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In the last 10 years Guatemala has made great advances. The consolidation of the democratic system and the signing of the peace process have created a more favorable climate for education. However, there are still social and economic development problems. Guatemala is a country of young, multilingual and multicultural people. In 2000 the average age was 23 years. More than half of the population lived in rural areas and 6 out of 10 Guatemalans were poor. Between 1998 and 1999 more than a quarter of the population were families with an income less than $1 a day, while more than half had an income less than $2 a day.