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Travel photo of Guatemala

Americas · capital city

Flag of GuatemalaWhat Is the Capital of Guatemala?

Guatemala City

The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City. About 3.1 million people live in the Guatemala City urban area — 16.6% of the country's population.

3.1 million
Urban area population
UTC-6
Time zone
14.62°N
Latitude · 90.52°W
Yes
Largest city

Guatemala City at a glance

Name origin

The Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala" .

Time zone

UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.

Coordinates

14 37 N, 90 31 W · IANA time zone America/Guatemala

Location of Guatemala

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Frequently asked questions about Guatemala City

What is the capital of Guatemala?

The capital of Guatemala is Guatemala City. About 3.1 million people live in the Guatemala City urban area — 16.6% of the country's population.

Is Guatemala City the largest city in Guatemala?

Yes — Guatemala City is also the largest urban area of Guatemala (3.1 million).

What time zone is Guatemala City in?

Guatemala City is on UTC-6 — UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.

Where does the name Guatemala City come from?

The Spanish conquistadors' first capital (established in 1524) was a former Mayan settlement called "Quauhtemallan" by their Nahuatl-speaking Mexican allies, a name that means "land of the eagle" but that the Spanish probably pronounced "Guatemala" .

Which capital is closest to Guatemala City?

Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, San Salvador (El Salvador) is the closest, 175 km away in a straight line.

Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).