Guatemala grew 4.5% in the first quarter, IMF sees it as the peak
Guatemala's real GDP grew 4.5% in the first quarter of 2026, up from 3.8% a year earlier, driven largely by a construction boom tied to a public-private motorway project. An IMF mission has since cut its full-year growth forecast, viewing the figure as the likely peak.
Guatemala's economy grew 4.5% in the first quarter of 2026, outpacing the 3.8% expansion recorded a year earlier. Construction was the fastest-growing of the 17 tracked economic activities, expanding 7%, helped by a public-private motorway project.
The country's central bank projects 4.1% growth for the full year, but an International Monetary Fund mission has since cut its own call, suggesting the strong first-quarter pace may be difficult to sustain through the rest of 2026.
The assessment suggests Guatemala's standout growth performance among regional economies will be tested by global trade conditions and domestic demand pressures. Economists are watching closely whether the construction-sector momentum proves durable.
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