Guyana

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. <br><br>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. <br><br>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.

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

5 00 N, 59 00 W

South America

slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee

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

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

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

the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent

East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 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%, 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.)

0.35% (2025 est.)

16.68 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

-6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

20.8 years (2009 est.)

75 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

2.04 children born/woman (2025 est.)

1 (2025 est.)

1.39 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

2.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

20.2% (2016)

9.4% (2019 est.)

59% (2020 est.)

water pollution from sewage and agricultural/industrial chemicals; deforestation

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

11.2 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

271 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

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 New and United Guyana or ANUG<br>A Partnership for National Unity or APNU<br>Alliance for Change or AFC<br>Justice for All Party<br>Liberty and Justice Party or LJP<br>National Independent Party or NIP<br>People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C<br>The New Movement or TNM<br>The United Force or TUF<br>United Republican Party or URP

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

26 May 1966 (from the UK)

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily

red, yellow, green, black, white

Guyana&rsquo;s coat of arms was adopted in 1966, the year of the country&rsquo;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&rsquo;s ethnic groups, and the diamonds for the mining industry; the helmet is a symbol of past UK rule in Guyana

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

$24.836 billion (2024 est.)

rice, sugarcane, plantains, cassava, papayas, pumpkins/squash, chicken, milk, ginger, eggplants (2023)

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

53.3% (2024 est.)

292,200 (2024 est.)

USA 20%, Trinidad &amp; Tobago 11%, Netherlands 10%, Singapore 10%, Germany 7% (2023)

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

USA 28%, China 13%, Trinidad &amp; Tobago 11%, Brazil 5%, Bahamas, The 4% (2023)

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

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&nbsp;

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8R

55 (2025)

the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as the Guyana National Reserve (2026)

approximately 3,500 active-duty Guyana Defense Forces (2025)

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)

18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2026)

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<br><br>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)