Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves 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 elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Early elections held in May 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party and the replacement of President Donald RAMOTAR by current President David GRANGER

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

5 00 N, 59 00 W

South America

slightly smaller than Idaho

459 km

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

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

highest point: Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m

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

arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 6.2%

1,430 sq km (2012)

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

flash flood threat during rainy seasons

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

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; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

737,718

East Indian 39.8%, black (African) 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Amerindian 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, white) (2012 est.)

English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)

Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other Christian 20.8%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)

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.

Guyana's emigration rate is among the highest in the world - more than 55% of its citizens reside abroad - and it is one of the largest recipients of remittances relative to GDP among Latin American and Caribbean counties. Although remittances are a vital source of income for most citizens, the pervasive emigration of skilled workers deprives Guyana of professionals in healthcare and other key sectors. More than 80% of Guyanese nationals with tertiary level educations have emigrated. Brain drain and the concentration of limited medical resources in Georgetown hamper Guyana's ability to meet the health needs of its predominantly rural population. Guyana has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region and continues to rely on international support for its HIV treatment and prevention programs.

0.32% (2017 est.)

15.4 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with noteable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

GEORGETOWN (capital) 124,000 (2014)

20.8 years

229 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

2 children born/woman (2017 est.)

33.9% (2014)

5.2% of GDP (2014)

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

2 beds/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 98.2% of population

rural: 98.3% of population

total: 98.3% of population

urban: 1.8% of population

rural: 1.7% of population

total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 87.9% of population

rural: 82% of population

total: 83.7% of population

urban: 12.1% of population

rural: 18% of population

total: 16.3% of population (2015 est.)

1.6% (2016 est.)

8,500 (2016 est.)

<200 (2016 est.)

20.2% (2016)

8.5% (2014)

3.2% of GDP (2012)

parliamentary republic

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

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980; amended many times, last in 2009 (2017)

common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [David A. GRANGER]

Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN]

Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]

National Independent Party or NIP [Saphier Husain SUBEDAR]

People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Donald RAMOTAR]

The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]

United Republican Party or URP [Vishnu BANDHU]

Amerindian People's Association

Guyana Bar Association

Guyana Citizens Initiative

Guyana Human Rights Association

Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU

Guyana Trans United

Private Sector Commission

Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination or SASOD

Trades Union Congress

ACP, 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, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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

Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white

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. Much of Guyana's growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production in response to global prices, although downward trends in gold prices may threaten future growth. In 2014, production of sugar dropped to a 24-year low.

Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy in January 2006 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. 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 debt forgiveness, brought the debt-to-GDP ratio down from 183% in 2006 to 67% in 2015. Guyana had become heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure.

$6.045 billion (2016 est.)

$5.778 billion (2015 est.)

$5.542 billion (2014 est.)

$3.437 billion (2016 est.)

3.3% (2016 est.)

3.1% (2015 est.)

3.8% (2014 est.)

$7,900 (2016 est.)

$7,600 (2015 est.)

$7,400 (2014 est.)

15.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

8.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

6.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

sugarcane, rice, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry; shrimp, fish

bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

23.3% (2016 est.)

313,800 (2013 est.)

11.1% (2013)

11.3% (2012)

35% (2006 est.)

44.6 (2007)

43.2 (1999)

26.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

-4.5% of GDP (2016 est.)

46.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

48.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

0.8% (2016 est.)

-1.1% (2015 est.)

5.5% (31 December 2011)

4.25% (31 December 2010)

13% (31 December 2016 est.)

12.83% (31 December 2015 est.)

$701.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$631 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.62 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.875 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.492 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$610.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

$440.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)

$339.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)

$14 million (2016 est.)

$-144.2 million (2015 est.)

$1.38 billion (2016 est.)

$1.17 billion (2015 est.)

sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Canada 30.6%, US 20.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 11.4% (2016)

$1.555 billion (2016 est.)

$1.475 billion (2015 est.)

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Trinidad and Tobago 29%, US 27.5%, China 7.3%, Suriname 5.5% (2016)

$581 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$531.9 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.542 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.639 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -

206.5 (2016 est.)

206.5 (2015 est.)

206.5 (2014 est.)

206.45 (2013 est.)

204.36 (2012 est.)

1 billion kWh (2015 est.)

800 million kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

438,000 kW (2015 est.)

86.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

13% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

2.5 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

13,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

13,250 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

1.7 million Mt (2013 est.)

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 has constrained competition in broadcast media (2017)

.gy

8R (2016)

117 (2013)

330 km (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively) (2012)

1.42% of GDP (2016)

1.46% of GDP (2015)

1.28% of GDP (2014)

1.18% of GDP (2013)

1.18% of GDP (2012)

Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Air Corps, Coast Guard) (2012)

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

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

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