Guatemala is situated in Central America and is known as the land of eternal spring, for its natural beauty. The country suffered a devastating civil war from 1960 until 1996 and although the country is making progress, there are still a lot of social problems related to high unemployment. Many men from the area smuggle their way into the US and although some of them send money back, some are never heard of again. This has led to a shortage of skilled labour and a population made up mostly of women and children.
Thanks to prudent macroeconomic management, Guatemala has been one of the strongest economic performers in Latin America in recent years, with a GDP growth rate of 3.0 percent since 2012, and 4.1 percent in 2015. Economic projections for 2016 show that the country will grow by 3.6 percent.
This Central American country has made significant progress in achieving macroeconomic and democratic stability after the 36-year civil war. Since the signing of the Peace Accords in 1996, the country has improved its access to international markets through several trade agreements.