factbook.json/south-america/gy.json

{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "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. After a December 2018 no-confidence vote against the GRANGER government, national elections were constitutionally required to take place within three months. After over a year of extra-constitutional rule by the GRANGER administration, elections were held, though voting irregularities led to a nationwide recount. The current Irfaan ALI administration was sworn in to office in August 2020. The discovery of oil in 2015 has been the primary economic and political focus, with many hoping the significant reserves will transform one of the poorest countries in the region."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "5 00 N, 59 00 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "South America"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "214,969 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "196,849 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "18,120 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "2,933 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "459 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "12 nm"
      },
      "exclusive economic zone": {
        "text": "200 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "207 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "8.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "77.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "14.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "1,430 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "flash flood threat during rainy seasons"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "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"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "787,971 (July 2021 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> estimates for this country explicitly taken into account the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Guyanese (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Guyanese"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Amerindian 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "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.)"
    },
    "Demographic profile": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p><p>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.</p>"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "23.91% (male 91,317/female 88,025)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "21.23% (male 81,294/female 77,987)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "39.48% (male 154,825/female 141,385)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "8.37% (male 29,385/female 33,386)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "7.01% (male 21,325/female 31,275) (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "53.2"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "42.5"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "10.7"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "9.3 (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "27.5 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "27.2 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "27.9 years (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.19% (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "16.72 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "6.91 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "-7.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "27% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.04 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "1.1 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "0.88 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.68 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.02 male(s)/female (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Mother's mean age at first birth": {
      "text": "20.8 years (2009 est.)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> median age at first birth among women 25-29"
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "667 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "22.68 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "25.66 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "19.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "71.59 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "69.74 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "73.53 years (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.07 children born/woman (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "33.9% (2014)"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 95.6% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 4.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 3.2% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current Health Expenditure": {
      "text": "4.9% (2019)"
    },
    "Physicians density": {
      "text": "0.8 physicians/1,000 population (2018)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "1.7 beds/1,000 population (2016)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 97.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 95.4% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 96% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 2.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 4.6% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 4% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "1.3% (2020 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "9,000 (2020 est.)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "<200 (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "very high (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "dengue fever and malaria"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "20.2% (2016)"
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "8.2% (2014)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "4.5% of GDP (2018)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over has ever attended school"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "88.5%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "87.2%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "89.8% (2015)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "11 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "12 years (2012)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "26.5%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "20.7%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "34.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "none of the selected agreements"
      }
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "20.46 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "2.38 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "1.81 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "8.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "77.4% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "14.2% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "27% of total population (2022)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "forest revenues": {
        "text": "4.56% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "coal revenues": {
        "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major infectious diseases": {
      "degree of risk": {
        "text": "very high (2020)"
      },
      "food or waterborne diseases": {
        "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever"
      },
      "vectorborne diseases": {
        "text": "dengue fever and malaria"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "179,252 tons (2010 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "968 tons (2010 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "0.5% (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major watersheds (area sq km)": {
      "text": "Atlantic Ocean drainage: Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)"
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "61.3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "20.4 million cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "1.363 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "271 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Cooperative Republic of Guyana"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Guyana"
      },
      "former": {
        "text": "British Guiana"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the name is derived from Guiana, the original name for the region that included British Guiana, Dutch Guiana, and French Guiana; ultimately the word is derived from an indigenous Amerindian language and means \"Land of Many Waters\" (referring to the area's multitude of rivers and streams)"
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary republic"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Georgetown"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "6 48 N, 58 09 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "when the British took possession of the town from the Dutch in 1812, they renamed it Georgetown in honor of King George III (1738-1820)"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "26 May 1966 (from the UK)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Republic Day, 23 February (1970)"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed by the National Assembly; passage of amendments affecting constitutional articles, such as national sovereignty, government structure and powers, and constitutional amendment procedures, requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum, and assent of the president; other amendments only require Assembly approval; amended many times, last in 2016"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence"
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "yes"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "na"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); First Vice President Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); Vice President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 2 August 2020); Prime Minister Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "President Mohammed Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); First Vice President Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020); Vice President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 2 August 2020)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the predesignated candidate of the winning party in the last National Assembly election becomes president for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025); prime minister appointed by the president"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "<br><em>2020:</em> Mohammed Irfaan ALI (PPP/C) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly<br><br><em>2015:</em> David GRANGER (APNU-AFC) designated president by the majority party in the National Assembly"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; 40 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency and 25 directly elected in multi-seat constituencies - all by closed-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - PPP/C 50.69%, APNU-AFC 47.34%, LJP 0.58%, ANUG 0.5%, TNM 0.05%, other 0.84%; seats by party - PPP/C 33, APNU-AFC 31, LJP-ANUG-TNM 1; composition - men 43, women 22, percent of women 33.8%; note - the initial results were declared invalid and a partial recount was conducted from 6 May to 8 June 2020, in which PPP/C was declared the winner"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest courts": {
        "text": "Supreme Court of Judicature (consists of the Court of Appeal with a chief justice and 3 justices, and the High Court with a chief justice and 10 justices organized into 3- or 5-judge panels); note - in 2009, Guyana acceded to the Caribbean Court of Justice as the final court of appeal in civil and criminal cases, replacing that of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Court of Appeal and High Court chief justices appointed by the president; other judges of both courts appointed by the Judicial Service Commission, a body appointed by the president; judges appointed for life with retirement at age 65"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Land Court; magistrates' courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "A New and United Guyana or ANUG [Ralph RAMKARRAN]<br>A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [Joseph HARMON]<br>Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN]<br>Justice for All Party [Savitree Singh SHARMA]<br>Liberty and Justice Party or LJP [Lenox SHUMAN]<br>National Independent Party or NIP [Saphier Husain SUBEDAR]<br>People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]<br>The New Movement or TNM [joint leadership of several medical doctors]<br>The United Force or TUF [Marissa NADIR]<br>United Republican Party or URP [Vishnu BANDHU]"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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, PROSUR, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Samuel Archibald HINDS (since 7 July 2021)"
      },
      "chancery": {
        "text": "2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 265-6900"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (202) 232-1297"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>guyanaembassydc@verizon.net<br><br>http://www.guyanaembassyusa.org/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "New York"
      }
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador Sarah-Ann LYNCH (since 13 March 2019)"
      },
      "embassy": {
        "text": "100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown"
      },
      "mailing address": {
        "text": "3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[592] 225-4900 through 4909"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[592] 225-8497"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>acsgeorge@state.gov<br><br>https://gy.usembassy.gov/"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "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; also referred to by its nickname The Golden Arrowhead"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1966"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "<p>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. Guyana closed or consolidated several sugar estates in 2017, reducing production of sugar to a forecasted 147,000 tons in 2018, less than half of 2017 production. Much of Guyana's growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production. With a record-breaking 700,000 ounces of gold produced in 2016, Gold production in Guyana has offset the economic effects of declining sugar production. In January 2018, estimated 3.2 billion barrels of oil were found offshore and Guyana is scheduled to become a petroleum producer by March 2020.</p><p></p><p>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 these 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 52% in 2017. 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.</p>"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$14.69 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": {
        "text": "$10.24 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": {
        "text": "$9.72 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
        "text": "2.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2016": {
        "text": "3.4% (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2015": {
        "text": "3.1% (2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$18,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2019": {
        "text": "$13,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2018": {
        "text": "$12,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> data are in 2017 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$3.561 billion (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": {
        "text": "2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": {
        "text": "0.8% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "15.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "15.3% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "69.3% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "71.1% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "18.2% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "25.4% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "47.8% (2017 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-63% (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "rice, sugar cane, coconuts, pumpkins, squash, gourds, milk, eggplants, green chillies/peppers, poultry"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "-5% (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "313,800 (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "NA"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2013": {
        "text": "11.1% (2013)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2012": {
        "text": "11.3% (2012)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": {
      "total": {
        "text": "26.5%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "20.7%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "34.6% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "35% (2006 est.)"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2007": {
        "text": "44.6 (2007)"
      },
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1999": {
        "text": "43.2 (1999)"
      }
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "1.3%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "33.8% (1999)"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "1.002 billion (2017 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "1.164 billion (2017 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2017": {
        "text": "52.2% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Public debt 2016": {
        "text": "50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "28.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2017": {
        "text": "-$237 million (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2016": {
        "text": "$13 million (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2019": {
        "text": "$1.8 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2018": {
        "text": "$1.58 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Trinidad and Tobago 31%, Canada 11%, Portugal 11%, Ghana 8%, Norway 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "ships, gold, shipping containers, excavation machinery, aluminum ores, rice (2019)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2019": {
        "text": "$4 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2018": {
        "text": "$3.12 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "United States 26%, Trinidad and Tobago 16%, Singapore 18%, Liberia 11%, China 5%, Norway 5% (2019)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "ships, refined petroleum, excavation machinery, shipping containers, aircraft (2019)"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$565.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$581 million (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 31 December 2017": {
        "text": "$1.69 billion (31 December 2017 est.)"
      },
      "Debt - external 31 December 2016": {
        "text": "$1.542 billion (31 December 2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "currency": {
        "text": "Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2017": {
        "text": "207 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2016": {
        "text": "206.5 (2016 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2015": {
        "text": "206.5 (2015 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2014": {
        "text": "206.5 (2014 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2013": {
        "text": "206.45 (2013 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "91.8% (2018)"
      },
      "electrification - urban areas": {
        "text": "96.9% (2018)"
      },
      "electrification - rural areas": {
        "text": "90% (2018)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "1.01 billion kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "790.1 million kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "428,000 kW (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "89% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "11% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "14,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "13,720 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "135,795 (2018)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "17.52 (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "643,210 (2018)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "82.97 (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "revenues gained from newly tapped off-shore oil reserves may provide a boost of Guyana&rsquo;s infrastructure, including upgrade of aging telecom systems to LTE and fiber broadband; competition in mobile services but monopoly in fixed-line; submarine cable improved broadband availability but service is still slow and expensive; second cable will improve delivery and pricing; government promotes ICT for e-government, e-health, and tele-education, and connection to remote locations (2020)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "fixed-line teledensity is about 18 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 83 per 100 persons (2019)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 592; landing point for the SG-SCS submarine cable to Suriname,&nbsp;and the Caribbean;&nbsp;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments"
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".gy"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "294,300 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "37.33% (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "64,889 (2017 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "8.37 (2017 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "8R"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "total": {
        "text": "117 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "11"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "2"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "8 (2017)"
      }
    },
    "Airports - with unpaved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "106"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "914 to 1,523 m": {
        "text": "16"
      },
      "under 914 m": {
        "text": "89 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "3,995 km (2019)"
      },
      "paved": {
        "text": "799 km (2019)"
      },
      "unpaved": {
        "text": "3,196 km (2019)"
      }
    },
    "Waterways": {
      "text": "330 km (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively) (2012)"
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "56"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "general cargo 26, oil tanker 7, other 23 (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Georgetown"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "the Guyana Defense Force is a unified force with ground, air, and coast guard components, as well as a militia (Guyana People's Militia) (2021)"
    },
    "Military expenditures": {
      "Military Expenditures 2020": {
        "text": "1.2% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2019": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2019 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2018": {
        "text": "1.3% of GDP (2018 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2017": {
        "text": "1.2% of GDP (2017 est.)"
      },
      "Military Expenditures 2016": {
        "text": "1.1% of GDP (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "information varies; approximately 4,000 active personnel (2021)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Guyana Defense Force's limited inventory is mostly comprised of second-hand platforms from a variety of foreign suppliers, including Brazil, China, the former Soviet Union, the UK, and the US (2021)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2021)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "<p>the Guyana Defense Force was established in 1965; as of 2021, its primary missions were defense of the country, assisting civil authorities with law and order as needed, and contributing to the economic development of the country; the GDF’s ground force officers are trained at the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, while coast guard officers receive training the British Royal Naval College</p>"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "<p>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</p>"
    },
    "Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
      "refugees (country of origin)": {
        "text": "24,500 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or received alternative legal stay) (2021)"
      }
    },
    "Illicit drugs": {
      "text": "<p>transshipment point for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa; growing domestic drug consumption problem</p>"
    }
  }
}