2009 Edition

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, and since then it has been 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. 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 reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.

Area

total: 214,969 sq km country comparison to the world: 84 land: 196,849 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 August, November to 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 1.64 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%) per capita: 2,187 cu m/yr (2000)

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

Irrigated land

1,500 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,949 km border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Land use

arable land: 2.23% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 97.63% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

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

Total renewable water resources

241 cu km (2000)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.7% (male 101,319/female 97,505) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 268,058/female 262,595) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 17,938/female 24,883) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

17.56 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Death rate

8.31 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Education expenditures

8.3% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 13

Ethnic groups

East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.5% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 74

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

13,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Infant mortality rate

total: 29.65 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 76 male: 33.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 26.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.68 years country comparison to the world: 157 male: 64.09 years female: 69.4 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98.8% male: 99.1% female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Median age

total: 28.7 years male: 28.2 years female: 29.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate

-7.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Population

772,298 country comparison to the world: 160 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate

0.181% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Religions

Hindu 28.4%, Pentecostal 16.9%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%, Jehovah Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, Muslim 7.2%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 14 years (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.03 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

Urbanization

urban population: 28% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

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

name: Georgetown geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

6 October 1980

Country name

conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador John Melvin JONES embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170 telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900

Executive branch

chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006 head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of vote 54.6%

FAX

[1] (202) 232-1297 consulate(s) general: New York

[592] 225-8497

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 the UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

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; members elected by popular vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers and 2 non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%, AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5, other 2

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform 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]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Citizens Initiative; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades Union Congress

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

sugarcane, rice, shrimp, fish, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry

Budget

revenues: $488.7 million expenditures: $552.6 million (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 66 6.5% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.58% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 48 14.61% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$362 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 -$165.7 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$804.3 million (30 September 2008) country comparison to the world: 157 $1.2 billion (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

43.2 (1999) country comparison to the world: 50

Economy - overview

The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in recent years and is based largely on agriculture and extractive industries. The economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities - sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice - which represent nearly 60% of the country's GDP and are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices. Economic recovery since the 2005 flood-related contraction has been buoyed by increases in remittances and foreign direct investment in the sugar and rice industries as well as the mining sector. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization, and the state-owned sugar industry will conduct efficiency increasing modernizations. Export earnings from agriculture and mining have remained flat as rising commodity prices have offset declining production, while the import bill has risen, driven by higher energy costs. 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. In March 2007, the Inter-American Development Bank, Guyana's principal donor, canceled Guyana's nearly $470 million debt, equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP, which along with other Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) debt forgiveness brought the debt-to-GDP ratio down from 183% in 2006 to 120% in 2007. Guyana became heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 has broadened the country's export market, primarily in the raw materials sector.

Electricity - consumption

667 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

821 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Exchange rates

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 203.86 (2008 est.), 201.89 (2007), 200.28 (2006), 200.79 (2005), 198.31 (2004)

Exports

$797 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $674.9 million (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Canada 20.8%, US 15.2%, UK 12.3%, Netherlands 7.2%, Portugal 4.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7%, Jamaica 4.5%, Ukraine 4.3% (2008)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 24.9% industry: 24.9% services: 50.2% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$3,900 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $3,800 (2007 est.) $3,600 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 5.4% (2007 est.) 5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.154 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.973 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $2.887 billion (2007 est.) $2.739 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)

Imports

$1.294 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $982.9 million (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners

US 23.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 22.3%, Finland 7.7%, Cuba 6.1%, China 5.7% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 12.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

35.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 8

Labor force

333,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 159

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $262.4 million (31 December 2007) $187.4 million (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Oil - consumption

11,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Oil - imports

10,550 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 138

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$355.9 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $313 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$829.4 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 110 $739.3 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$344.2 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 100 $315.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$817.6 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 99 $728.8 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

11% (2007) country comparison to the world: 131

Internet country code

.gy

Internet hosts

7,116 (2009) country comparison to the world: 129

Internet users

205,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 134

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Telephone system

general assessment: fair system for long-distance service domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; fixed-line teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services; mobile-cellular teledensity reached 37 per 100 persons in 2005 international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

125,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 140

Telephones - mobile cellular

281,400 (2005) country comparison to the world: 168

Television broadcast stations

3 (1 public station; 2 private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)

Airports

99 (2009) country comparison to the world: 60

Airports - with paved runways

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 89 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 74 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 8 country comparison to the world: 124 by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2008)

Ports and terminals

Georgetown

Roadways

total: 7,970 km country comparison to the world: 142 paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)

Waterways

330 km country comparison to the world: 91 note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2008)

Guyana Defense Force

Army (includes Coast Guard, Air Corps) (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 220,797 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 150,307 females age 16-49: 144,622 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,625 female: 6,365 (2009 est.)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 90

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

Disputes - international

all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling page last updated on November 11, 2009

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Guyana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; most trafficking appears to take place in remote mining camps in the country's interior; some women and girls are trafficked from northern Brazil; reporting from other nations suggests Guyanese women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation to neighboring countries and Guyanese men and boys are subject to labor exploitation in construction and agriculture; trafficking victims from Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela transit Guyana en route to Caribbean destinations tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for a second consecutive year, Guyana is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement actions against trafficking offenders; the government has yet to produce an anti-trafficking conviction under the comprehensive Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, which became law in 2005; the government operates no shelters for trafficking victims, but did include limited funding for anti-trafficking NGOs in its 2008 budget; the government did not make any effort to reduce demand for commercial sex acts during 2007 (2008)