Youth in Guatemala

rdf:langString Youth in Guatemala

rdf:langString Youth in Guatemala are the largest segment of the nation's population. Youth includes individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 Over half of the population is under 19 years old in 2011, the highest proportion of young people of any country in Latin America. The health, education, and work opportunities for young people differ by ethnicity (ladino or indigenous) and social class. Male literacy rate is 89.3% and the female literacy rate is 85.6%. Secondary education participation is around 17%. 30.3% of youth are married by the age of 18. Poverty and inequality affect a youth's access to healthcare. Females experience less access to health care and education than males. The lack of adequate nutrition and health care in Guatemala has adverse effects on a youth's overall health. One example being stunted growth of half of the Guatemalan youth. The Millennium Development Goals works to these inequalities and barriers. Vulnerable youths who are at-risk for joining a gang are males between the ages of living in marginalized urban areas and have limited access to education. A program called Open Schools combats forces that push youth into dangerous situations and works to overcome barriers that Guatemalan youth face.