World Facts Index
 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, Janet
JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor,
Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.
Geography of Guyana
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Location:
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Northern South America,
bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela |
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Coordinates:
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5 00 N, 59 00 W |
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Area:
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total: 214,970 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km |
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Area comparative:
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slightly smaller than Idaho |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743
km |
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Coastline:
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459 km |
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf:
200 NM or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid,
moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to
mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) |
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Terrain:
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mostly rolling highlands;
low coastal plain; savanna in south |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, gold, diamonds,
hardwood timber, shrimp, fish |
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Natural hazards:
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flash floods are a constant
threat during rainy seasons |
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Environment current issues:
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water pollution from sewage
and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation |
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Geography - note:
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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
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More Geography
Population of Guyana
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Population:
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770,794 (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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) |
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Median age:
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27.4 years |
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Growth rate:
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0.25% |
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Infant mortality:
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32.19 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 65.86 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.65 years |
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Fertility rate:
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2.04 children born/woman |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese |
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Ethnic groups:
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East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%,
white, Chinese, and mixed 7% |
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Religions:
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Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other
5% |
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Languages:
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English, Amerindian dialects, Creole,
Hindi, Urdu |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over has ever
attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5%
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Co-operative
Republic of Guyana
former: British Guiana |
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Government type:
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republic within the Commonwealth |
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Capital:
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Georgetown |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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26 May 1966 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 23 February (1970) |
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Constitution:
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6 October 1980 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law with certain
admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since
11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet
JAGAN and was 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. |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (65 members elected by
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) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court
and the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of
Justice |
Economy
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-07, 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.
Economic recovery since the 2005 flood-related contraction has been buoyed by
increases in remittances and foreign direct investment. 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. In March 2007, the Inter-American Development
Bank, Guyana's principal donor, canceled Guyana's nearly $470 million debt,
equivalent to nearly 48% of GDP. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in
the near term from restructuring and partial privatization, and the
state-owned sugar industry will conduct efficiency increasing modernizations.
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 will broaden the
country's export market, primarily in the raw materials sector.
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GDP:
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$2.819 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP growth rate:
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5.3% |
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GDP per capita:
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$4,600 |
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GDP composition by sector:
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agriculture: 37%
industry: 20.3%
services: 42.7% |
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Inflation rate:
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6.9% |
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Unemployment:
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9.1% (understated) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $320.1 million
expenditures: $362.6 million |
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Electricity production by source:
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fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
other: 0% |
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Industries:
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bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber,
textiles, gold mining |
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Agriculture:
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sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp |
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Exports:
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sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp,
molasses, rum, timber |
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Export partners:
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US 18.7%, Canada 18.6%, UK 11.7%, Portugal 8.7%, Jamaica
6.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% |
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Imports:
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manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food |
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Import partners:
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US 26.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 24.5%, Cuba 6.7%, UK 4.8%,
China 4.1% |
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Currency:
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Guyanese dollar (GYD) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |