Guyana

Introduction

Background
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then primarily socialist-oriented governments have ruled the country. Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean.

Geography

Area
total : 214,969 sq km
land: 196,849 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km

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

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

People and Society

Population
total: 794,099 (2024 est.)

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.)

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.)

Population growth rate
0.32% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
parliamentary republic

Capital
name: Georgetown

Executive branch
chief of state: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)
head of government: President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicole THERIOT (since 14 October 2023)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$58.423 billion (2024 est.)
$40.749 billion (2023 est.)
$30.457 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$70,300 (2024 est.)
$49,300 (2023 est.)
$37,100 (2022 est.)

Exports
$13.739 billion (2023 est.)
$11.517 billion (2022 est.)
$4.594 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
USA 20%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, railway cargo containers, gold, ships, rice (2023)

Imports
$10.956 billion (2023 est.)
$7.033 billion (2022 est.)
$6.588 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad & Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, ships, construction vehicles, excavation machinery, cars (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.776, ranking it 89th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)