2024 Edition Primary

Background

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. 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. 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.

Area

land

196,849 sq km

total

214,969 sq km

water

18,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

Climate

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

Coastline

459 km

Elevation

highest point

Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

207 m

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; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

Irrigated land

1,430 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

2,933 km

Land use

agricultural land

8.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)

forest

77.4% (2018 est.)

other

14.2% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

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

Natural hazards

flash flood threat during rainy seasons

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with noteable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Terrain

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

16.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.4% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

29.9% (2019/20)

Current health expenditure

5.5% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62.6% (2023 est.)

Death rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Demographic profile

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana's two largest ethnic groups are the Afro-Guyanese (descendants of African slaves) and the Indo-Guyanese (descendants of Indian indentured laborers), which together comprise about three quarters of Guyana's population. Tensions periodically have boiled over between the two groups, which back ethnically based political parties and vote along ethnic lines. Poverty reduction has stagnated since the late 1990s. About one-third of the Guyanese population lives below the poverty line; indigenous people are disproportionately affected. Although Guyana's literacy rate is reported to be among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, the level of functional literacy is considerably lower, which has been attributed to poor education quality, teacher training, and infrastructure.Guyana's emigration rate is among the highest in the world - more than 55% of its citizens reside abroad - and it is one of the largest recipients of remittances relative to GDP among Latin American and Caribbean counties. Although remittances are a vital source of income for most citizens, the pervasive emigration of skilled workers deprives Guyana of professionals in healthcare and other key sectors. More than 80% of Guyanese nationals with tertiary level educations have emigrated. Brain drain and the concentration of limited medical resources in Georgetown hamper Guyana's ability to meet the health needs of its predominantly rural population. Guyana has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region and continues to rely on international support for its HIV treatment and prevention programs.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.5

potential support ratio

10.6 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

53.6

youth dependency ratio

44.1

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 95.6% of population

improved: total

total: 96.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 4.4% of population

unimproved: total

total: 3.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

1 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

female

18.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

74.3 years

male

70.6 years

total population

72.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

female

88.4% (2021)

male

89.3%

total population

88.8%

Major urban areas - population

110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

112 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

28.4 years

male

28.2 years

total

28.3 years (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.8 years (2009 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

adjective

Guyanese

noun

Guyanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

20.2% (2016)

Physician density

1.42 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

388,855 (2024 est.)

male

405,244

total

794,099

Population distribution

population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with noteable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Population growth rate

0.32% (2024 est.)

Religions

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.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 95.4% of population

improved: total

total: 96% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 4.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 4% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.2% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2012)

male

11 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

2.4% (2020 est.)

male

21.7% (2020 est.)

total

12.1% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

27.2% of total population (2023)

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

etymology

when the British took possession of the town from the Dutch in 1812, they renamed it Georgetown 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

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

na

Constitution

amendments

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; amended many times, last in 2016

history

several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980

Country name

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; ultimately the word is derived from an indigenous Amerindian language and means "Land of Many Waters" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)

former

British Guiana

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)

email address and website

acsgeorge@state.govhttps://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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

guyanaembassydc@verizon.nethttp://www.guyanaembassydc.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 232-1297

telephone

[1] (202) 265-6900

Executive branch

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

2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly

elections/appointments

the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)

note

note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

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; green represents forest and foliage; yellow stands for mineral resources and a bright future; white symbolizes Guyana's rivers; red signifies zeal and the sacrifice of the people; black indicates perseverance; also referred to by its nickname The Golden Arrowhead

Government type

parliamentary republic

Independence

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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); note - in 2009, Guyana acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

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

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National Assembly (70 seats; 40 members directly elected in single-seat, nationwide constituencies, 25 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies -- all by closed-list proportional representation vote, 2 non-elected ministers, 2 non-elected parliamentary secretaries, and the speaker; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PPP/C 50.69%, APNU-AFC 47.34%, LJP 0.58%, ANUG 0.5%, TNM 0.05%, other 0.84%; seats by party - PPP/C 33, APNU-AFC 31, LJP-ANUG-TNM 1; composition - men 43, women 28, percentage women 39.4%; note - the initial results were declared invalid and a partial recount was conducted from 6 May to 8 June 2020, in which PPP/C was declared the winner

elections

last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER

name

"Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"

note

note: adopted 1966

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

National symbol(s)

Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white

Political parties

A New and United Guyana or ANUGA Partnership for National Unity or APNUAlliance for Change or AFCJustice for All PartyLiberty and Justice Party or LJPNational Independent Party or NIPPeople's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/CThe New Movement or TNMThe United Force or TUFUnited Republican Party or URP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sugarcane, rice, plantains, papayas, cassava, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, eggplants, ginger (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Budget

expenditures

$1.467 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$1.333 billion (2019 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2020

-$396.533 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$2.503 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$254.121 million (2022 est.)

note

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

Debt - external

Debt - external 2022

$1.631 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

Currency

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

208.5 (2019 est.)

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.)

Exports

Exports 2020

$2.799 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$4.64 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$11.536 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, gold, rice, aluminum ore, liquor (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Panama 32%, Netherlands 15%, US 13%, UAE 6%, Italy 6% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

47.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption

18.2% (2017 est.)

household consumption

71.1% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-63% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

10% (2022 est.)

industry

67.8% (2022 est.)

note

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

services

19.3% (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$16.786 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2020

$3.756 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$6.611 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$7.067 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, valves, iron pipes, construction vehicles, cars (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

US 28%, China 14%, Brazil 7%, Trinidad and Tobago 7%, Suriname 4% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

98.53% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

5.03% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

6.12% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

2.82% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

295,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Public debt

Public debt 2017

52.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$18.647 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$30.476 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$40.539 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

20.01% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

63.44% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

33.02% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$23,200 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$37,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$49,800 (2023 est.)

Remittances

note

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

Remittances 2021

6.81% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.57% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.27% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$790.785 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$917.877 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$895.275 million (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

14.93% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

12.42% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

12.43% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

32.4% (2023 est.)

male

21.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

25.9% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from consumed natural gas

8,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.491 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

2.499 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

imports

(2022 est.) less than 1 metric ton

Electricity

consumption

904.608 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

385,000 kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

233.463 million kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

91.6%

electrification - total population

93% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

98%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

98.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

1.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

42.797 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

3.981 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

3.981 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

12 (2020 est.)

total

95,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

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 capable of reaching the entire country; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition in broadcast media

Internet country code

.gy

Internet users

percent of population

85% (2021 est.)

total

680,000 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity is about 16 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 110 per 100 persons (2021)

general assessment

after many years of delays and legal challenges, the 2016 Telecommunications Act was brought into force in October 2020 by the newly elected government of the People’s Party Progressive (PPP); the Telecommunications Act sets out a framework for enabling competition across all segments of the telecommunications sector in Guyana; the mobile market has been open to competition since 2001; the Telecommunications Act presents the country with the potential to benefit from a more level playing field that may attract new players, but nevertheless Guyana’s relatively small size and low GDP may restrict it from reaching its full potential for some more years to come (2021)

international

country code - 592; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable to Suriname, and the Caribbean; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

125,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

856,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

51 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

8R

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

total

80 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

3

total ports

3 (2024)

very small

2

Roadways

paved

799 km

total

3,995 km

unpaved

3,196 km (2019)

Waterways

330 km (2012) (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively)

Military - note

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are defense of the country, including border security, assisting civil authorities with law and order as needed, and contributing to Guyana’s economic development; key areas of concern include disaster response, 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; the GDF’s ground force officers are trained at the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, while coast guard officers receive training at the British Royal Naval CollegeGuyana 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 (2024)

Military and security forces

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2024)

note

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 3,500 active-duty military personnel (2024)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or second-hand platforms from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2024)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18-25 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)

Illicit drugs

a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa; growing domestic marijuana cultivation and consumption

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

21,676 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2023)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

2.38 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.81 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

11.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Climate

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

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, 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

Land use

agricultural land

8.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)

forest

77.4% (2018 est.)

other

14.2% (2018 est.)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

4.56% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

271 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1.36 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

27.2% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

179,252 tons (2010 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

968 tons (2010 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

0.5% (2010 est.)