Elderly populations from developing countries represent two-thirds of the whole world's elderly population; however very little is known respect their health and nutritional status. Guatemala has a population of almost 10 million inhabitants, and approximately 6% is composed of persons over 60 y. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the nutritional status and the body composition profile in a group of 234 Guatemalan elderly subjects; and to document any differences between institutionalized (I) (n=174) and ambulatory free-living elderly subjects (FL) (n=60). A total of 108 were male and 126 female. The mean (± SD) ages of male and female were respectively, 78 ± 7 and 77 ± 8 y; the I group tended to be older than to FL: 79 ± 8 vs 74 ± 8 y. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height, mid-arm circumference and four skinfolds (triceps, biceps, subscapular and suprailiac); these were complemented with bioelectrical impedance analysis indices: resistance and reactance. The overall means (± SD) in terms of height, weight and BMI for males and females, respectively were 156.4 ± 8.0 and 144 ± 7 cm; 54.5 ± 9.4 and 49.4 ± 10.6 kg; and 22.2 ± 2.9 and 23.8 ± 4.3 kg/m 2 . As it was expected males were taller and heavier compared to women. After adjusting for age, sex and setting, I younger elderly were fattier than their counterparts (FL); however, older FL groups differed only in having more weight and greater mid-arm muscle area compared to I. An age effect was observed principally in older I women, showing less weight and fat than younger groups, while free-living older groups had more weight and greater BIA-body fat compared to younger FL. In conclusion, I and FL differed in terms of body composition, and the differences were age dependent. BIA and anthropometry showed high correspondence and to be sensitive to demonstrate the findings in the expected direction. Due to the high specificity of the published BIA-equations, attention should be paid when estimating body composition in elderly populations of developing countries.