Guyana

republicIndependence 26 May 1966 (from UK)

Guyana as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGeorgetown
Position5 00 N, 59 00 W
Area214,970 sq km
LocationNorthern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
1997

Every edition of Guyana

Populationas each edition published it
706,116 people July 1997 est. · 764,649 in 1990
Population growth% a year
-0.78% 1997 est. · -0.68% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 25.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
59.27 years 1997 est. · 64.7 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.16 children per woman 1997 est. · 2.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
51.4 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 40 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,490 1996 est. · $370 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
7.9% 1996 est. · 7% in 1993

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 214,970 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 6%forests and woodland 84%other 8% (1993 est.)irrigated 1,300 sq km (1993 est.)
Area
214,970sq km
land: 196,850 sq kmwater : 18,120 sq kmslightly smaller than Idaho
Coastline
459km
continental shelf : 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental marginexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm
Highest point
2,835m
Mount Roraimalowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
2,462km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Map references

South America

Climate

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

Terrain

  • mostly rolling highlands;
  • low coastal plain;
  • savanna in south

Natural resources

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

Natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to :
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
Tropical Timber 94

People

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Population
706,116
(July 1997 est.)growth rate: -0.78% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth
18.71Death
10.02Net migration
-16.55

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Christian 57%Hindu 33%Muslim 9%other 1%
Literacy
98.1%
definition : age 15 and over has ever attended schoolmale: 98.6%female: 97.5% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:
32% (male 115,120; female 110,741)
15-64 years:
63% (male 225,199; female 222,793) 65 years and over : 5% (male 14,563; female 17,700) (July 1997 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth :
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.82 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

51.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
59.27 years
male :
56.93 years
female:
61.74 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective:
Guyanese

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects

Government

Republic; Executive President Samuel HINDS (since March 1997); Prime Minister Janet JAGAN (since March 1997)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

53.4%
PPP 53.4%PNC 42.3%WPA 2%TUF 1.2%last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held by October 1997)

National Assembly, 65 seats, elected 5 October 1992one dot, one seat

PPP 36PNC 26WPA 2TUF 1

Percent of vote

PPP 53.4%PNC 42.3%WPA 2%TUF 1.2%

Country name

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

Administrative divisions

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

26 May 1966 (from UK)

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Constitution

6 October 1980

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
Executive President Samuel HINDS (since March 1997); replaced Cheddi JAGAN who died in office, March 1997
head of government:
  • Prime Minister Janet JAGAN (since March 1997);
  • filled vacancy created when Samuel HINDS ascended to office of Executive President following death of Cheddi JAGAN, March 1997
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature
elections:
  • president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five years;
  • legislative elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1997);
  • prime minister appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)

elections:
last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held by October 1997)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats by party - PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature

Political parties and leaders

  • People's Progressive Party (PPP), People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE;
  • For a Good and Green Guyana (GGG), Hamilton GREEN;
  • Working People's Alliance (WPA), Rupert ROOPNARINE;
  • Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE;
  • People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN;
  • National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS;
  • The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR;
  • United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY;
  • National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN;
  • Guyana Labor Party (GLP);
  • Guyana Democratic Party (GDP), Asgar ALLY;
  • Guyanese Organized for Liberty and Democracy Party (GOLD), Anthony MEKDECI

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • Trades Union Congress (TUC);
  • Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO);
  • Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC)

note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Hugh SIMON
embassy:
99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address:
P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
telephone:
[592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969

FAX

[592] (2) 58497

Flag description

  • 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

Economy

In 1996, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in | the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic | growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite | mining and by sugar.

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Real growth rate
7.9%
(1996 est.)industrial production growth: 5.6% (1994 est.)
Unemployment rate
12%
(1992 est.)
Debt - external
$1.5billion
(1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues
$209 millionExpenditures
$303 million (1995 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $109 million

Economy - overview

In 1996, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations.

Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,490 (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture:
49%
industry:
28%
services:
33% (1995 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - capacity

157,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - production

318 million kWh (1995)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:
$565 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
commodities :
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses
partners:
Canada 33%, US 24%, UK 22% (1994 est.)

Imports

total value:
$589 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
commodities:
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
partners :
US 29%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, Netherlands Antilles 17%, UK 11%, (1994 est.)

Economic aid

recipient : ODA, $NA

Currency

1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 140.3 (February 1997), 141.1 (December 1996), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields
Fixed lines
33,000
(1987 est.)

Telephone system

fair system for long-distance calling

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1

Radios

398,000 (1992 est.)

Televisions

32,000 (1992 est.)

Transportation

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Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m
32
total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Networkskm

Highways
7,820Railways
88
Highways: paved: 571 km · unpaved : 7,249 km (1995 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport) · narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)

Railways

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

Highways

total:
7,820 km
paved:
571 km
unpaved :
7,249 km (1995 est.)

Waterways

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

Ports and harbors

Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika

Merchant marine

total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT (1996 est.)

Airports

47 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1996 est.)

Military

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

5 fields

Military branches

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

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 198,350 (1997 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

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

Illicit drugs

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guyana.” The World Factbook 1997. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guyana/1997.

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