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Communications

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS)

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

exchange rate conversion - $7 million, 1.7% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 197,548 males fit for military service: 149,646 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1

Radios [time series]

398,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

fair system for long-distance calling domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

33,000 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (1987 est.)

Televisions [time series]

32,000 (1992 est.) Defense

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; development potential exists for fishing and forestry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $209 million expenditures: $303 million, including capital expenditures of $109 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economic overview [time series]

In 1995, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold mining and by production of rice, sugar, and forestry products for export. Favorable factors include recovery in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a sharp drop in the inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its $2 billion external debt, control inflation, and extend the privatization program.

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 110,000 kW production: 230 million kWh consumption per capita: 286 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 140.3 (January 1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992), 111.8 (1991)

Exports [time series]

$453 million (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: sugar, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: UK 33%, US 31%, Canada 9%, France 5%, Japan 3% (1992)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$2.2 billion (1994 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 26.5% industry: 27.8% services: 45.7% (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]

$2,200 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]

5.1% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

Imports [time series]

$456 million (c.i.f., 1994 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners: US 37%, Trinidad and Tobago 13%, UK 11%, Italy 8%, Japan 5% (1992)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

5.6% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.1% (1995)

Labor force [time series]

268,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 44.5%, agriculture 33.8%, services 21.7% note: public-sector employment amounts to 60%-80% of the total labor force (1985)

Unemployment rate [time series]

12% (1992 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 214,970 sq km land area: 196,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

459 km

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Whaling

Geographic coordinates [time series]

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Irrigated land [time series]

1,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,462 km border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8%

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

Georgetown

Constitution [time series]

6 October 1980

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Executive President Cheddi JAGAN (since 9 October 1992); the president is elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five years; legislative elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); results - Cheddi JAGAN was elected president by the PPP head of government: Prime Minister Sam HINDS (since 9 October 1992) was appointed by the president cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president; is responsible to the legislature

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[592] (2) 58497

Flag [time series]

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

Independence [time series]

26 May 1966 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Judicature

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

Country name (Name of country) [time series]

conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Legislative branch (National Assembly) [time series]

elections last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held in 1997); results - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats - (65 total, 53 elected) PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

People's Progressive Party (PPP), Cheddi JAGAN; People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; Good and Green Georgetown (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Eusi KWAYANA, Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP), Nanda GOPAUL

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type of government) [time series]

republic

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador David L. HOBBS embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 118,796; female 114,327) 15-64 years: 63% (male 224,219; female 222,562) 65 years and over: 4% (male 14,582; female 17,605) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.55 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

51.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages [time series]

English, Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 60.1 years male: 57.55 years female: 62.78 years (1996 est.)

Literacy [time series]

age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.) total population: 98.1% male: 98.6% female: 97.5%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate [time series]

-18.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population [time series]

712,091 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.9% (1996 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

total: 47 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 3 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 32 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 9 (1995 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,621 km paved: 547 km unpaved: 7,074 km (1987 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT (1995 est.)

Ports [time series]

Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika

Railways [time series]

total: 88 km standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport) narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)

Waterways [time series]

6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively