep is poverty in Peten?

The 2023 ENCOVI puts the poverty gap in Peten at 16.6%, 9th lowest of 22 departments; the gap measures how far the average poor household falls below the poverty line.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How severe is poverty in Peten?

The poverty severity index in Peten was 7.8% in 2023, 9th lowest of 22 departments; it gives more weight to households furthest below the poverty line.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How unequal is Peten?

The Gini coefficient of consumption in Peten was 0.37 in 2023, joint 6th most unequal of 22.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How many poor people in Peten are in extreme poverty?

Extreme poverty accounts for 17% of the poverty rate in Peten; in the country as a whole the share is 29% (ENCOVI 2023).

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

How Peten compares with other departments

Poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

Peten ranks 15 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty rate (ENCOVI)
12	San Marcos	53.7%
13	Zacapa	52.6%
14	Retalhuleu	50.9%
15	Peten	50.6%
16	Izabal	50.5%
17	Chimaltenango	47.8%
18	El Progreso	46.4%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

Peten ranks 13 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI)
10	Zacapa	13.5%
11	Totonicapan	10.1%
12	Solola	8.8%
13	Peten	8.4%
14	Suchitepequez	7.7%
15	San Marcos	6.9%
16	Chimaltenango	5.8%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Poverty gap (ENCOVI) (2023)

Peten ranks 14 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty gap (ENCOVI)
11	Solola	21.2%
12	Izabal	19.5%
13	Suchitepequez	18.5%
14	Peten	16.6%
15	San Marcos	16.4%
16	Chimaltenango	16.0%
17	El Progreso	15.6%

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI) (2023)

Peten ranks 8 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI)
5	Jalapa	0.38
6	Guatemala	0.37
7	Baja Verapaz	0.37
8	Peten	0.37
9	Sacatepequez	0.35
10	Huehuetenango	0.34
11	El Progreso	0.33

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy

More on Peten: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Guatemala

Sources

Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida (ENCOVI) 2023: Poverty and inequality (departmental maps for poverty, extreme poverty, poverty gap and severity, Gini, water, sanitation, electricity), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 df15ab3fe8b7…)

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