Country Profile: Guyana

Guyana, a small country located in Northern South America, has a diverse geography marked by rolling highlands and coastal plains, with a total area of 214,969 sq km. Home to approximately 794,099 people (2024 estimate), the nation hosts a rich tapestry of cultures, with significant East Indian and African populations. The economy is primarily driven by the discovery of offshore oil reserves, significantly impacting its socio-economic landscape, alongside traditional industries like bauxite and gold mining. Governed as a parliamentary republic, Guyana has experienced a tumultuous political history since gaining independence from the UK in 1966, characterized by shifts in governance that reflect its complex ethnic divisions.

Geography

Guyana is situated in Northern South America, bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean to the north and neighboring countries Suriname and Venezuela. The terrain mainly consists of rolling highlands, a low coastal plain, and savanna to the south, featuring one of the largest unspoiled rainforests in the continent.

214,969 sq km: Total area, slightly smaller than Idaho.
459 km: Coastline along the Atlantic Ocean.
87.1%: Forest coverage of the land area (2023).
12 nm: Territorial sea claims.
2,933 km: Total land boundaries.

People and Society

The population of Guyana is about 794,099 (2024 estimate), with a diverse ethnic composition that includes East Indian (39.8%), African descent (29.3%), mixed (19.9%), and Indigenous peoples (10.5%). English is the official language, and the country enjoys a majority of residents practicing some form of Christianity, alongside significant Hindu and Muslim communities.

28.3 years: Median age of the population (2024).
16.7 births/1,000: Birth rate (2024).
72.4 years: Life expectancy at birth (2024).
85.6%: Literacy rate (2020).
27.2%: Urban population (2023).

Economy

Guyana's economy is rapidly transforming, driven principally by its burgeoning oil industry, which has significantly increased GDP levels. As of 2024, the GDP (PPP) is projected at $58.423 billion, with a robust growth rate of 43.4% anticipated. The industrial sector is dominant, followed by services and agriculture.

10.2%: Unemployment rate (2024).
$70,300: Real GDP per capita (2024).
$13.739 billion: Total exports (2023).
$10.956 billion: Total imports (2023).
3.2%: Remittances as a share of GDP (2023).

Government

Guyana operates as a parliamentary republic, with the President serving as both the head of state and government. The current President, Mohammed Irfaan Ali, has been in office since August 2020. The political landscape is marked by a unicameral legislature and a legal system influenced by both common and Roman-Dutch law.

10 regions: Main administrative divisions.
72 seats: In the National Assembly.
18 years: Universal suffrage for voting.
26 May 1966: Date of independence from the UK.

Military and Security

The Guyana Defense Force (GDF) comprises the army, air force, and coast guard, with an active-duty strength of approximately 3,500 personnel. Military expenditures represent 0.9% of GDP as of 2024, focusing on territorial defense and maritime security, especially concerning illegal fishing and narcotics.

3,500: Active-duty personnel in the GDF (2025).
18-25 years: Age for voluntary military service.
0.9%: Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2024).

Energy

Guyana's energy sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, accounting for nearly 93% of its electricity generation capacity. In recent developments, oil production has surged, with an estimated output of 391,000 barrels per day as of 2023.

93%: Percentage of electricity from fossil fuels (2023).
93%: Electrification rate of total population (2022).
1.07 billion kWh: Total electricity consumption (2023).

Environment

Environmental concerns in Guyana include water pollution from agricultural activities and deforestation. The country is a party to various international environmental agreements and faces challenges related to climate change and resource management.

87.1%: Forested land area (2023).
2.639 million metric tonnes: CO2 emissions (2023).
179,300 tons: Municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.).

Transportation

Guyana's transportation infrastructure includes a network of roads, air transport, and marine services, with 55 airports and a merchant fleet of 80 vessels.

3 major ports: Including Georgetown and Linden.
80 vessels: Total merchant marine (2023).
55 airports: Total civil aircraft registration (2025).

Communications

The communications sector in Guyana is evolving, with about 82% of the population having internet access as of 2023. Fixed-line and mobile subscriptions continue to grow, albeit with some government control over broadcast media.

125,000: Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2021).
856,000: Mobile cellular subscriptions (2021).
82%: Internet usage rate (2023).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	794,099	2024 estimate
Area	214,969 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$58.423 billion	2024 estimate
Unemployment Rate	10.2%	2024 estimate
Birth Rate	16.7 births/1,000	2024 estimate
Life Expectancy	72.4 years	2024 estimate
Literacy Rate	85.6%	2020 estimate
Total Energy Consumption Per Capita	46.045 million Btu/person	2023 estimate
Military Expenditures	0.9% of GDP	2024 estimate
Electrification Rate	93%	Total population (2022 estimate)