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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 [time series]

total: 270,200 | percent of population: 36.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (2009)

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 [time series]

total subscriptions: 160,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total: 566,900 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (1 public station; 2 private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $732.2 million | expenditures: $874.3 million (2014 est.)

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

-4.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 152

Central bank discount rate [time series]

5.5% (31 December 2011) | 4.25% (31 December 2010) | country comparison to the world: 66

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

13.2% (31 December 2014 est.) | 13.5% (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Current account balance [time series]

-$477 million (2014 est.) | -$405.4 million (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Debt - external [time series]

$1.846 billion (31 December 2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

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

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

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 58% in 2014. 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 2014, production of sugar dropped to a 24-year low.

Exchange rates [time series]

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar - | 206.9 (2014 est.) | 205.39 (2013 est.) | 204.36 (2012 est.) | 204.02 (2011 est.) | 203.64 (2010 est.)

Exports [time series]

$1.308 billion (2014 est.) | $1.343 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

US 31.9%, Canada 21.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, UK 6.4% (2014)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$2.997 billion (2014 est.)

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

$5.514 billion (2014 est.) | $5.311 billion (2013 est.) | $5.047 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 174

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

agriculture: 20.3% | industry: 39.2% | services: 40.5% (2014 est.)

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

$6,900 (2014 est.) | $6,600 (2013 est.) | $6,300 (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 154

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

3.8% (2014 est.) | 5.2% (2013 est.) | 4.8% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Gross national saving [time series]

3.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | 3.5% of GDP (2013 est.) | 7.6% of GDP (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.981 billion (2014 est.) | $1.859 billion (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Imports - commodities [time series]

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners [time series]

US 21.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.9%, Venezuela 12%, China 9.9%, Suriname 8% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

12% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (2014 est.) | 1.9% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Labor force [time series]

313,800 (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

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.) | $440.4 million (31 December 2011) | $339.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Population below poverty line [time series]

35% (2006 est.)

Public debt [time series]

58% of GDP (2014 est.) | 56.6% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$779.2 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $783.6 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Stock of broad money [time series]

$1.59 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.52 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$1.495 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.406 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$603.4 million (31 December 2014 est.) | $558.5 million (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

23.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Unemployment rate [time series]

11.1% (2013) | 11.3% (2012) | country comparison to the world: 117

Energy

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

1.661 million Mt (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 124

Crude oil - imports [time series]

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

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Electricity - consumption [time series]

523 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

96% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

3.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

363,500 kW (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Electricity - production [time series]

725 million kWh (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

10,880 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

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: 128

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

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 (3): Brazil 1,308 km, Suriname 836 km, Venezuela 789 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 8.4% | arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 6.2% | forest: 77.4% | other: 14.2% (2011 est.)

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]

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 National Assembly | elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly from party lists to serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held by December 2016); prime minister appointed by the president | election results: Donald RAMOTAR (PPP/C) elected president by National Assembly; 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, ICCt, 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]

description: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held on 11 May 2015 (next to be held by May 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - APNU 50.3%, PPP/C 49.19%, other 0.51%; seats by party - APNU 33, PPP/C 32

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, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white

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

A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [David A. GRANGER] | Alliance for Change or AFC [Khemraj RAMJATTAN] | Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA] | 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]

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) | 1.17% of GDP (2011) | 1.09% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 93

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: 28.07% (male 105,078/female 101,296) | 15-24 years: 21.26% (male 80,303/female 76,022) | 25-54 years: 37.42% (male 143,490/female 131,644) | 55-64 years: 7.72% (male 25,426/female 31,304) | 65 years and over: 5.53% (male 16,877/female 23,782) (2015 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

15.59 births/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

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: 67

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

42.5% (2009)

Death rate [time series]

7.32 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

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: 51.1% | youth dependency ratio: 43.5% | elderly dependency ratio: 7.6% | potential support ratio: 13.2% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

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% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, white) (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.81% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 29

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

100 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

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

9,700 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

6.5% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 93

Hospital bed density [time series]

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 32.56 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 36.52 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Languages [time series]

English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 68.09 years | male: 65.1 years | female: 71.24 years (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school | total population: 88.5% | male: 87.2% | female: 89.8% (2015 est.)

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) 124,000 (2014)

Median age [time series]

total: 25.4 years | male: 25 years | female: 25.8 years (2015 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) | adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate [time series]

-8.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

21.9% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 113

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population [time series]

735,222 | 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 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Population growth rate [time series]

0.02% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

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 Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, other 1.9%, none 4.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2002 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

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

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

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.08 children born/woman (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 111

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

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

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 28.6% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 0.76% 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; forced labor, especially of children, is reported in mining, agriculture, forestry, domestic service, and shops; 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; limited efforts were made to protect and provide assistance to victims in 2013, and authorities operated a hotline for trafficking victims; the government failed to increase its efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable with jail time, creating an enabling environment for human trafficking and further endangering victims (2014)

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 | 89 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Georgetown

Roadways [time series]

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

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: 91