Economy, jobs and prices in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala: official figures
81.4% of households in Quetzaltenango had an improved source of drinking water in 2023, 7th highest of 22 departments.
How many households in Quetzaltenango have improved sanitation?
67.1% of households in Quetzaltenango had improved sanitation in 2023, 10th highest of 22.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many households in Quetzaltenango have electricity?
93.0% of households in Quetzaltenango were connected to the electricity grid in 2023, 5th highest of 22.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the GDP of Quetzaltenango?
Banguat puts the GDP of Quetzaltenango at Q38,202 million in 2024 at current prices, 4.3% of the national Q878,387 million, 3rd highest of 22 departments (preliminary).
Source: Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) · saved copyWhat is the GDP per capita in Quetzaltenango?
GDP per person in Quetzaltenango was Q40,239 in 2024 against Q49,228 nationally, 8th highest of 22 departments (Banguat, preliminary).
Source: Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) · saved copyHow fast is income per person growing in Quetzaltenango?
GDP per person in Quetzaltenango rose 38.7% between 2019 and 2024 at current prices, from Q29,016 to Q40,239 (national: 37.6%).
Source: Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Quetzaltenango growing?
After adjusting for prices, GDP in Quetzaltenango grew 3.9% in 2024 (national: 3.7%), joint 11th fastest of 22.
Source: Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) · saved copyHas the economy of Quetzaltenango grown since 2013?
Real GDP in Quetzaltenango was 51.4% higher in 2024 than in 2013 (national: 46.9%); its share of national GDP moved from 4.2% in 2013 to 4.3% in 2024.
Source: Banco de Guatemala (Banguat) · saved copyHow many people in Quetzaltenango have formal jobs?
70,618 workers in Quetzaltenango contributed to the IGSS social security institute in 2024, 4.3% of the 1,659,137 nationally, 3rd highest of 22 departments.
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyIs formal employment growing in Quetzaltenango?
The number of IGSS contributors in Quetzaltenango rose 28.5% between 2019 and 2024, from 54,972 to 70,618 (national: 22.8%), 8th slowest of 22.
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyHow has the number of formal workers in Quetzaltenango changed since 2012?
Since 2012 the number of IGSS contributors in Quetzaltenango has gone from 32,022 to 70,618, a change of 121% (national: 40%).
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyHow many registered employers are there in Quetzaltenango?
2,062 employers in Quetzaltenango were registered as IGSS contributors in 2024, an average of 34 contributing workers per employer (national: 45).
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Quetzaltenango?
The average contribution salary of IGSS workers in Quetzaltenango was Q5,137 in 2024 (national: Q5,681), 10th lowest of 22 departments.
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyHow much do formal workers in Quetzaltenango earn in total?
Salaries declared to IGSS for Quetzaltenango totalled Q4,354 million in 2024, 3.8% of the national total, 3rd highest of 22.
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyAre wages in Quetzaltenango higher than the national average?
IGSS contributors in Quetzaltenango had an average salary below the national average by Q543 in 2024, while GDP per person was 82% of the national level.
Source: Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) · saved copyHow Quetzaltenango compares with other departments
GDP (million quetzales, current prices) (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 3 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP (million quetzales, current prices) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala | Q382,594m |
| 2 | Escuintla | Q77,779m |
| 3 | Quetzaltenango | Q38,202m |
| 4 | Alta Verapaz | Q32,467m |
| 5 | Huehuetenango | Q32,074m |
| 6 | San Marcos | Q29,130m |
| 7 | Chimaltenango | Q26,899m |
GDP per capita (quetzales) (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 8 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | GDP per capita (quetzales) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Izabal | Q54,310 |
| 6 | Sacatepequez | Q49,030 |
| 7 | Retalhuleu | Q45,129 |
| 8 | Quetzaltenango | Q40,239 |
| 9 | Peten | Q39,334 |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | Q37,948 |
| 11 | Suchitepequez | Q36,934 |
Real GDP growth 2024 (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 11 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real GDP growth 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Quiche | 4.3% |
| 9 | Jutiapa | 4.3% |
| 10 | Santa Rosa | 4.0% |
| 11 | Quetzaltenango | 3.9% |
| 12 | Jalapa | 3.9% |
| 13 | Huehuetenango | 3.8% |
| 14 | Suchitepequez | 3.8% |
Workers contributing to IGSS social security (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 3 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Workers contributing to IGSS social security |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala | 910,278 |
| 2 | Escuintla | 150,925 |
| 3 | Quetzaltenango | 70,618 |
| 4 | Izabal | 44,297 |
| 5 | Sacatepequez | 43,926 |
| 6 | Alta Verapaz | 42,987 |
| 7 | San Marcos | 40,747 |
IGSS contributors per 100 residents (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 7 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | IGSS contributors per 100 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Zacapa | 10.1 |
| 5 | Izabal | 9.6 |
| 6 | Retalhuleu | 8.7 |
| 7 | Quetzaltenango | 7.4 |
| 8 | El Progreso | 6.7 |
| 9 | Suchitepequez | 6.0 |
| 10 | Peten | 5.9 |
Growth in IGSS contributors 2019-2024 (2019-24)
Quetzaltenango ranks 15 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Growth in IGSS contributors 2019-2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Jalapa | 34.2% |
| 13 | Jutiapa | 33.9% |
| 14 | Peten | 30.1% |
| 15 | Quetzaltenango | 28.5% |
| 16 | Santa Rosa | 27.6% |
| 17 | Zacapa | 25.6% |
| 18 | San Marcos | 24.2% |
Average IGSS contribution salary (quetzales) (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 13 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average IGSS contribution salary (quetzales) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | San Marcos | Q5,245 |
| 11 | Alta Verapaz | Q5,236 |
| 12 | Santa Rosa | Q5,190 |
| 13 | Quetzaltenango | Q5,137 |
| 14 | Chimaltenango | Q5,070 |
| 15 | El Progreso | Q5,065 |
| 16 | Izabal | Q5,004 |
IGSS payroll (million quetzales) (2024)
Quetzaltenango ranks 3 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | IGSS payroll (million quetzales) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala | Q67,726m |
| 2 | Escuintla | Q8,213m |
| 3 | Quetzaltenango | Q4,354m |
| 4 | Alta Verapaz | Q2,701m |
| 5 | Izabal | Q2,660m |
| 6 | San Marcos | Q2,565m |
| 7 | Huehuetenango | Q2,403m |
Households with improved drinking water (ENCOVI) (2023)
Quetzaltenango ranks 7 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with improved drinking water (ENCOVI) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Zacapa | 87.6% |
| 5 | El Progreso | 86.7% |
| 6 | Jutiapa | 84.9% |
| 7 | Quetzaltenango | 81.4% |
| 8 | Baja Verapaz | 80.7% |
| 9 | Totonicapan | 80.0% |
| 10 | Chimaltenango | 78.1% |
Households with improved sanitation (ENCOVI) (2023)
Quetzaltenango ranks 10 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with improved sanitation (ENCOVI) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | El Progreso | 73.4% |
| 8 | Solola | 72.2% |
| 9 | Zacapa | 71.9% |
| 10 | Quetzaltenango | 67.1% |
| 11 | Chiquimula | 65.8% |
| 12 | Izabal | 65.2% |
| 13 | Chimaltenango | 62.4% |
Households connected to the electricity grid (ENCOVI) (2023)
Quetzaltenango ranks 5 of 22, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households connected to the electricity grid (ENCOVI) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sacatepequez | 96.0% |
| 3 | Solola | 95.8% |
| 4 | Chimaltenango | 94.2% |
| 5 | Quetzaltenango | 93.0% |
| 6 | Retalhuleu | 92.8% |
| 7 | Totonicapan | 92.7% |
| 8 | Escuintla | 91.7% |
More on Quetzaltenango: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · 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…)
- Banco de Guatemala (Banguat): Cuentas regionales y departamentales anuales: Producto Interno Bruto por departamento 2013-2024 (current quetzales and chained volume, reference year 2013; preliminary), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5b2e9ad0dee9…)
- Banco de Guatemala (Banguat): Cuentas regionales y departamentales anuales: Producto Interno Bruto per cápita por departamento 2013-2024 (quetzales; preliminary), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 673dd87343cf…)
- Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS): El IGSS en cifras 2024: contributing affiliates, payroll and average salary by department (B2.1, C5), employers by department (C17.3), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d61a33487068…)
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