From 1960 to 1996 , Guatemala endured a bloody civil war fought between the US-backed government and leftist rebels , including genocidal massacres of the Maya population perpetrated by the military . Since a United Nations-negotiated peace accord , Guatemala has witnessed both economic growth and successful democratic elections , though it continues to struggle with high rates of poverty , crime , drug trade , and instability . , Guatemala ranks 31st of 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries in terms of the Human Development Index
genocidal massacres
Guatemalan genocide
Guatemala