Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
13 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
106,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition
Communications: Internet country code
.gy
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
83.00% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
15 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
125,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
106 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
856,000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$1.467 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$1.333 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$456.0 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$385.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$38.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$151.2 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$121.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$1.277 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$2.955 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$635.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$1.36 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$4.242 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$2.352 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$2.070 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.805 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
208.500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
205.394 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
206.449 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
206.500 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
206.500 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
206.500 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
207.717 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
208.500 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
208.500 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
208.500 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
208.500 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
208.500 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
208.500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$4.594 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$11.517 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$13.739 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
74.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
15.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$80,155 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$24.836 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$66.616 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$6.588 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$7.033 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$10.956 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
53.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-1.00% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
0.84% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.90% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.28% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.09% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
0.99% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
5.03% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
6.12% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
2.82% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.90% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
292,200 (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$8.406 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$8.657 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$8.793 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$9.409 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$10.694 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$13.581 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$18.647 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$30.457 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$40.749 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$58.423 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.69% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.81% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.73% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
4.44% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.35% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
43.48% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
20.06% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
63.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
33.80% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
43.82% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$11,145 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$11,408 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$11,516 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$12,243 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$13,241 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$16,819 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$22,866 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$39,711 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$54,729 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$328.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$329.7 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$302.8 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$441.1 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$531.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$581.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$565.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$518.5 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$573.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$680.6 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$790.8 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$917.877 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$895.275 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$1.01 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
13.17% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
15.31% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
14.58% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
11.91% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
11.92% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
11.87% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
28.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
17.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
22.3% (2024 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
91.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
93% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
98%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
259,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
2.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Environment: Environmental issues
water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment: International environmental 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
3.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
87.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
9.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
103 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
7.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.363 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
20.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
61.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
26.48% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
179,300 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
23% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee
Geography: Area: land
196,849 sq km
Geography: Area: water
18,120 sq km
Geography: Coastline
459 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
207 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent
Geography: Irrigated land
1,430 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,933 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
3.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
87.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
9.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
Geography: Map references
South America
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
flash flood threat during rainy seasons
Geography: Population distribution
population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Geography: Terrain
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
6 48 N, 58 09 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
na
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Guyana
Government: Country name: 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)
Government: Country name: former
British Guiana
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
acsgeorge@state.gov https://gy.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[592] 225-8497
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[592] 225-4900 through 4909
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
guyanaembassydc@verizon.net http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 232-1297
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 265-6900
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly 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
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
August 2030
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
1 September 2025
Government: Flag
description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on top of a long yellow arrowhead shape that extends to the opposite side of the flag; a narrow black border sits between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and green meaning: green stands for forest and foliage, yellow for mineral resources and a bright future, white for the rivers, red for zeal and the people's sacrifice, and black for perseverance
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: 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); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Land Court; magistrates' courts
Government: Legal system
common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
Government: Legislative branch: chamber name
National Assembly
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
August 2030
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
9/1/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
72 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (36); We Invest in Nationhood (W.I.N.) (16); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (12); Other (1)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
36.1%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
5 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1966
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
Government: National coat of arms
Guyana’s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom; the jaguars signify strength and resilience, with one holding a pickaxe that stands for labor and the other holding stalks of rice and sugarcane for agriculture; two national symbols, the Canje pheasant and the Victorian lily, are on the shield, with the national motto underneath; three wavy blue lines stand for the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice rivers, the headdress for the country’s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, green, black, white
Government: National holiday
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Government: National symbol(s)
Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily
Government: Political parties
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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are territorial defense, maritime security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, aviation and engineering support, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peace support operations, and community engagement; key areas of concern include 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 (2025)
Military and Security: 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 (2026)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or secondhand platforms imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, India, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.08% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.15% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.25% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.29% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.30% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.40% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.95% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.60% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.64% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.87% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
11.9% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
6.3% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
32.3% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
9.4% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.47% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
11.9 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
8.4 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
46.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
34.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.2% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.45% (2018 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.9% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.60% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
18.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
23.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
74.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
66.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
86.9% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
84.2% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
85.64% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
28.4 years
People and Society: Median age: male
28.2 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.8 years (2009 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Guyanese
People and Society: Net migration rate
-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
20.2% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
831,087 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.35% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
388,855
People and Society: Population: male
405,244
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.08 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.78 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
16.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
9.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
2.40 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
26.48% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
79 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
55 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
8R
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
80 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.