Laws in Guatemala
How Guatemala is classified on 29 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.
Body & Life
- Abortion
- Illegal (with exceptions) Abortion is prohibited except to save the pregnant person's life.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-in (explicit consent) Guatemala requires explicit prior consent for organ donation under an opt-in system.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Guatemala has a comprehensive smoking ban covering all enclosed public places and workplaces, though enforcement is deficient.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Guatemala banned cosmetic animal testing in 2017.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 18.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Guatemala has no legal recognition of same-sex unions as legislation is pending.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 14–15 The age of consent is 14.
- Sex Work
- Decriminalized / unregulated Selling sex is legal, but procuring and keeping a brothel are not prohibited.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban No legal ban on conversion therapy.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Abolished for ordinary crimes Abolished for ordinary crimes; retained for exceptional crimes such as those under military law.
- Gun Laws
- Permissive Possession does not require a good reason, and long guns are shall-issue, indicating a permissive regime.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- E-Cigarettes
- Legal / lightly regulated E-cigarettes are legal, subject to an age limit.
Nearby countries
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.