Guatemala Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 123rd
MPR SCORE: 244
MPR Index: 0.0669 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8843 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: - 0.542 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Guatemala ranks 123rd globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Guatemalan Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guatemala) are primarily focused on internal security, border defense, counter-narcotics, and civil support operations. Having emerged from a 36-year civil war, the military now operates within a framework of civil-military cooperation, where its core functions revolve around organized crime suppression, public safety, and supporting national development, particularly in rural and disaster-prone areas.
The military includes the Army, Navy (Marina de la Defensa Nacional), and Air Force, with additional contributions to infrastructure projects, disaster relief, and agricultural development. Though Guatemala lacks the capacity for strategic projection or conventional warfare, it maintains a disciplined force structure and is supported by bilateral security cooperation, particularly with the United States, in areas such as drug interdiction, intelligence sharing, and border surveillance.
Strengths
1. Civil-Military Integration and Domestic Reach
The Guatemalan Armed Forces are heavily involved in national development, disaster response, and rural infrastructure, providing capabilities beyond traditional security tasks and reinforcing institutional legitimacy in remote areas.
2. U.S. Support and Counter-Narcotics Focus
Through programs such as the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), Guatemala receives training, equipment, and intelligence from the U.S., particularly to enhance drug interdiction, border patrol, and airstrip monitoring.
3. Peacekeeping and Multinational Cooperation
Guatemala contributes troops to UN peacekeeping missions, gaining exposure to multilateral command structures, engineering roles, and humanitarian logistics, which enhance professionalism and field discipline.
Why Guatemala Is Still Ranked 123rd
1. Limited Modern Equipment and Combat Capability
The armed forces operate with aging vehicles, light aircraft, and Cold War–era firearms, lacking main battle tanks, modern artillery, or combat aviation, which restricts operational depth and readiness for high-intensity conflict.
2. No Strategic Reach or Force Projection
Guatemala has no offensive capability, no naval combat ships, and limited air lift capacity, meaning the force is unable to project power or influence beyond its immediate borders.
3. Historical Legacy and Structural Constraints
The long-standing legacy of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960–1996) has led to strict constitutional limits on military power, including restrictions on domestic policing roles, which occasionally challenge operational flexibility in public security missions.
Conclusion
Guatemala maintains a domestically focused, civil-support military designed for internal stability, border security, and rural resilience rather than external defense or expeditionary roles. While limited in size, modernization, and power projection, the armed forces remain a functional tool of national policy, particularly in the fight against transnational organized crime, disaster relief, and public works support. Its global ranking reflects a realistic assessment of capability limitations, despite its effective engagement in multifunctional security roles within its national territory.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 20,000
Reserve Personnel: 10,000
Paramilitary Forces: 10,000 (Presidential Guard and National Civil Police with military roles)
Army Personnel: 15,000
Navy Personnel: 3,000
Air Force Personnel: 2,000
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 100+ (light APCs)
Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 30+
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: 0
Attack Helicopters: 2+
Transport Aircraft: 6+
Training Aircraft: 6+
Aircraft Breakdown:
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (retired or inactive)
Bell UH-1H Helicopters: Active
Twin Otter and Cessna 208 Aircraft: Used for surveillance and logistics
Naval Forces
Warships: 8+
Submarines: 0
Frigates/Corvettes: 0
Patrol Boats: 8+
Naval Vessel Breakdown:
Patrol craft for coastal defense and anti-smuggling operations
Riverine units deployed in jungle and inland waterways
Missile Capabilities
Guatemala does not operate any missile systems. Its armed forces rely on small arms, light artillery, and air surveillance platforms, focusing exclusively on internal threats and non-state actors.
Strategic Partnerships
Guatemala cooperates closely with the United States through counter-narcotics and training programs under U.S. Southern Command. It also works with Colombia, Mexico, and other Central American countries on border security and drug interdiction. Military exchanges and donations support ongoing force modernization.
Military History & Combat Experience
Guatemala’s military history is dominated by its prolonged civil conflict, followed by a period of demilitarization, post-conflict reform, and growing involvement in peacekeeping and counter-narcotics missions.
Guatemalan Civil War (1960–1996):
One of the longest and bloodiest internal conflicts in Latin America, this war pitted leftist guerrilla movements against a U.S.-backed military government. The armed forces developed significant experience in counterinsurgency, jungle warfare, and rural population control, though the conflict was marred by human rights abuses, especially against indigenous communities.Post-War Demobilization and Reform (1996–2000s):
Following the Peace Accords, the military was downsized and placed under tighter civilian oversight. Its role shifted toward natural disaster relief, engineering, and non-combat support functions, including medical and education missions in underserved regions.UN Peacekeeping Deployments (2000s–present):
Guatemalan troops have served in MINUSTAH (Haiti), MONUC (Congo), and other missions, focusing on military police, infrastructure, and logistics support, reinforcing international military professionalism.Anti-Narcotics and Border Operations (2010s–present):
The military now plays a prominent role in combating drug trafficking, illegal migration, and gang-related violence, often in joint operations with U.S.-trained police forces, especially along the borders with Mexico and Honduras.Civil Defense and Natural Disaster Response:
The armed forces are regularly mobilized during earthquakes, flooding, and volcanic eruptions, supporting evacuations, infrastructure repair, and humanitarian assistance, further entrenching their role in national emergency response.
Guatemala’s military legacy reflects a transition from conflict to service, evolving from a counterinsurgency force into a domestically oriented, law enforcement-supporting institution, while slowly expanding its international peacekeeping presence.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~18.2 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~6.6 million
Geographic Area: 108,889 km²
Land Boundaries: 1,667 km
Bordering Countries: Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico
Coastline: 400 km
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands
Terrain: Mountainous interior with narrow coastal plains
Natural Resources: Petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, hydropower
Proven Oil Reserves: ~80 million barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: Minimal
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$740 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.7%
GDP (PPP): ~$180 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$9,900
External Debt: ~$24 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Gradual growth tied to internal and border security
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Internal stability, border control, disaster relief
Military Industry Base: Basic; uniforms, logistics, light vehicle support
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Organized into regional commands under Ministry of Defense
Missile Inventory Highlights: Mortars, MANPADS, RPGs
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~30,000
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Presidential Intelligence Secretariat (SIE), Military Intelligence Division
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: U.S., SICA, Colombia
Airports (Total): ~290
Major Military Airports: La Aurora (dual-use), San José
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~10 vessels
Major Ports: Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomás de Castilla
Naval Infrastructure: Coastal patrol units, interceptors, small logistics vessels
Naval Replenishment Capability: Coastal capacity only
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~800 km (mostly inactive)
Roadways: ~17,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~12,000 barrels/day
Energy Imports: High dependency on refined products
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Maintains small national stockpiles
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Light equipment and uniforms
Military Installations (Domestic): Guatemala City, Petén, Puerto Barrios
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. training and coordination presence
Defense Alliances: SICA, bilateral ties with U.S. and Mexico
Strategic Airlift Capability: C-212, helicopters, small fixed-wing fleet
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Minimal
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Agriculture logistics, petroleum sector, national construction corps
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Guatemala City
Founding Date: September 15, 1821 (independence from Spain)
System of Government: Unitary presidential republic
