The more than 6 million indigenous inhabitants (60% of the country’s total population), made up of the: Achi’, Akateco, Awakateco, Chalchiteco, Ch’orti’, Chuj, Itza’, Ixil, Jacalteco, Kaqchikel, K’iche’, Mam, Mopan, Poqomam, Poqomchi’, Q’anjob’al, Q’eqchi’, Sakapulteco, Sipakapense, Tektiteko, Tz’utujil, Uspanteko, Xinka and Garífuna ethnic groups, continue to lag behind the non-indigenous population in social statistics: they are 2.8 times poorer and have 13 years’ less life expectancy; meanwhile, only 5% of university students are indigenous.
The situation of indigenous peoples changed little during 2010: 73% are poor (as opposed to 35% of the non-indigenous population), and 26% are extremely poor. Even so, indigenous participation in the country’s economy as a whole accounts for 61.7% of output, as opposed to 57.1% for the non-indigenous population.
Guatemala voted in favour of the UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007.
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, The Indigenous World 2011
