from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Guyana
Introduction
Background: Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815
Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition
of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and
the importation of indentured servants from India to
work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide
has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana
achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since
then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented
governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected
president in what is considered the country's first
free and fair election since independence. After his
death five years later, his wife, Jane JAGAN, became
president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her
successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.
Geography
Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic 5 00 N, 59 00 W
coordinates:
Map South America
references:
Area: total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
Area - slightly smaller than Idaho
comparative:
Land total: 2,462 km
boundaries: border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
Venezuela 743 km
Coastline: 459 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the
continental margin
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade
winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to
January)
Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south
Elevation lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
resources:
Land use: arable land: 2.23%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 97.63% (2005)
Irrigated 1,500 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
hazards:
Environment - water pollution from sewage and agricultural and
current industrial chemicals; deforestation
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
agreements: 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 - the third-smallest country in South America after
note: Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its
western and eastern territories are claimed by
Venezuela and Suriname respectively
People
Population: 767,245
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 and death rates, lower population and growth
rates, and changes in the distribution of population by
age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2006
est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 26.2% (male 102,551/female 98,772)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 265,193/female 260,892)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 17,043/female 22,794)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 27.4 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.9 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.25% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 18.28 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration -7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 32.19 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 65.86 years
expectancy at male: 63.21 years
birth: female: 68.65 years (2006 est.)
Total 2.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2.5% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 11,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 1,100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups: East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white,
Chinese, and mixed 7%
Religions: Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%
Languages: English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana
Government republic
type:
Capital: name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni,
divisions: 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 Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
holiday:
Constitution: 6 October 1980
Legal system: based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11
branch: August 1999); note - assumed presidency after
resignation of President Janet JAGAN and reelected in
2001, and again in 2006
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
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 28 August 2006 (next to be held by
August 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected;
percent of vote 54.6%
Legislative unicameral National Assembly (65 members elected by
branch: popular vote, also not more than four non-elected
non-voting ministers and two non-elected non-voting
parliamentary secretaries appointed by the president;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by
August 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C
54.6%, PNC/R 34%, AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party
- PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5, other 2
Judicial Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High
branch: Court and the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of
final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice
Political Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj
parties and RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY];
leaders: Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National
Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando
CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C
[Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR
[Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR];
The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter
RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert
ROOPNARAINE]
Political Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Citizens
pressure Initiative; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Human Rights
groups and Association; Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU;
leaders: Private Sector Commission; Trades Union Congress
International ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO,
organization ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
participation: IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber),
ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
representation chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador David M. ROBINSON
representation embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston,
from the US: 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 green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the
description: 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
Economy - The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth
overview: in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and
mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for
business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate,
fairly low inflation, and the continued support of
international organizations. Growth slowed in 2003 and
came back gradually in 2004, buoyed largely by
increased export earnings; it slowed again in 2005.
Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor
and a deficient infrastructure. The government is
juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent
need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining
sector should benefit in the near term from
restructuring and partial privatization. Export
earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen
sharply, while the import bill has risen, driven by
higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance into the
Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January
2006 might broaden the country's export market,
primarily in the raw materials sector.
GDP $3.439 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $782 million (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real -3% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $4,500 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 37%
composition by industry: 20.3%
sector: services: 42.7% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 418,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: NA%
by occupation: industry: NA%
services: NA%
Unemployment 9.1% (understated) (2000)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 6.9% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 34.4% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $320.1 million
expenditures: $362.6 million; including capital
expenditures of $93.4 million (2005 est.)
Agriculture - sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork,
products: poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp
Industries: bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold
mining
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 779 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 99.4%
production by hydro: 0.6%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 724.5 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 11,300 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Current $-112 million (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $587.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses,
commodities: rum, timber
Exports - Canada 18.9%, US 18.9%, UK 11.7%, Portugal 8.1%,
partners: Jamaica 5.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2005)
Imports: $681.6 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
commodities:
Imports - US 26.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 23.9%, Cuba 6.6%, UK 5%,
partners: China 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of $261 million (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $1.2 billion (2002)
external:
Economic aid - $84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country
recipient: Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997)
Currency Guyanese dollar (GYD)
(code):
Currency code: GYD
Exchange Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 200.79 (2005), 198.31
rates: (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002), 187.32 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 110,100 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 281,400 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: fair system for long-distance
system: service
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter
to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
(Atlantic Ocean)
Radio AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 420,000 (1997)
Television 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay
broadcast US satellite services) (1997)
stations:
Televisions: 46,000 (1997)
Internet .gy
country code:
Internet 1,046 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 3 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 160,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 90 (2006)
Airports - total: 9
with paved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
runways: under 914 m: 6 (2006)
Airports - total: 81
with unpaved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 65 (2006)
Railways: total: 187 km
standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
Roadways: total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1999)
Waterways: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable
by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km
respectively (2005)
Merchant total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,461 GRT/15,155 DWT
marine: by type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated
cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and Georgetown
terminals:
Military
Military Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air
branches: Corps (2006)
Manpower males age 18-49: 206,098 (2005 est.)
available for
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)
for military
service:
Military $6.48 million (2003 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 0.9% (2003 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is
international: claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a
maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention
to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that
Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela
extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle
of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a
historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne;
Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve
the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis
of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich
waters
Illicit drugs: 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