1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 214,970 sq km land: 196,850 sq km water: 18,120 sq km
Area--comparative
slightly smaller than Idaho
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)
Coastline
459 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Environment--current issues
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment--international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Irrigated land
1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 2,462 km border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 84% other: 8% (1993 est.)
Location
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Natural resources
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Terrain
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 30% (male 109,156; female 105,017) 15-64 years: 65% (male 230,624; female 227,677) 65 years and over: 5% (male 14,684; female 17,998) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
18.23 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
9.04 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
East Indian 49%, black 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian 6%, white and Chinese 1%
Infant mortality rate
48.64 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
English, Amerindian dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 61.82 years male: 59.15 years female: 64.61 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98.1% male: 98.6% female: 97.5% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese
Net migration rate
-12.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
705,156 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.32% (1999 est.)
Religions
Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.09 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
Capital
Georgetown
Constitution
6 October 1980
Country name
conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana
Data code
GY
Executive branch
chief of state: President Janet JAGAN (since NA December 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December 1997) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature elections: president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five years; legislative elections last held 15 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2000; this date was part of a negotiated settlement between the two main political parties following a dispute over the December elections); prime minister appointed by the president
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
Government type
republic
Independence
26 May 1966 (from UK)
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, OIC (observer), OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MACK embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
Judicial branch
Supreme Court of Judicature Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party or PPP Political pressure groups and leaders: Trades Union Congress or TUC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized
Legal system
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 15 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2000; this date was negotiated following a dispute over the December elections) election results: percent of vote by party--PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%, TUF 1%; seats by party--PPP 36, PNC 25, AFG 2, TUF 2
National holiday
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture--products
sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest and fishery potential not exploited
Budget
revenues: $253.7 million expenditures: $304.1 million, including capital expenditures of $108.8 million (1997 est.)
Currency
1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents
Debt--external
$1.5 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$84 million (1995)
Economy--overview
In 1997, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its sixth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar growing. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. However, a severe drought and political turmoil following the 1997 elections contributed to a negative growth rate for 1998. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electricity has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.
Electricity--consumption
339 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
14 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
325 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 98.46% hydro: 1.54% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1--163.7 (December 1998), 150.5 (1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994)
Exports
$593.4 million (1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses
Exports--partners
Canada 25.9%, US 20.4%, UK 22.7%, Netherlands Antilles 8.4%, Germany 4.3% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$1.8 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 37% industry: 22% services: 41% (1997 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$2,500 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-1.8% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$641.6 million (1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports--partners
US 27.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 17.7%, Netherlands Antilles 12.1%, UK 10.7%, Japan 4.2% (1996)
Industrial production growth rate
7.1% (1997 est.)
Industries
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.1% (1998)
Labor force
245,492 (1992)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture, hunting and forestry 30.2%, commerce 16%, manufacturing 11% (1992)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
12% (1992 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1
Radios
398,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
fair system for long-distance calling domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones
33,000 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 public station; two private stations relay US satellite services (1997)
Televisions
32,000 (1992 est.)
Transportation
Airports
48 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 44 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1996 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 2 cargo ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,340 GRT/4,530 DWT (1998 est.)
Railways
total: 88 km (all dedicated to ore transport) standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
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 Ports and harbors: Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika
Military and Security
Military branches
Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS), Guyana Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$7 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
1.7% (1994)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 202,509 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 152,839 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper of the Courantyne)
Illicit drugs
transshipment point for narcotics from South America--primarily Venezuela--to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis