Guatemala

State · 1821–present · Capital: Guatemala City

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in northern Central America; with an estimated population of around 17.6 million it is the most populous country in Central America, and its capital and largest city is Guatemala City. Its territory hosted the core of the Maya civilization and was conquered by Spain in the 16th century, attaining independence in 1821. From 1960 to 1996 Guatemala endured a bloody civil war between the U.S.-backed government and leftist communist rebels, including genocidal massacres of the Maya population by the Guatemalan military. A United Nations-negotiated peace accord ended the war, leading to economic growth and successive democratic elections.