Page last updated on January 28, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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. 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.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
South America
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 214,969 sq km
country comparison to the world: 85
land: 196,849 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 2,949 km
border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
459 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 1.95%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 97.92% (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,501 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
241 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1.64 cu km/yr (4%/1%/94%)
per capita: 2,222 cu m/yr (2010)
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
flash flood threat during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
People and Society:
Nationality:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu
Religions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Demographic profile:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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.
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
739,903 (July 2013 est.)
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
Age structure:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 113,724/female 109,643)
15-24 years: 20.7% (male 78,798/female 74,202)
25-54 years: 36.9% (male 138,167/female 134,695)
55-64 years: 7.2% (male 22,772/female 30,358)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 15,276/female 22,268) (2013 est.)
population pyramid: "> Dependency ratios:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total dependency ratio: 65.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 59.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 %
potential support ratio: 17.7 (2013)
Median age:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 24.5 years
male: 23.7 years
female: 25.3 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.21% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Birth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16.31 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Death rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Net migration rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-11.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214
Urbanization:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
urban population: 29% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
GEORGETOWN (capital) 132,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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: 1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.75 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
20.8
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2009 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
280 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 42
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 34.45 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 66
male: 38.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: 67.68 years
country comparison to the world: 162
male: 63.83 years
female: 71.72 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.21 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
42.5% (2009)
Health expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.9% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 114
Physicians density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
Sanitation facility access:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
improved:
unimproved:
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5,900 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
fewer than 500 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
Major infectious diseases:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
17.2% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 113
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 66
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 123
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 91.8%
male: 92%
female: 91.6% (2002 Census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11 years
male: 10 years
female: 11 years (2011)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total number: 30,255
percentage: 16 % (2006 est.)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 46.05%
country comparison to the world: 8
male: 43.59%
female: 50% (2011)
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
republic
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
26 May 1966 (from the UK)
National holiday:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980; amended many times, last in 2007 (2013)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
International law organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 the World Leaders website )
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 November 2011 (next to be called by December 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Donald RAMOTAR elected president, percent of vote 48.6%
Legislative branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Judicial branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
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
Political parties and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Alliance for Change or AFC [Khemraj RAMJATTAN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Amerindian People's Association
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
National symbol(s):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Canje pheasant (hoatzin); jaguar
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
note: adopted 1966
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 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 as a result of the world recession, but picked up in 2010-11, before slowing again in 2012, as a result of a second recession, this focused mainly in Europe. The slowdown in the domestic economy and lower import costs has helped to narrow the country''s current account deficit, despite generally lower earnings from exports.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.175 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$2.79 billion (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$8,000 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
Gross national saving:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
8.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
GDP - composition, by end use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
household consumption: 84.2%
government consumption: 15.8%
investment in fixed capital: 22.2%
investment in inventories: -5.9%
exports of goods and services: 60.2%
imports of goods and services: -76.5%
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: 21.1%
industry: 35.5%
services: 43.4% (2012 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sugarcane, rice, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry; shrimp, fish
Industries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
14.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
313,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Labor force - by occupation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
11% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 117
Population below poverty line:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
35% (2006)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
44.6 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 44
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $699.1 million
expenditures: $838.5 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
25.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Public debt:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
59.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Fiscal year:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
2.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
Central bank discount rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
5.5% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
13.86% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Stock of narrow money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$550.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Stock of broad money:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.696 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Stock of domestic credit:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.223 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$440.4 million (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 111
Current account balance:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$-394.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.396 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
Exports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 30.8%, Canada 28.9%, UK 6.2% (2012)
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.978 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Imports - commodities:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
US 22.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 21.9%, China 12.3%, Cuba 6.1%, Suriname 4% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$864 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137
Debt - external:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$1.846 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
Energy:
Electricity - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
700 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
Electricity - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
512 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Electricity - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
Electricity - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
362,500 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
96% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Crude oil - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Crude oil - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Crude oil - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 140
Refined petroleum products - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,910 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Refined petroleum products - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Refined petroleum products - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
10,780 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
Natural gas - production:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Natural gas - consumption:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
Natural gas - exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Natural gas - imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 147
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.673 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Communications:
Telephones - main lines in use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
154,200 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 136
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
547,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 167
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.gy
Internet hosts:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
24,936 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 112
Internet users:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
189,600 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 142
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
117 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 50
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 8 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 106
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m:
Roadways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 7,970 km
country comparison to the world: 141
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)
Waterways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Merchant marine:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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 and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Georgetown
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Air Corps, Coast Guard) (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
16 years of age or younger for voluntary military service; no conscription (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 189,840 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
males age 16-49: 133,239
females age 16-49: 147,719 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
male: 8,849
female: 8,460 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1.09% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 267
Transnational Issues:
Disputes - international:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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
Trafficking in persons:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
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)