Guyana

Cooperative Republic of Guyana

South America Georgetown

Population

794.1K

Area

214,969 km²

GDP

$24.84B

GDP Per Capita

$70,300

Pop. Density

4/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

$Guyanese dollar(GYD)

Calling Code

+592

Timezone

UTC-04:00

Languages

English

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Guyanese

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑936.3% since 2006

$2B (2006)$25B (2024)

Population

↑9.5% since 2006

758,966 (2006)831,087 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 70.2 years

2006: 64.8 years2023: 70.2 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography18

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Map references

South America

Area

total : 214,969 sq km
land: 196,849 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

Land boundaries

total: 2,933 km
border countries: 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

Natural resources

bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Land use

agricultural land

3.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)

forest

87.1% (2023 est.)

other

9.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

1,430 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

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

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

People & Society35

Population

total: 794,099 (2024 est.)
male: 405,244
female: 388,855

Nationality

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic groups

East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 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: 28.7 years (2025 est.)
male: 28.2 years
female: 28.4 years

Population growth rate

0.35% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 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.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.8 years (2009 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 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

2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.9% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 9.2% (2025 est.)
male: 16.9% (2025 est.)
female: 1.9% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.4% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

59% (2020 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 6.3% (2020)
women married by age 18: 32.3% (2020)
men married by age 18: 11.9% (2020)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population: 85.6% (2020 est.)
male: 84.2% (2020 est.)
female: 86.9% (2020 est.)

Government23

Country name

conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
etymology: the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; the name Guiana may be derived from a local term meaning "Land of Water" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)

Government type

parliamentary republic

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
amendment process: proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent only: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: na

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 2030

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 2030

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with a chief justice and 3 justices, and the High Court with a chief justice and 10 justices organized into 3- or 5-judge panels); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases
judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president; other judges of both courts appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a body appointed by the president; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 65
subordinate courts: Land Court; magistrates' courts

Political parties

A New and United Guyana or ANUG
A Partnership for National Unity or APNU
Alliance for Change or AFC
Justice for All Party
Liberty and Justice Party or LJP
National Independent Party or NIP
People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C
The New Movement or TNM
The United Force or TUF
United Republican Party or URP

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)

chancery

2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 265-6900

FAX

[1] (202) 232-1297

email address and website

[email protected]

http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/

consulate(s) general

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)

embassy

100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown

mailing address

3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170

telephone

[592] 225-4900 through 4909

FAX

[592] 225-8497

email address and website

[email protected]

https://gy.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

ACP, ACS, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

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

meaning: green stands for forest and foliage, yellow for mineral resources and a bright future, white for the rivers, red for zeal and the people's sacrifice, and black for perseverance

National symbol(s)

Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily

National color(s)

red, yellow, green, black, white

National coat of arms

Guyana’s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom; the jaguars signify strength and resilience, with one holding a pickaxe that stands for labor and the other holding stalks of rice and sugarcane for agriculture; two national symbols, the Canje pheasant and the Victorian lily, are on the shield, with the national motto underneath; three wavy blue lines stand for the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice rivers, the headdress for the country’s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana

National anthem(s)

title: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
history: adopted 1966

Economy26

Economic overview

small, hydrocarbon-driven South American export economy; major forest coverage being leveraged in carbon credit offsets to encourage preservation; strengthening financial sector; large bauxite and gold resources

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $58.423 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $40.749 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.457 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 43.4% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 33.8% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 63.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $70,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $49,300 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $37,100 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$24.836 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 6.1% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 8% (2024 est.)
industry: 74.3% (2024 est.)
services: 15.3% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

53.3% (2024 est.)

Labor force

292,200 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 10.2% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 12.1% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 22.3% (2024 est.)
male: 17.4% (2024 est.)
female: 28.1% (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: $2.352 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $4.242 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$1.36 billion (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2023: $13.739 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $11.517 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $4.594 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners

USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)

Imports

Imports 2023: $10.956 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $7.033 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $6.588 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners

USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $1.01 billion (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $895.275 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $917.877 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $1.805 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

208.5 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

208.5 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

208.5 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

208.5 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

208.5 (2020 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 93% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 98%
electrification - rural areas: 91.6%

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.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
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.)

Energy consumption per capita

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

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 125,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 856,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)

Broadcast media

government-dominated broadcast media; the National Communications Network (NCN) TV is state-owned; a few private TV stations relay satellite services; the state owns and operates 2 radio stations broadcasting on multiple frequencies; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition 

Internet country code

.gy

Internet users

percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 106,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

Transportation4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

55 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 80 (2023)
by type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

Ports

total ports

3 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026)

Military expenditures

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or secondhand platforms imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, India, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

Military - note

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are territorial defense, maritime security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, aviation and engineering support, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peace support operations, and community engagement; key areas of concern include illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, piracy, porous borders, and threats from Venezuela over disputed territory; the GDF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises and has relationships with Brazil, China, France, the UK, and the US

Guyana joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 2022; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 79 (2024 est.)

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