Map of Guyana | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background: Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966 and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992 Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later his wife Janet JAGAN became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor Bharrat JAGDEO was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.


top of page


Location: Northern South America bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Suriname and Venezuela

Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N 59 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: 214,970 km²
Land: 196,850 km²
Water: 18,120 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries
Total: 2,949 km
Border countries: (3) Brazil 1,606 km; , Suriname 600 km; , Venezuela 743 km

Coastline: 459 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Climate: tropical; hot humid moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August November to January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Natural resources: bauxite gold diamonds hardwood timber shrimp fish

Land use
Arable land: 2.23%
Permanent crops: 0.14%
Other: 97.63% (2005)

Irrigated land: 1500 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Geography
Note: the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively


top of page


Population
Note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2007 est.)
Growth rate: 0.234% (2007 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality
Noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic groups: East Indian 50% black 36% Amerindian 7% white Chinese and mixed 7%

Languages: English Amerindian dialects Creole Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi) Urdu

Religions: Christian 50% Hindu 35% Muslim 10% other 5%

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 102,111/female 98,325)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 266,288/female 261,620)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 17,308/female 23,443) (2007 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 27.8 years
Male: 27.3 years
Female: 28.3 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.234% (2007 est.)

Birth rate: 18.09 births/1000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate: 8.28 deaths/1000 population (2007 est.)

Net migration rate: -7.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2007 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.039 male/female
15-64 years: 1.018 male/female
65 years and over: 0.738 male/female
Total population: 1.006 male/female (2007 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 31.35 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 34.93 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 27.58 deaths/1000 live births (2007 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 66.17 years
Male: 63.52 years
Female: 68.95 years (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 2.5% (2003 est.)
People living with hivaids: 11,000 (2003 est.)
Deaths: 1100 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
Total population: 98.8%
Male: 99.1%
Female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Conventional short form: Guyana
Former: British Guiana

Government type: republic

Capital
Name: Georgetown
Geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 10 regions; Barima-Waini Cuyuni-Mazaruni Demerara-Mahaica East Berbice-Corentyne Essequibo Islands-West Demerara Mahaica-Berbice Pomeroon-Supenaam Potaro-Siparuni Upper Demerara-Berbice Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Dependent areas

Independence: 26 May 1966 (from UK)

National holiday: Republic Day 23 February (1970)

Constitution: 6 October 1980

Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN and reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
Head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature
Elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of vote 54.6%

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011)
Election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%, AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5, other 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature consisting of the High Court and the Judicial Court of Appeal with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise Organize and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

International organization participation: ACP C Caricom CDB CSN FAO G-77 IADB IBRD ICAO ICCt ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM (observer) ISO (subscriber) ITU ITUC LAES MIGA NAM OAS OIC OPANAL OPCW PCA RG UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCL WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
In the us chancery: 2,490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 265-6,900
In the us fax: [1] (202) 232-1297
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador David M. ROBINSON
From the us embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
From the us mailing address: P. O. Box 10,507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3,170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20,521-3,170
From the us telephone: [592] 225-4,900 through 4,909
From the us fax: [592] 225-8,497

Flag description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow black border between the red and yellow and a narrow white border between the yellow and the green

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02 based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives a more realistic exchange rate fairly low inflation and the continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The Inter-American Development Bank in November 2006 canceled Guyana's nearly $400 million debt with the Bank. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization. Export earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply while the import bill has risen driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 will broaden the country's export market primarily in the raw materials sector.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $3.757 billion (2006 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: 4.7% (2006 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $4,900 (2006 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 34.9%
Industry: 19.4%
Services: 45.7% (2006 est.)

Agriculture products: sugarcane rice shrimp fish vegetable oils; beef pork poultry dairy products

Industries: bauxite sugar rice milling timber textiles gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 418,000 (2001 est.)
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: 9.1% (understated) (2000)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA% (1999)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $399 million
Expenditures: $506.5 million (2006 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.2% (2006 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares: $187.3 million (2005)

Current account balance: $-221 million (2006 est.)

Exports: $482 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: sugar gold bauxite alumina rice shrimp molasses rum timber
Partners: US 18.8% Canada 18.4% UK 8.7% Portugal 6.5% Trinidad and Tobago 4.9% Netherlands 4.3% Belgium 4.3% Jamaica 4.1% (2006)

Imports: $778 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Commodities: manufactures machinery petroleum food
Partners: Trinidad and Tobago 23% US 21.3% China 9.7% Cuba 6.3% UK 4.5% (2006)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $279.6 million (2006 est.)

Debt external: $1.2 billion (2002)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 200.28 (2006) 200.79 (2005) 198.31 (2004) 193.88 (2003) 190.67 (2002)


top of page


Electricity
Production: 807.3 million kWh (2005)
Consumption: 750.7 million kWh (2005)
Exports: 0 kWh (2005)
Imports: 0 kWh (2005)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2005 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2005 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 110,100 (2005)
Mobile cellular: 281,400 (2005)

Telephone system
General assessment: fair system for long-distance service
Domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; fixed-line teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 37 per 100 persons in 2005
International: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .gy
Hosts: 3,000 (2007)
Users: 160,000 (2005)

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: 1.8% (2006)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 93 (2007)
With paved runways total: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways under 914 m: 6 (2007)
With unpaved runways total: 84
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 14
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 69 (2007)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 7,970 km
Paved: 590 km
Unpaved: 7,380 km (1999)

Waterways: Berbice Demerara and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km 100 km and 80 km respectively (2006)

Merchant marine
Total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,516 GRT/14,193 DWT
By type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1
Registered in other countries: 2 (St Vincent and The Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2007)

Ports and terminals: Georgetown


top of page


Disputes international: all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling