Background: Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966 and became a republic in 1970. In 1989 Guyana launched an Economic Recovery Program which marked a dramatic reversal from a state-controlled socialist economy towards a more open free market system. Results through the first decade have proven encouraging.

Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N 59 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho

Coastline: 459 km

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

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

Natural resources: bauxite gold diamonds hardwood timber shrimp fish

Irrigated land: 1300 km² (1993 est.)

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

Population: 697,286
Growth rate: -0.1% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Ethnic groups: East Indian 51% black 30% mixed 14% Amerindian 4% white and Chinese 1%

Languages: English Amerindian dialects Creole Hindi Urdu

Religions: Christian 50% Hindu 33% Muslim 9% other 8%

Population growth rate: -0.1% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 17.94 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 8.42 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: -10.48 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Environment
Current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Infant mortality rate: 39.07 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.11 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Government type: republic within the Commonwealth

Capital: Georgetown

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

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court

Political parties and leaders: Alliance for Guyana or AFG [Rupert ROOPNARINE]; Democratic Labor Movement or DLM [Paul TENNASSEE]; For a Good and Green Guyana or GGG [Hamilton GREEN]; Guyana Democratic Party or GDP [Asgar ALLY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; Guyanese Organization for Liberty and Democracy Party or GOLD [Anthony MEKDECI]; National Democratic Front or NDF [Joseph BACCHUS]; National Republican Party or NRP [Robert GANGADEEN]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Llewellyn JOHN]; People's National Congress or PNC [Hugh Desmond HOYTE]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [leader NA]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [leader NA]

International organization participation: ACP C Caricom CCC CDB ECLAC FAO G-77 IADB IBRD ICAO ICFTU ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Intelsat (nonsignatory user) Interpol IOC ISO (subscriber) ITU LAES NAM OAS OPANAL OPCW PCA UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO UPU WCL WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTrO

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

Economy overview: Severe drought and political turmoil contributed to Guyana's negative growth of -1.8% for 1998 following six straight years of growth of 5% or better. Growth came back to a positive 1.8% in 1999. Underlying growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative a more realistic exchange rate a moderate inflation rate and continued support by international organizations. President JAGDEO the former finance minister is taking steps to reform the economy including drafting an investment code and restructuring the inefficient and unresponsive public sector. Problems include a shortage of skilled labor and an inadequate and poorly maintained transportation system. Also electricity has been in short supply; the privatization of the sector in August 1999 is expected to improve prospects. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.

Real gdp growth rate: 1.8% (1999 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1999 est.)

Agriculture products: sugar rice wheat vegetable oils; beef pork poultry dairy products; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Industries: bauxite sugar rice milling timber fishing (shrimp) textiles gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (1997 est.)

Labor force: 245,492 (1992)
By occupation agriculture: NA%
By occupation industry: NA%
By occupation services: NA%

Unemployment rate: 12% (1992 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 5.5% (1999 est.)

Exports: $574 million (f.o.b. 1999 est.)
Commodities: sugar gold bauxite/alumina rice shrimp molasses rum timber
Partners: US 25% Canada 24% UK 19% Netherlands Antilles 11% Jamaica 5% (1998)

Imports: $620 million (c.i.f. 1999 est.)
Commodities: manufactures machinery petroleum food
Partners: US 28% Trinidad and Tobago 21% Netherlands Antilles 14% UK 7% Japan 5% (1998)

Debt external: $1.4 billion (1998)

Exchange rates: Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 180.4 (December 1999) 178.0 (1999) 150.5 (1998) 142.4 (1997) 140.4 (1996) 142.0 (1995)

Electricity
Production: 325 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 302 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Telephones
Main lines in use: 45,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 1243 (1995)

Telephone system: fair system for long-distance calling

Internet
Service providers isps: 2 (1999)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $7 million (FY94)
Percent of gdp: 1.7% (FY94)

Airports: 51 (1999 est.)

Disputes international: all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari [Koetari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Illicit drugs: transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis