View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2011 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

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 continue to constrain competition in broadcast media (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.gy

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

8,840 (2010) country comparison to the world: 132

Internet users [time series]

189,600 (2009) country comparison to the world: 142

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: fair system for long-distance service; microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 15 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 35 per 100 persons in 2005 international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

149,900 (2010) country comparison to the world: 135

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

555,400 (2010) country comparison to the world: 163

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

sugarcane, rice, edible oils; shrimp, fish, beef, pork, poultry

Budget [time series]

revenues: $587.3 million expenditures: $653.6 million (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96

Central bank discount rate [time series]

4.25% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 6.75% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

14.54% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 14.54% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$274.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 -$254.1 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$804.3 million (30 September 2008) country comparison to the world: 156 $1.2 billion (2002)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

43.2 (1999) country comparison to the world: 47

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in recent years and is based largely on agriculture and extractive industries. The economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities - sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice - which represent nearly 60% of the country's GDP and are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices. Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 has broadened the country's export market, primarily in the raw materials sector. Economic recovery since a 2005 flood-related contraction was buoyed by increases in remittances and foreign direct investment in the sugar and rice industries as well as the mining sector. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. In March 2007, the Inter-American Development Bank, Guyana's principal donor, canceled Guyana's nearly $470 million debt, equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP, which along with other Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) debt forgiveness brought the debt-to-GDP ratio down from 183% in 2006 to 120% in 2007. Guyana became heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth slowed in 2009-10 as a result of the world recession. The slowdown in the domestic economy and lower import costs helped to narrow the country's current account deficit, despite generally lower earnings from exports.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

688 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

820 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Exchange rates [time series]

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 204.07 (2010) 203.95 (2009) 203.86 (2008) 201.89 (2007) 200.28 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$882.7 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156 $763 million (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Exports - partners [time series]

Canada 24.6%, US 24.6%, Ukraine 6%, Netherlands 4.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.6%, Portugal 4.5%, Jamaica 4.5%, UK 4.1% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.215 billion (2010 est.)

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

$5.379 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 $5.19 billion (2009 est.) $5.024 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 24% industry: 24.4% services: 51.5% (2010 est.)

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

$7,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 128 $6,900 (2009 est.) $6,600 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

3.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 107 3.3% (2009 est.) 2% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.3% highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)

Imports [time series]

$1.386 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 166 $1.161 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners [time series]

Trinidad and Tobago 24.2%, US 23.1%, Cuba 6.7%, China 6.7%, South Korea 4.1% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

4.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 2.9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

30.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Labor force [time series]

333,900 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$339.8 million (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 112 $287 million (31 December 2009) $289.9 million (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 186

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 131

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Oil - consumption [time series]

10,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 152

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Oil - imports [time series]

10,480 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

57% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$782.1 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 $631.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.498 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $1.296 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$921.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $826.8 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$397.2 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $326.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

26.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2007) country comparison to the world: 121

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 214,969 sq km country comparison to the world: 85 land: 196,849 sq km water: 18,120 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Idaho

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

459 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.64 cu km/yr (2%/1%/98%) per capita: 2,187 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

1,500 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,949 km border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.23% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 97.63% (2005)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Total renewable water resources [time series]

241 cu km (2000)

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]

name: Georgetown geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

6 October 1980

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Karen L. WILLIAMS embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170 telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909 FAX: [592] 225-8497

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Donald RAMOTAR (since 03 December 2011); head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years (no term limits); elections last held on 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Donald RAMOTAR elected president, percent of vote 48.6%

Flag (Flag description) [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; 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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, PetroCaribe, RG, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by popular vote, also not more than 4 non-elected non-voting ministers and 2 non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 48.6%, APNU 40%, AFC 10.3%, other 1.1%; seats by party - PPP/C 32, APNU 26, AFC 7

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains" lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER note: adopted 1966

National holiday [time series]

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

National symbol(s) [time series]

Canje pheasant (hoatzin); jaguar

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

Alliance for Change or AFC [Khemraj RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Everall FRANKLIN]; Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [David GRANGER]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Donald RAMOTAR]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Clive THOMAS]

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

Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Citizens Initiative; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades Union Congress

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. 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 reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 189,840 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 133,239 females age 16-49: 147,719 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 8,849 female: 8,460 (2010 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Coast Guard, Air Corps) (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.8% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 80

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31.9% (male 120,981/female 116,654) 15-64 years: 63.3% (male 235,566/female 235,717) 65 years and over: 4.8% (male 14,801/female 21,049) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.12 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

10.8% (2007) country comparison to the world: 63

Death rate [time series]

7.2 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 98% of population rural: 93% of population total: 94% of population unimproved: urban: 2% of population rural: 7% of population total: 6% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

6.1% of GDP (2007) country comparison to the world: 28

Ethnic groups [time series]

East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 500 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

5,900 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 117

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2007) country comparison to the world: 107

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 36.76 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 68 male: 41.09 deaths/1,000 live births female: 32.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.08 years country comparison to the world: 159 male: 63.27 years female: 71.07 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 91.8% male: 92% female: 91.6% (2002 Census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

GEORGETOWN (capital) 132,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

270 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 49

Median age [time series]

total: 23.9 years male: 23.2 years female: 24.6 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate [time series]

-14.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 216

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.48 physicians/1,000 population (2000) country comparison to the world: 126

Population [time series]

744,768 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.44% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 220

Religions [time series]

Protestant 30.5% (Pentecostal 16.9%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%), Hindu 28.4%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, Muslim 7.2%, other Christian 17.7%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 85% of population rural: 80% of population total: 81% of population unimproved: urban: 15% of population rural: 20% of population total: 19% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 12 years (2009)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.34 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 24.1% country comparison to the world: 35 male: 20.6% female: 31.3% (2002)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 29% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

all of the area west of the Essequibo River is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Illicit drugs [time series]

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

Transportation

Airports [time series]

96 (2010) country comparison to the world: 63

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 7 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 86 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 73 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 country comparison to the world: 121 by type: cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Georgetown

Roadways [time series]

total: 7,970 km country comparison to the world: 142 paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (2001)

Waterways [time series]

330 km (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively) (2010) country comparison to the world: 92