Guyana - GY - GUY - GUY - South America

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)

embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown

mailing address: 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170

telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909

FAX: [592] 225-8497

email address and website:
acsgeorge@state.gov

https://gy.usembassy.gov/

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)

5 00 N, 59 00 W

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

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

total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

flash flood threat during rainy seasons

slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

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

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.

water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation

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

0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)

crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)

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

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

rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2025)

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

revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)

name: Georgetown

geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

459 km

history: several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980

amendment process: 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

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
208.5 (2023 est.)
208.5 (2022 est.)
208.5 (2021 est.)
208.5 (2020 est.)
208.5 (2019 est.)

chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020) 

head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)

cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to 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

election results:
2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly

2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly

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

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

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

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

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); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases

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

total: 2,933 km

border countries (3): Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km

agricultural land: 5.3% (2022 est.)

arable land: 2.1% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 3% (2022 est.)

forest: 93.5% (2022 est.)

other: 1.2% (2022 est.)

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

legislature name: Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana

legislative structure: unicameral

chamber name: National Assembly

number of seats: 69 (all directly elected)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 5 years

most recent election date: 3/2/2020

parties elected and seats per party: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (33); A Partnership for National Unity - Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) (31); Other (1)

percentage of women in chamber: 39.4%

expected date of next election: May 2025

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school

total population: 88.8%

male: 89.3%

female: 88.4% (2021)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

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

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)

adjective: Guyanese

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

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

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

A New and United Guyana or ANUG
A Partnership for National Unity or APNU
Alliance for Change or AFC
Justice for All Party
Liberty and Justice Party or LJP
National Independent Party or NIP
People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C
The New Movement or TNM
The United Force or TUF
United Republican Party or URP

18 years of age; universal

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)

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

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

parliamentary republic

conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana

conventional short form: Guyana

former: British Guiana

etymology: the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; the name Guiana may be derived from a local term meaning "Land of Water" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)

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

South America

1,430 sq km (2012)

chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)

chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900

FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297

email address and website:
guyanaembassydc@verizon.net

http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/

consulate(s) general: New York

percent of population: 85% (2022 est.)

.gy

$17.16 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

271 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 12 years (2012)

urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)

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

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

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 95.6% of population

total: 96.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 4.4% of population

total: 3.2% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"

lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER

note: adopted 1966

110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2016)

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

20.8 years (2009 est.)

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

29.9% (2019/20)

household consumption: 71.1% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 18.2% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 25.4% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 47.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -63% (2017 est.)

total dependency ratio: 46.3 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 34.3 (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: na

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

electrification - total population: 93% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 98%

electrification - rural areas: 91.6%

8R

improved:

urban: 97.8% of population

rural: 95.4% of population

total: 96% of population

unimproved:

urban: 2.2% of population

rural: 4.6% of population

total: 4% of population (2020 est.)

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

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.)

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

USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)

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

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)

highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 207 m

4.9% of GDP (2021)

approximately 3,500 active-duty military personnel (2025)

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)

municipal: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 1.36 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

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.)

particulate matter emissions: 11.11 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 2.38 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 1.81 megatons (2020 est.)

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

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

Guyana 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)

fossil fuels: 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste: 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

consumption: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports: 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

total petroleum production: 391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

1 (2024 est.)

62.6% (2023 est.)

3.06% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.57% of GDP (2022 est.)
6.81% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

total ports: 3 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 2

ports with oil terminals: 3

key ports: Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam

296,000 (2023 est.)

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

total: 25.9% (2023 est.)

male: 21.5% (2023 est.)

female: 32.4% (2023 est.)

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

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

total: 28.3 years (2024 est.)

male: 28.2 years

female: 28.4 years

$1.898 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

$895.275 million (2023 est.)
$917.877 million (2022 est.)
$790.785 million (2021 est.)

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

52.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)

12.43% (2023 est.)
12.42% (2022 est.)
14.93% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 794,099 (2024 est.)

male: 405,244

female: 388,855

2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 2.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 214,969 sq km

land: 196,849 sq km

water: 18,120 sq km

28.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$40.752 billion (2023 est.)
$30.457 billion (2022 est.)
$18.647 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

55 (2025)

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

male: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 856,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)

2.82% (2023 est.)
6.12% (2022 est.)
5.03% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

-$254.121 million (2022 est.)
-$2.503 billion (2021 est.)
-$396.533 million (2020 est.)

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

$49,300 (2023 est.)
$37,100 (2022 est.)
$22,900 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 106,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2022 est.)

total: 12.1% (2020 est.)

male: 21.7% (2020 est.)

female: 2.4% (2020 est.)

20.2% (2016)

46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

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

installed generating capacity: 259,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 80 (2023)

by type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

9.4% (2019)

$7.067 billion (2022 est.)
$6.611 billion (2021 est.)
$3.756 billion (2020 est.)

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

$11.536 billion (2022 est.)
$4.64 billion (2021 est.)
$2.799 billion (2020 est.)

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

total subscriptions: 125,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 15 (2022 est.)

total: 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 70.6 years

female: 74.3 years

33.8% (2023 est.)
63.33% (2022 est.)
20.01% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

98.53% (2022 est.)

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

agriculture: 10% (2022 est.)

industry: 67.8% (2022 est.)

services: 19.3% (2022 est.)

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

4.56% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

0.32% (2024 est.)