Doesn’t everyone research facts about Guatemala at 5:30 am? Sometimes the morning is my only quiet time to research facts, ministries, and grants in Guatemala. Before spending time researching, I did not realize the poverty in Guatemala compared to the other parts of the world. Here are a few observations from the World Food Programme about Guatemala:
National stunting in Guatemala in children aged 6-59 is the fourth highest in the world and the highest in the region. At 46.5 percent nationwide, the stunting rate climbs up to 70 percent in some departments, with peaks as high as 90 percent in the hardest hit municipalities.
Guatemala is among the ten most vulnerable countries to climate change worldwide, and is the fourth most exposed to natural disasters in the region. Climate shocks have a critical impact on food security.
Poverty and extreme poverty rates (59% and 23% respectively) increased between 2006 and 2014.
Almost half the population cannot afford the cost of the basic food basket. As a result, the prevalence of stunting in children under 5 is one of the highest in the world – and the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. At 46.5 percent nationally, the stunting rate climbs up to 70 percent in some departments, with peaks as high as 90 percent in the hardest hit municipalities.
A multi-ethnic country with a rich cultural heritage, Guatemala is one of the most unequal countries in Latin America. While two thirds of the overall population live on less than US$ 2 per day, poverty affects indigenous people disproportionately: 80 percent of them experience deprivation in multiple aspects of their lives, including food security, nutrition, health and education.