Guyana

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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.

Land

196,849 sq km

Total

214,969 sq km

Water

18,120 sq km

slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

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

459 km

South America

Highest point

Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

207 m

5 00 N, 59 00 W

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

1,430 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

2,933 km

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.)

arable land

0.46%

Forest

87.1% (2023 est.)

Other

9.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.14%

No

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

Atlantic Ocean drainage

Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/DFsme2xEeugUAsCx5

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/287083

South America

Continental shelf

200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

flash flood threat during rainy seasons

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

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

South America

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

UTC-04:00

number of time zones

1

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)

Beer

2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

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

Men married by age 18

11.9% (2020)

Women married by age 15

6.3% (2020)

Women married by age 18

32.3% (2020)

9.4% (2019 est.)

59% (2020 est.)

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

adult female

144 per 1,000

adult male

265 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

11.9 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio

8.4 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

46.3 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

34.3 (2024 est.)

improved total

67.17%

Improved: rural

rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.2% national budget (2025 est.)

East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)

1 (2025 est.)

2 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.9% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.2%

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

Female

18.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

16 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

English

number of languages

1

Female

74.3 years

Male

70.6 years

Total population

72.4 years (2024 est.)

Female

86.9% (2020 est.)

Male

84.2% (2020 est.)

Total population

85.6% (2020 est.)

110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

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

Female

28.4 years

Male

28.2 years

Total

28.7 years (2025 est.)

20.8 years (2009 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Adjective

Guyanese

Noun

Guyanese (singular and plural)

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

20.2% (2016)

1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Female

388,855

Male

405,244

Total

794,099 (2024 est.)

0.35% (2025 est.)

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.)

improved total

43.44%

Improved: rural

rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)

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

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.9% (2025 est.)

Male

16.9% (2025 est.)

Total

9.2% (2025 est.)

2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

27.2% of total population (2023)

measles

99%

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

Etymology

the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

Geographic coordinates

6 48 N, 58 09 W

Name

Georgetown

Time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

yes

Citizenship by descent only

yes

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

na

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gy.svg

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

History

several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980

alternative spellings

GY, Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Conventional long form

Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Conventional short form

Guyana

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)

FIFA code

GUY

Former

British Guiana

local long form (eng)

Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)

Email address and website

<br>acsgeorge@state.gov<br><br>https://gy.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown

FAX

[592] 225-8497

Mailing address

3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170

Telephone

[592] 225-4900 through 4909

Chancery

2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)

Consulate(s) general

New York

Email address and website

<br>guyanaembassydc@verizon.net<br><br>http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 232-1297

Telephone

[1] (202) 265-6900

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly

Chief of state

President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)

Election results

2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly<br><br><em>2020:</em> Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly<br><br><em>2015:</em> David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in 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

Expected date of next election

August 2030

Head of government

President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)

Most recent election date

1 September 2025

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

The flag of Guyana has a green field with two isosceles triangles which share a common base on the hoist end. The smaller black-edged red triangle spanning half the width of the field is superimposed on the larger white-edged yellow triangle which spans the full width of the field.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/gy.svg

parliamentary republic

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

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

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

Chamber name

National Assembly

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

August 2030

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Most recent election date

9/1/2025

Number of seats

72 (all directly elected)

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%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

5 years

Guyana&rsquo;s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country&rsquo;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&rsquo;s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana

red, yellow, green, black, white

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

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

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

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

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

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$1.467 billion (2019 est.)

Revenues

$1.333 billion (2019 est.)

code

GYD

name

Guyanese dollar (GYD) [$]

$2.35 billion

Current account balance 2021

-$1.36 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$4.242 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$2.352 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$3.68 billion

Debt - external 2023

$1.805 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

208.5 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

208.5 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

208.5 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

208.5 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

208.5 (2024 est.)

Exports 2021

$4.594 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$11.517 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$13.739 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$8.63 billion

Agriculture

8% (2024 est.)

Industry

74.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

15.3% (2024 est.)

$24.836 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$29,675

45.1 (1998)

$16.09 billion

$20,140

Imports 2021

$6.588 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$7.033 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$10.956 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

53.3% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

2.9%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.1% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.8% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

292,200 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

326,682 persons

agriculture

12.21%

industry

31.09%

services

56.69%

Public debt 2016

50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$66.62 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$30.457 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$40.749 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$58.423 billion (2024 est.)

43.82%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

63.3% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

33.8% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

43.4% (2024 est.)

$80,155

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$37,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$49,300 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$70,300 (2024 est.)

$600 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

$1.01 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$917.877 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$895.275 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$1.01 billion (2024 est.)

11.96%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

12.1% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

12.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

10.2% (2024 est.)

Female

28.1% (2024 est.)

Male

17.4% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

22.3% (2024 est.)

Consumption

1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

259,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

91.6%

Electrification - total population

93% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

98%

Biomass and waste

5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

0%

Hydroelectricity

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

7.11%

Solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Total petroleum production

391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

12.1%

per 100 inhabitants

13 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2022 est.)

Total

106,000 (2022 est.)

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&nbsp;

.gy

Percent of population

82% (2023 est.)

+592

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

125,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

113 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2021 est.)

Total subscriptions

856,000 (2021 est.)

passengers carried

7,512 passengers

registered carrier departures

624 departures

55 (2025)

8R

Left

By type

general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

Total

80 (2023)

Key ports

Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

0

Total ports

3 (2024)

Very small

2

GUY

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<br><br>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)

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

active duty personnel

3,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Guyana Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for internal security

percent of total labor force

1.04 %

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

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)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$201,841,559

Military Expenditures 2020

1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.67 %

percent of GDP

0.87 % of GDP

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

Refugees

79 (2024 est.)

From consumed natural gas

4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

2.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

103 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

7.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)

11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

5 % of total land area

7 % of total

271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1 % of internal resources

Agricultural

1.363 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

20.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

61.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

179,300 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

23% (2022 est.)