1994 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1994 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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
Agriculture
most important sector, accounting for 25% of GDP and about half of exports; sugar and rice are key crops; development potential exists for fishing and forestry; not self-sufficient in food, especially wheat, vegetable oils, and animal products
Airports
total: 53 usable: 48 with permanent-surface runways: 5 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 12
Area
total area: 214,970 sq km land area: 196,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho
Birth rate
19.95 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Branches
Guyana Defense Force (GDF; including the Ground Forces, Coast Guard and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS)
Budget
revenues: $121 million expenditures: $225 million, including capital expenditures of $50 million (1990 est.)
Capital
Georgetown
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Coastline
459 km
Constitution
6 October 1980
Currency
1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Death rate
7.36 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP
Digraph
GY
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 265-6900 through 6903
Economic aid
recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $116 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $325 million; Communist countries 1970-89, $242 million
Electricity
capacity: 253,500 kW production: 276 million kWh consumption per capita: 370 kWh (1992)
Environment
current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation natural hazards: flash floods a constant threat during rainy seasons international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratifed - Biodiversity, Climate Change
Ethnic divisions
East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%
Exchange rates
Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 130.7 (January 1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991), 39.533 (1990), 27.159 (1989)
Executive branch
chief of state: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 5 October 1992); First Vice President Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992); election last held on 5 October 1992; results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president since he was leader of the party with the most votes in the National Assembly elections head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 5 October 1992) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature
Exports
$400 million (f.o.b., 1993 est.) commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3%, (1992)
External debt
$1.9 billion including arrears (1992 est)
FAX
[592] (2) 58497
Fiscal year
calendar year
Flag
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
Highways
total: 7,665 km paved: 550 km unpaved: gravel 5,000 km; earth 2,115 km
Imports
$520 million (c.i.f., 1993 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992)
Independence
26 May 1966 (from UK)
Industrial production
growth rate 11% (1991 est.); accounts for about 11% of GDP
Industries
bauxite mining, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Infant mortality rate
48.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7% (1993
Inland waterways
6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively
International disputes
all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)
Irrigated land
1,300 sq km (1989 est.)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Judicature
Labor force
268,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7% note: public-sector employment amounts to 60-80% of the total labor force (1985)
Land boundaries
total 2,462 km, Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Land use
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8%
Languages
English, Amerindian dialects
Legal system
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 64.9 years male: 61.66 years female: 68.3 years (1994 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over having ever attended school (1990 est.) total population: 95% male: 98% female: 96%
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Suriname and Venezuela
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 197,802; fit for military service 150,072
Map references
South America, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm or the outer edge of continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Member of
ACP, C, CARICOM, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LAES, LORCS, NAM, OAS, ONUSAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Merchant marine
1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT
Names
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana
National Assembly
elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1
National holiday
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
National product
GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $1.4 billion (1993 est.)
National product per capita
$1,900 (1993 est.)
National product real growth rate
8.3% (1993 est.)
Nationality
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese
Natural resources
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Net migration rate
-20.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)
Other political or pressure groups
Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized
Overview
Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has pushed ahead strongly in 1991-93, at 7% average annual growth rate. Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government will have to persist in efforts to control external debt and inflation and to extend the privatization program.
Political parties and leaders
People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL
Population
729,425 (July 1994 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.75% (1994 est.)
Ports
Georgetown, New Amsterdam
Railroads
no public railroads; about 100 km of narrow gauge industrial railroads to transport minerals, including bauxite
Religions
Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telecommunications
fair system with radio relay network; over 27,000 telephones; tropospheric scatter link to Trinidad; broadcast stations - 4 AM, 3 FM, no TV, 1 shortwave; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Terrain
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Total fertility rate
2.29 children born/woman (1994 est.)
Type
republic
Unemployment rate
12% (1992 est.)
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador George F. Jones embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingstown, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909 and 57960 through 57969