Malacatancito () is a mostly rural municipality in the Guatemalan department of Huehuetenango, spanning 312.4 square kilometers with an estimated population of 23,359 as of 2023. Its residents are primarily of Ladino and Maya descent, speaking Spanish and Kʼicheʼ as their primary mother tongues. The municipality features a warm, low-humidity subtropical highland climate marked by extreme seasonal variations in precipitation and cloud cover between its distinct wet and dry seasons. The municipal government is led by Mayor Irma Elizabeth Ávila Alvarado of the Vamos party, who has served consecutive terms since her election in 2019.
Demographics
According to data from the Guatemalan National Institute of Statistics, the population of the Malacatancito municipality has shown steady growth over recent decades. In mid-2008, the population was estimated at 19,177 residents, which increased to an estimated 20,846 by June 2018. Population projections for mid-2023 indicated a further increase to 23,359 inhabitants, representing an annual growth rate of 2.3%. Across the municipality's total area of 312.4 square kilometers, this population size yields a population density of 74.77 people per square kilometer.
The 2023 projections reveal a nearly equal gender distribution within the municipality, consisting of 11,731 males (50.2%) and 11,628 females (49.8%). The population structure is notably young. Children aged 0 to 14 years account for 34.1% of the population (7,972 residents), while the working age demographic between 15 and 64 years represents the majority at 58.7% (13,710 residents). Elders aged 65 and older make up the remaining 7.2% (1,677 residents).
Precipitation and cloud cover vary drastically by season, though perceived humidity remains at a constant 0% all year. The 5.6-month wet season runs from 10 May to 30 October, peaking in September with an average of 23.2 rainy days and 10.0 inches of accumulated rainfall, under skies that are 95% overcast in June. Conversely, the dry season spans from late October to May, with January serving as both the clearest month (74% clear or partly cloudy) and the driest, averaging just 0.2 inches of rain. Mild wind speeds peak in December at 4.2 miles per hour, while daylight ranges from roughly 11 to 13 hours without the observation of daylight saving time. After representing the National Unity of Hope (UNE) party in her first term, she switched affiliation to the Vamos party and was re-elected in 2023.