Population figures
Total country population
18,358,430
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
1,265
Asylum-seekers:
2,366
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
406,161
Others of concern to UNHCR
75,328
Country context
Guatemala is a diverse, multi-ethnic, and multilingual country located in the northwestern part of Central America. In recent years, it has experienced significant displacement flows from neighboring countries and has become a key destination for refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These individuals are often fleeing violence, persecution, conflict, and climate-related disasters, and many settle in urban centers and border regions.
Guatemala is a party to key international agreements on refugee protection, including the 1951 Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, and the 1984 Cartagena Declaration. The country has also ratified major international human rights treaties underscoring its commitment to upholding the rights of displaced individuals. At the national level, Guatemala’s asylum system is governed by the Migration Code and the 2019 Regulation for the Protection and Determination of Refugee Status. This legal framework incorporates both the refugee definition of the 1951 Convention and the broader criteria of the Cartagena Declaration, including gender-based violence as grounds for persecution. It also establishes processing timelines, procedural safeguards, and an appeals mechanism. The 2023 Migration Policy further reinforces coordinated interinstitutional efforts to protect refugees and asylum seekers.
...In recent years, Guatemala has taken significant steps to strengthen its national asylum system. Key improvements include the streamlining of asylum processing, with registration and eligibility procedures increasingly managed at the local level. This shift toward decentralization has enhanced access to asylum, particularly in border regions, while also helping to reduce processing times for applicants. Guatemala has taken an important step by acceding to key international treaties on Statelessness- the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. However, the country has not yet implemented a formal national procedure to identify and determine statelessness status.
Guatemala continues to prioritize the protection of women and children—especially survivors of violence and unaccompanied minors, who face heightened risk of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. While progress has been made in strengthening protection services, critical gaps remain.
Refugees and asylum seekers in Guatemala enjoy the same rights as nationals including access to official documentation through the National Civil Registry. However, administrative and structural barriers-particularly in remote areas- still hinder access to essential services such as healthcare, and employment. To address these barriers, the government has advanced local integration efforts through the "Cities of Solidarity" initiative which fosters access to public services and promotes peaceful coexistence between displaced populations and host communities. While progress has been made, further investment is needed to ensure equitable access to rights and opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers nationwide.
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