Guyana

parliamentary republic

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)

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 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 most recent election date: 1 September 2025 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 expected date of next election: August 2030 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

legislature name: Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana legislative structure: unicameral chamber name: National Assembly number of seats: 72 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 5 years most recent election date: 9/1/2025 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) percentage of women in chamber: 36.1% expected date of next election: August 2030

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

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

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

0.9% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026) note: the Guyana Police Force under the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for internal security

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

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)

$58.423 billion (2024 est.) $40.749 billion (2023 est.) $30.457 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$70,300 (2024 est.) $49,300 (2023 est.) $37,100 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

43.4% (2024 est.) 33.8% (2023 est.) 63.3% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.9% (2024 est.) 2.8% (2023 est.) 6.1% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

$13.739 billion (2023 est.) $11.517 billion (2022 est.) $4.594 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$10.956 billion (2023 est.) $7.033 billion (2022 est.) $6.588 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

10.2% (2024 est.) 12.1% (2023 est.) 12.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $1.333 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $1.467 billion (2019 est.)

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

rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 794,099 (2024 est.) male: 405,244 female: 388,855

0.35% (2025 est.)

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)

16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 72.4 years (2024 est.) male: 70.6 years female: 74.3 years

urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

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.)

total population: 85.6% (2020 est.) male: 84.2% (2020 est.) female: 86.9% (2020 est.)

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

refugees: 79 (2024 est.)

55 (2025)

total: 80 (2023) by type: general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25

total subscriptions: 856,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 82% (2023 est.)