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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]

24,936 (2012) country comparison to the world: 112

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 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 70 per 100 persons in 2011 international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)

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

154,200 (2012) country comparison to the world: 136

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

547,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 167

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $756.7 million expenditures: $948.5 million (2013 est.)

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

-6.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.5% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 4.25% (31 December 2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

13.8% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 13.86% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$510.7 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 -$394.8 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.846 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.846 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

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

44.6 (2007) country comparison to the world: 44 43.2 (1999)

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. Guyana has experienced positive growth almost every year over the past decade. Inflation has been kept under control. Recent years have seen the government's stock of debt reduced significantly - with external debt now less than half of what it was in the early 1990s. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. Despite recent improvements, the government is still 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 21% 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 60% in 2013. Guyana had become heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Much of Guyana's growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production in response to global prices, although downward trends in gold prices may threaten future growth. In 2013, production of sugar dropped to a 23-year low.

Exchange rates [time series]

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - 205.9 (2013 est.) 204.36 (2012 est.) 203.64 (2010 est.) 203.95 (2009) 203.86 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$1.337 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 151 $1.396 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 30.8%, Canada 28.9%, UK 6.2% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$3.02 billion (2013 est.)

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

$6.593 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $6.26 billion (2012 est.) $5.972 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 85.6% government consumption: 16.3% investment in fixed capital: 22.5% investment in inventories: -13.5% exports of goods and services: 59.9% imports of goods and services: -70.8% (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 20.7% industry: 38.5% services: 40.8% (2013 est.)

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

$8,500 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 129 $8,100 (2012 est.) $7,700 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

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

5.3% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 4.8% (2012 est.) 5.4% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

6.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 8.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 9.4% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$2.039 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 164 $1.978 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners [time series]

US 22.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 21.9%, China 12.3%, Cuba 6.1%, Suriname 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

13.5% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 5

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.9% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 2.4% (2012 est.)

Labor force [time series]

313,100 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$610.9 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $440.4 million (31 December 2011) $NA (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

35% (2006)

Public debt [time series]

59.9% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 59.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$854.7 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 139 $864 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.617 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 158 $1.49 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.352 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $1.223 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$601.8 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $550.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

25.1% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2007) country comparison to the world: 117

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

1.673 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 197

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - consumption [time series]

512 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

96% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

3.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 54

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 154

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

362,500 kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Electricity - production [time series]

700 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 114

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 147

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

10,910 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 151

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

10,780 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

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 (4%/1%/94%) per capita: 2,222 cu m/yr (2010)

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]

1,501 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,933 km border countries: Brazil 1,308 km, Suriname 836 km, Venezuela 789 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1.95% permanent crops: 0.13% other: 97.92% (2011)

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 flood 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 (2011)

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 09 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980; amended many times, last in 2007 (2013)

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 D. Brent HARDT (since 19 August 2011) 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 (since 4 December 2003) 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 election, which must be held at least every five years (no term limits); elections last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held by December 2016); 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, CD, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, Petrocaribe, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

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) note - in 2009, Guyana ceased final appeals in civil and criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London), replacing it with the Caribbean Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the Caribbean Community 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

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"

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] Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA] A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [David GRANGER] 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]

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 settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants 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 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. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.

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 Air Corps, Coast Guard) (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.09% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 94 1.17% of GDP (2011) 1.09% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29% (male 108,703/female 104,793) 15-24 years: 21% (male 79,354/female 74,921) 25-54 years: 37.2% (male 142,348/female 131,108) 55-64 years: 7.5% (male 24,677/female 30,562) 65 years and over: 5.1% (male 16,318/female 22,770) (2014 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.9 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 30,255 percentage: 16 % (2006 est.)

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

11.1% (2009) country comparison to the world: 66

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

42.5% (2009)

Death rate [time series]

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Demographic profile [time series]

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana's two largest ethnic groups are the Afro-Guyanese (descendants of African slaves) and the Indo-Guyanese (descendants of Indian indentured laborers), which together comprise about three quarters of Guyana's population. Tensions periodically have boiled over between the two groups, which back ethnically based political parties and vote along ethnic lines. Poverty reduction has stagnated since the late 1990s. About one-third of the Guyanese population lives below the poverty line; indigenous people are disproportionately affected. Although Guyana's literacy rate is reported to be among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, the level of functional literacy is considerably lower, which has been attributed to poor education quality, teacher training, and infrastructure. Guyana's emigration rate is among the highest in the world - more than 55% of its citizens reside abroad - and it is one of the largest recipients of remittances relative to GDP among Latin American and Caribbean counties. Although remittances are a vital source of income for most citizens, the pervasive emigration of skilled workers deprives Guyana of professionals in healthcare and other key sectors. More than 80% of Guyanese nationals with tertiary level educations have emigrated. Brain drain and the concentration of limited medical resources in Georgetown hamper Guyana's ability to meet the health needs of its predominantly rural population. Guyana has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region and continues to rely on international support for its HIV treatment and prevention programs.

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 63.5 % youth dependency ratio: 57.7 % elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 % potential support ratio: 17.5 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 96.6% of population rural: 97.9% of population total: 97.6% of population unimproved: urban: 3.4% of population rural: 2.1% of population total: 2.4% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.2% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 136

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]

1.3% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134

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

7,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.9% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 114

Hospital bed density [time series]

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 33.56 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 65 male: 37.57 deaths/1,000 live births female: 29.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 67.81 years country comparison to the world: 162 male: 64.82 years female: 70.96 years (2014 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 infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

GEORGETOWN (capital) 127,000 (2011)

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

280 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 43

Median age [time series]

total: 25 years male: 24.6 years female: 25.4 years (2014 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

20.8 note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate [time series]

-9.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

17.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 113

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

735,554 country comparison to the world: 165 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 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

-0.11% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

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%, Muslim 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, other 1.9%, none 4.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2002 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 87.9% of population rural: 82% of population total: 83.6% of population unimproved: urban: 12.1% of population rural: 18% of population total: 16.4% of population (2012 est.)

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

total: 10 years male: 9 years female: 11 years (2012)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.14 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

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

total: 46.05% country comparison to the world: 8 male: 43.59% female: 50% (2011)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 28.4% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 0.53% 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 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (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 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

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Guyana is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Guyanese and foreign women and girls are forced into prostitution in Guyana; experts are concerned that Guyanese children are subjected to exploitive labor practices in the mining, agriculture, and forestry sectors; Indonesian workers are victims of forced labor on Guyanese-flagged fishing boats tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guyana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; despite some progress in identifying and assisting some trafficking victims, the government has failed to increase its efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable with jail time, creating an enabling environment for human trafficking; public comments from the government downplaying the scope of Guyana's trafficking problem diminishes the potential impact of its awareness campaigns; authorities operate a hotline for trafficking victims and conduct several awareness and sensitization sessions that target vulnerable communities (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

117 (2013) country comparison to the world: 50

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 8 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 106 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 89 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 10 country comparison to the world: 114 by type: cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Georgetown

Roadways [time series]

total: 7,970 km country comparison to the world: 141 paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)

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) (2012) country comparison to the world: 92