Chiquimula Department

Dry corridor vulnerability—Chiquimula lies in Guatemala's drought-prone eastern region where climate change intensifies agricultural risk. Subsistence farmers face crop failures that drive migration to the United States; the department exemplifies the climate-migration nexus.

Agricultural economy depends on uncertain rainfall for beans, corn, and vegetables. Cattle ranching occupies drier areas. The Honduras border enables cross-border commerce but also facilitates irregular migration.

Poverty rates exceed national averages. Healthcare access remains limited. The department sends disproportionate numbers of migrants northward, generating remittance income while depleting working-age population.

2026 trajectory: Climate adaptation becomes survival necessity. Drought-resistant crop varieties and water management technologies offer partial solutions. The department tests whether development interventions can compete with migration incentives.