Guyana
Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →
Guyana⌘K
Overview
- Background
- Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to former slaves settling urban areas and indentured servants being imported 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 primarily socialist-oriented governments have ruled the country.
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 elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR won in 2011, but early elections held in 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party, and David GRANGER took office. After a 2018 no-confidence vote against the GRANGER government, the administration ignored a constitutional requirement to hold elections and remained in place until the 2020 elections, when Irfaan ALI became president.
The discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in 2015 has been Guyana's primary economic and political focus, with many hoping the reserves will transform one of the poorest countries in the region. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 196,849 sq km
- Water
- 18,120 sq km
- Total
- 214,969 sq km
- 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
Land Use
- Other
- 9.5% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 87.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 3.4% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
- Coastline
- 459 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
- Mean elevation
- 207 m
- Irrigated land
- 1,430 sq km (2012)
- Map references
- South America
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 2,933 km
- Border countries
- Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km
Maritime Claims
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Continental shelf
- 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- Natural hazards
- flash flood threat during rainy seasons
- Geography note
- the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent
- Natural resources
- bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
- Area comparative
- slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee
- Geographic coordinates
- 5 00 N, 59 00 W
- Population distribution
- population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)
- Atlantic ocean drainage
- Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)
People & Society
Literacy
- Male
- 84.2% (2020 est.)
- Female
- 86.9% (2020 est.)
- Total population
- 85.6% (2020 est.)
- Languages
- English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
- Religions
- Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, other Christian 20.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 28.2 years
- Total
- 28.7 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 28.4 years
Population
- Male
- 405,244
- Total
- 794,099 (2024 est.)
- Female
- 388,855
Nationality
- Noun
- Guyanese (singular and plural)
- Adjective
- Guyanese
Tobacco Use
- Male
- 16.9% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 9.2% (2025 est.)
- Female
- 1.9% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 27.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Age Structure
- 0 14 years
- 23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
- 15 64 years
- 68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
- 65 years and over
- 8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)
- Ethnic groups
- East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)
Child Marriage
- Men married BY age 18
- 11.9% (2020)
- Women married BY age 15
- 6.3% (2020)
- Women married BY age 18
- 32.3% (2020)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 46.3 (2024 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 34.3 (2024 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 8.4 (2024 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 11.9 (2024 est.)
- Physician density
- 1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Health Expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 4.9% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 10.5% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Hospital bed density
- 2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: rural
- rural: 95.8% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 95.9% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 96% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 4.2% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 4.1% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 4% of population (2022 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 7.2% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 0.35% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 1 (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with notable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 70.6 years
- Female
- 74.3 years
- Total population
- 72.4 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: rural
- rural: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 99.3% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 98.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0.7% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 1.3% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Major urban areas population
- 110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 20.2% (2016)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 20.8 years (2009 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 59% (2020 est.)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 9.4% (2019 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- Flag
- description: green with a red isosceles triangle (based on the left side) on top of a long yellow arrowhead shape that extends to the opposite side of the flag; a narrow black border sits between the red and yellow, and a narrow white border between the yellow and green
meaning: green stands for forest and foliage, yellow for mineral resources and a bright future, white for the rivers, red for zeal and the people's sacrifice, and black for perseverance
Capital
- Name
- Georgetown
- Etymology
- the British founded the town in 1781 and named it in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)
- Time difference
- UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 6 48 N, 58 09 W
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
- Citizenship BY birth
- yes
- Citizenship BY descent only
- yes
- Dual citizenship recognized
- no
- Residency requirement for naturalization
- na
Constitution
- History
- several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980
- Amendment process
- proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval
Country Name
- Former
- British Guiana
- Etymology
- the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; the name Guiana may be derived from a local term meaning "Land of Water" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)
- Conventional long form
- Cooperative Republic of Guyana
- Conventional short form
- Guyana
- Independence
- 26 May 1966 (from the UK)
- Legal system
- common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
- Government type
- parliamentary republic
Judicial Branch
- 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); Caribbean Court of Justice is the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases
- Subordinate courts
- Land Court; magistrates' courts
- 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
Executive Branch
- Note
- note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
- Cabinet
- Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
- Chief of state
- President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
- Election results
- 2025: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) reelected president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2020: Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly
2015: David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly - Head of government
- President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
- Most recent election date
- 1 September 2025
- Election/appointment process
- the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); prime minister appointed by the president
- Expected date of next election
- August 2030
- National holiday
- Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
- National color(s)
- red, yellow, green, black, white
- Political parties
- A New and United Guyana or ANUG
A Partnership for National Unity or APNU
Alliance for Change or AFC
Justice for All Party
Liberty and Justice Party or LJP
National Independent Party or NIP
People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C
The New Movement or TNM
The United Force or TUF
United Republican Party or URP
Legislative Branch
- Chamber name
- National Assembly
- Term in office
- 5 years
- Number of seats
- 72 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- proportional representation
- Legislature name
- Parliament of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Legislative structure
- unicameral
- Most recent election date
- 9/1/2025
- Expected date of next election
- August 2030
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 36.1%
- Parties elected and seats per party
- People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) (36); We Invest in Nationhood (W.I.N.) (16); A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (12); Other (1)
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
- History
- adopted 1966
- Lyrics/music
- Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
- National symbol(s)
- Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily
- National coat of arms
- Guyana’s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country’s independence from the United Kingdom; the jaguars signify strength and resilience, with one holding a pickaxe that stands for labor and the other holding stalks of rice and sugarcane for agriculture; two national symbols, the Canje pheasant and the Victorian lily, are on the shield, with the national motto underneath; three wavy blue lines stand for the Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice rivers, the headdress for the country’s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana
- 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
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 232-1297
- Chancery
- 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 265-6900
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)
- Consulate(s) general
- New York
- Email address and website
guyanaembassydc@verizon.net
http://www.guyanaembassydc.org/
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Fax
- [592] 225-8497
- Embassy
- 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
- Telephone
- [592] 225-4900 through 4909
- Mailing address
- 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)
- Email address and website
acsgeorge@state.gov
https://gy.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- ACP, ACS, 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, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
- International law organization participation
- has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Legislature
GUYANA · LEGISLATURE
National Assembly
72 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
72
Majority line
37
Largest party
People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)
Parties
4
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Irfaan Ali
- Head of State
Mark Phillips
- Head of Government
Economy
Budget
- Revenues
- $1.333 billion (2019 est.)
- Expenditures
- $1.467 billion (2019 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $4.594 billion (2021 est.)
- Note
- note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2021
- $4.594 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $11.517 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $13.739 billion (2023 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $6.588 billion (2021 est.)
- Note
- note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2021
- $6.588 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $7.033 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $10.956 billion (2023 est.)
- Industries
- bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
- Labor force
- 292,200 (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
- Public debt 2016
- 50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 6.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 3.7% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 208.5 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 208.5 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 208.5 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 208.5 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 208.5 (2024 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $1.805 billion (2023 est.)
- Economic overview
- small, hydrocarbon-driven South American export economy; major forest coverage being leveraged in carbon credit offsets to encourage preservation; strengthening financial sector; large bauxite and gold resources
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 12.0%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 12.1% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 12.1% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 10.2% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)
- Imports partners
- USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $80,155
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $37,100 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $49,300 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $70,300 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 43.8%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 63.3% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 33.8% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 43.4% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)
- Exports commodities
- crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)
- Imports commodities
- refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)
Current Account Balance
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $2.4B
- Note
- note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- Current account balance 2021
- -$1.36 billion (2021 est.)
- Current account balance 2022
- $4.242 billion (2022 est.)
- Current account balance 2023
- $2.352 billion (2023 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $24.836 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 2.9%
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 6.1% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 2.8% (2023 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
- 2.9% (2024 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 53.3% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $58.423 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $30.457 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $40.749 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $58.423 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 17.4% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 22.3% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 28.1% (2024 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
- Note
- note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $917.877 million (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $895.275 million (2023 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
- $1.01 billion (2024 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 74.3% (2024 est.)
- Services
- 15.3% (2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 8% (2024 est.)
Energy
Petroleum
- Total petroleum production
- 391,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 18,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 1.07 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 259,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 268.803 million kWh (2023 est.)
Natural Gas
- Imports
- 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 1.991 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 91.6%
- Electrification urban areas
- 98%
- Electrification total population
- 93% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 46.045 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Solar
- 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 92.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Hydroelectricity
- 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Biomass and waste
- 5.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 82% (2023 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 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; government limits on licensing of new private radio stations has constrained competition
- Internet country code
- .gy
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 125,000 (2021 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 15 (2022 est.)
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 856,000 (2021 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 106 (2021 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 106,000 (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 13 (2022 est.)
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 0
- Medium
- 1
- Key ports
- Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam
- Very small
- 2
- Total ports
- 3 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 3
- Airports
- 55 (2025)
Merchant Marine
- Total
- 80 (2023)
- BY type
- general cargo 45, oil tanker 10, other 25
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- 8R
Environment
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Land Use
- Other
- 9.5% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 87.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 3.4% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 27.2% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane Emissions
- Other
- 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Waste
- 7.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Energy
- 103 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 51.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 179,300 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 23% (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 61.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 20.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 1.363 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 2.639 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 4,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 2.635 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International Environmental Agreements
- Party to
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006
- Signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
Military & Security
- Military note
- the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) was established in 1965; its primary missions are territorial defense, maritime security, search and rescue, medical evacuation, aviation and engineering support, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, peace support operations, and community engagement; key areas of concern include illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, piracy, porous borders, and threats from Venezuela over disputed territory; the GDF participates in both bilateral and multinational exercises and has relationships with Brazil, China, France, the UK, and the US
Guyana joined the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS) in 2022; RSS signatories (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) agreed to prepare contingency plans and assist one another, on request, in national emergencies, prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, protection of off-shore installations, pollution control, national and other disasters, and threats to national security (2025)
Military Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 0.9%
- Military expenditures 2020
- 1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 1% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military expenditures 2022
- 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military expenditures 2023
- 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military expenditures 2024
- 0.9% of GDP (2024 est.)
- Military and security forces
- the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026)
- Military service age and obligation
- 18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- the military has a limited inventory comprised mostly of older or secondhand platforms imported from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, India, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2025)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)
Transnational Issues
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Refugees
- 79 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index46.0 / 100as of 2024-Q496 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.32as of 2024-Q494 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusPartly Free (75/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Guyana — vintage 2026-Q1: Guyana factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/guyana
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata