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Guyana
Guyana
Population
831.1K
Rank #163Source: World Bank
Capital
Georgetown
Source: REST Countries
Region
Americas
Latin America & Caribbean
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$24.66B
Rank #120Source: World Bank
Land Area
215.0K km²
Rank #84Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
70.18 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 214,969 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation: mean elevation: 207 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
Natural Hazards: flash flood threat during rainy seasons
Environmental Issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Land Use: agricultural land: 8.4% (2011 est.) forest: 77.4% (2011 est.) other: 14.2% (2011 est.)
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...
Natural Resources
bauxitegolddiamondshardwood timbershrimpfish
People & Society
Fertility Rate
2.41
Population
831.1K
Ethnic Groups
East Indian (39.8%)African descent (29.3%)mixed (19.9%)Amerindian (10.5%)other (0.5%)
Religions
Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal (22.8%)Seventh Day Adventist (5.4%)Anglican (5.2%)Methodist (1.4%)Hindu (24.8%)Roman Catholic (7.1%)Muslim (6.8%)Jehovah's Witness (1.3%)Rastafarian (0.5%)other Christian (20.8%)other (0.9%)none (3.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$29,675.244
GDP per Capita PPP
80,155.039
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
20,140
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
Not Available
Unemployment
11.874%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.904%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
98.9%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
12.1%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
3.789 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
2.06 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
7.106%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
87.088% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
81.722%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
112.565%
(2022)
(2022)
Broadband Subscribers
12.936%
(2022)
(2022)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.022 M ton-km
(2021)
(2021)
Container Port Traffic
58,376.5 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
624
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Guyana Defense Force: Army, Air Corps, Coast Guard
Personnel Strength
the Guyana Defense Force has approximately 3,000 active personnel
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.20B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
0.87%
Military Expenditure History
1.7% of GDP (2019) 1.6% of GDP (2018) 1.6% of GDP (2017) 1.5% of GDP (2016) 1.5% of GDP (2015)
Equipment & Inventories
the Guyana Defense Force's limited inventory is mostly comprised of second-hand platforms from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US;...
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
62.33%
(2014)
(2014)
Primary Enrollment
97.554%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
91.43%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
26.432%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
4.451% of GDP
(2018)
(2018)
Adult Literacy Rate
85.64%
(2020)
(2020)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
23.165:1
(2012)
(2012)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
1.387
(2020)
(2020)
Safe Water Access
95.644%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
67.174%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
25.7 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
17.307 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
62.977
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
73
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
98%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
Not Available
Food Insecurity
2.5%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
26.685%
(2019)
(2019)
Governance
Women in Government
39.437%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.15
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.06
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.29
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.56
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.34
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-0.38
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
parliamentary republic
Legal System
common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); First Vice President Mark PHILLIPS (since 20 May 2015); Vice Presidents Bharrat JAGDEO (since 20 May 2015), Sydney ALLICOCK (since...
Legislative Branch
description: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; 40 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency and 25 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - all by closed list...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: 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...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white
National Anthem
name: Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER note: adopted 1966
Safety
Homicide Rate
19.12 per 100,000
(2023)
(2023)
Travel Information
Language(s): English
Currency: GYD ($)
Timezone(s): UTC-04:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +592
Car Sign: GUY
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
A satellite image showing an area along the Guyana coast: water ranges in color from electric blue to navy, vegetation appears bright green, and clouds appear pale blue-green and cast shadows. Darker areas within the vegetation are marshy areas that have expanded due to flooding. Image courtesy of NASA.
A satellite image showing an area along the Guyana coast: water ranges in color from electric blue to navy, vegetation appears bright green, and clouds appear pale blue-green and cast shadows. Darker areas within the vegetation are marshy areas that have expanded due to flooding. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data