Guatemala has a population of around 17 million, making it the most populous country in Central America. The population is young — the median age is below 25 — and growing fast.
About 44% of Guatemalans are indigenous Maya, speaking one of 21 recognized Mayan languages alongside Spanish. The major groups are K'iche' (the largest), Kaqchikel, Mam, and Q'eqchi'. Their presence is most visible in the western highlands, where many communities still wear traditional woven clothing (traje) — intricate huipiles and skirts whose patterns identify the wearer's village. The highland markets, especially Chichicastenango's Thursday and Sunday market, are deeply embedded in this living culture.
The Ladino population — Guatemalans of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry who identify primarily with Spanish-language culture — makes up roughly half the country and dominates urban areas, commerce, and the political establishment.
A small Garífuna community lives along the Caribbean coast, particularly in and around Livingston. The Garífuna are descendants of Afro-Caribbean people and maintain a distinct language, music, and culinary tradition. The Xinka, an indigenous people unrelated to the Maya, inhabit a small area in the southeast.
The relationship between Maya and Ladino Guatemala is complex and often tense. Decades of civil war (1960–1996) inflicted disproportionate violence on indigenous communities, and structural discrimination persists in education, health, and economic opportunity. Travelers who take time to visit highland villages and engage (respectfully) with Maya culture will find a depth and vitality that the colonial tourist trail in Antigua doesn't fully show.
Guatemala's national instrument is the marimba — a large wooden xylophone played by several musicians at once. You will hear it at festivals, in hotel lobbies, and drifting from houses on Sunday afternoons.