K'iche' people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
|
1,610,013 11% of Guatemalan population |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Guatemala
|
1,610,013 |
| Quiché | 622,163 |
| Totonicapán | 453,237 |
| Quetzaltenango | 205,228 |
| Sololá | 151,992 |
| Languages | |
| K'iche', Spanish | |
| Religion | |
| Catholic, Evangelicalist, Maya religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Kaqchikel, Tzutujil, Uspantek, Sakapultek | |
1,610,013
K'iche' (pronounced [kʼi ˈtʃeʔ]; previous Spanish spelling: Quiché) are indigenous peoples of the Americas, one of the Maya peoples. The K'iche' language is a Mesoamerican language in the Mayan language family.
The highland K'iche' states in the pre-Columbian era are associated with the ancient Maya civilization, and reached the peak of their power and influence during the Postclassic period.
The meaning of the word K'iche' is "many trees." The Nahuatl translation, Cuauhtēmallān "Place of the Many Trees (People)", is the origin of the word Guatemala. Quiché Department is also named for them.
Rigoberta Menchú, an activist for indigenous rights who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992, is perhaps the best-known K'iche'.
According to the 2011 census, K'iche' people constituted 11% of the Guatemalan population, accounting for 1,610,013 people out of a total of 14,636,487. The large majority of K'iche' people live in the highlands of Guatemala, notably in the departments of El Quiché, which is 65.1% K'iche' and has a total K'iche' population of 622,163;Totonicapán, which is 95.9% K'iche' and has a total K'iche' population of 453,237;Quetzaltenango, which is 25.9% K'iche' and has a total K'iche' population of 205,228; and Sololá, which is 35.3% K'iche' and has a total K'iche' population of 151,992.
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