Poverty and living standards in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala: official figures

44.1% of people in Quetzaltenango lived in poverty in the 2023 ENCOVI (national: 56.0%), 4th lowest of 22 departments.

Poverty rate (ENCOVI 2023)

44.1%

2023

What is the extreme poverty rate in Quetzaltenango?

2.8% of people in Quetzaltenango lived in extreme poverty in 2023 (national: 16.2%), 4th lowest of 22.

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

How deep is poverty in Quetzaltenango?

The 2023 ENCOVI puts the poverty gap in Quetzaltenango at 12.2%, 4th 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 Quetzaltenango?

The poverty severity index in Quetzaltenango was 4.8% in 2023, 4th 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 Quetzaltenango?

The Gini coefficient of consumption in Quetzaltenango was 0.33 in 2023, joint 11th most unequal of 22.

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

How many poor people in Quetzaltenango are in extreme poverty?

Extreme poverty accounts for 6% of the poverty rate in Quetzaltenango; in the country as a whole the share is 29% (ENCOVI 2023).

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

How Quetzaltenango compares with other departments

Poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

Quetzaltenango ranks 19 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty rate (ENCOVI)
16	Izabal	50.5%
17	Chimaltenango	47.8%
18	El Progreso	46.4%
19	Quetzaltenango	44.1%
20	Escuintla	39.2%
21	Sacatepequez	38.7%
22	Guatemala	21.6%

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

Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI) (2023)

Quetzaltenango ranks 19 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Extreme poverty rate (ENCOVI)
16	Chimaltenango	5.8%
17	El Progreso	5.1%
18	Retalhuleu	4.1%
19	Quetzaltenango	2.8%
20	Escuintla	2.6%
21	Sacatepequez	2.5%
22	Guatemala	1.1%

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

Poverty gap (ENCOVI) (2023)

Quetzaltenango ranks 19 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Poverty gap (ENCOVI)
16	Chimaltenango	16.0%
17	El Progreso	15.6%
18	Retalhuleu	15.2%
19	Quetzaltenango	12.2%
20	Sacatepequez	10.9%
21	Escuintla	10.9%
22	Guatemala	5.6%

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

Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI) (2023)

Quetzaltenango ranks 15 of 22, highest first.

Rank	Region	Gini coefficient of consumption (ENCOVI)
12	Chimaltenango	0.33
13	Escuintla	0.33
14	Solola	0.33
15	Quetzaltenango	0.33
16	Jutiapa	0.33
17	Santa Rosa	0.32
18	Totonicapan	0.32

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

More on Quetzaltenango: 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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