2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 27% (male 96,775; female 93,077) 15-64 years: 67.9% (male 240,305; female 236,378) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 15,755; female 19,810) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish (shrimp)

Airports

51 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

under 914 m

5 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m

34 (2002) Military Guyana

Area

land

196,850 sq km

total

214,970 sq km

water

18,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Idaho

Background

Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001. Geography Guyana

Birth rate

17.87 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$235.2 million, including capital expenditures of $93.4 million (2000)

revenues

$227 million

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

Country name

conventional long form

Co-operative Republic of Guyana

conventional short form

Guyana

former

British Guiana

Currency

Guyanese dollar (GYD)

Currency code

GYD

Death rate

9.27 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$1.2 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Ronald D. GODARD

embassy

100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown

mailing address

P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown

telephone

[592] 225-4900 through 4909

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL

consulate(s) general

New York

Disputes - international

all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari [Koetari] rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne); territorial sea boundary with Suriname is in dispute

Economic aid - recipient

$84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997)

Economy - overview

The Guyanese economy has exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term by restructuring and partial privatization.

Electricity - consumption

792.4 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

852 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

99.4%

hydro

0.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Roraima 2,835 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7%

Exchange rates

Guyanese dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 187.32 (2001), 182.43 (2000), 178 (1999), 150.52 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature

chief of state

President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President JAGAN

election results

President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA%

elections

president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since NA December 1997)

Exports

$500 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities

sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Exports - partners

Canada 21.1%, US 17.9%, Netherlands Antilles 12.9%, UK 10.4%, Jamaica 5.3%, Portugal 4.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 232-1297

[592] 225-8497

telephone

[1] (202) 265-6900

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Guyana

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 Economy Guyana

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.628 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

35%

industry

21%

services

44% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Geography - note

the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively People Guyana

Government type

republic within the Commonwealth

Highways

paved

590 km

total

7,970 km

unpaved

7,380 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

18,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$575 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners

US 23.7%, Netherlands Antilles 20.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.2%, Italy 6.3%, UK 5.1%, Cuba 4.2% (2002)

Independence

26 May 1966 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (1997 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

33.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

41.64 deaths/1,000 live births

total

37.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.7% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.gy

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (2000)

Internet users

95,000 (2002) Transportation Guyana

Irrigated land

1,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court

Labor force

418,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Land boundaries

border countries

Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

total

2,462 km

Land use

arable land

2.44%

other

97.48% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.08%

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

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 (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1

elections

last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)

Life expectancy at birth

female

65.79 years (2003 est.)

male

60.51 years

total population

63.09 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

98.5% (2003 est.) Government Guyana

male

99.1%

total population

98.8%

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 economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

26.3 years (2002)

male

25.2 years

total

25.7 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 2 (2002 est.)

total

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,929 GRT/4,507 DWT

Military branches

Guyana Defense Force (including Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana Police Force, Guyana People's Militia, Guyana National Service

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA% Transnational Issues Guyana

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

207,890 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

156,174 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Nationality

adjective

Guyanese

noun

Guyanese (singular and plural)

Natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

-4.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC

note

the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized

Population

702,100

note

estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.44% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

420,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

48 km 0.914-m gauge

note

all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)

standard gauge

139 km 1.435-m gauge

total

187 km

Religions

Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay network for trunk lines

general assessment

fair system for long-distance calling

international

tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

70,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

6,100 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)

Televisions

46,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Total fertility rate

2.07 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

9.1% (understated) (2000)

Waterways

5,900 km (total length of navigable waterways)

note

Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively