Background: Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to former slaves settling urban areas and indentured servants being imported from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then primarily socialist-oriented governments have ruled the country. 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 elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR won in 2011, but early elections held in 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party, and David GRANGER took office. After a 2018 no-confidence vote against the GRANGER government, the administration ignored a constitutional requirement to hold elections and remained in place until the 2020 elections, when Irfaan ALI became president. The discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in 2015 has been Guyana's primary economic and political focus, with many hoping the reserves will transform one of the poorest countries in the region. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean.

Area
Total: 214,969 km²
Land: 196,849 km²
Water: 18,120 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

Land boundaries
Total: 2,933 km
Border countries (3): (3) Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 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
Highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 207 m

Land use
Agricultural land: 3.4% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 87.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 9.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 1,430 km² (2012)

Natural hazards: flash flood threat during rainy seasons

Geography
Note: the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

Population
Total: 794,099 (2024 est.)
Male: 405,244
Female: 388,855
Distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Growth rate: 0.32% (2024 est.)

Languages: English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)

Religions: Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, other Christian 20.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
65 years and over: 8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 34.3 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 28.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 28.2 years
Female: 28.4 years

Population growth rate: 0.32% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 16.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Urbanization
Urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 70.6 years
Female: 74.3 years

Total fertility rate: 2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 9.4% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 10.2% (2024 est.); 12.1% (2023 est.); 12.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Capital
Name: Georgetown
Geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

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

Legal system: common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
Election/appointment process: the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 1 September 2025
Election results: 2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
Expected date of next election: August 2,030
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Legislative structure: unicameral
Chamber name: National Assembly
Number of seats: 72 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 5 years
Most recent election date: 9/1/2025
Parties elected and seats per party: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (36); We Invest in Nationhood (W.I.N.) (16); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (12); Other (1)
Percentage of women in chamber: 36.1%
Expected date of next election: August 2,030

Flag description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on top of a long yellow arrowhead shape that extends to the opposite side of the flag; a narrow black border sits between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and green

National anthem
Title: 'Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains'
Lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
History: adopted 1966

Real gdp growth rate: 43.4% (2024 est.); 33.8% (2023 est.); 63.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 43.4% (2024 est.); 33.8% (2023 est.); 63.3% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 8% (2024 est.)
Industry: 74.3% (2024 est.)
Services: 15.3% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

Industrial production growth rate: 53.3% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 292,200 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 10.2% (2024 est.); 12.1% (2023 est.); 12.1% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 10.2% (2024 est.); 12.1% (2023 est.); 12.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)

Exports: $13.739 billion (2023 est.); $11.517 billion (2022 est.); $4.594 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $10.956 billion (2023 est.); $7.033 billion (2022 est.); $6.588 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 259,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 93% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 98%
Access electrification - rural areas: 91.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas
Consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.639 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.635 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 125,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 856,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 106,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 1% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 55 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 80 (2023)
By type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25