Guyana

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 1

Radios

398,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

fair system for long-distance calling domestic : microwave radio relay network for trunk lines international: tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

33,000 (1987 est.)

Television broadcast stations

11 (1995 est.)

Televisions

32,000 (1992 est.)

Agriculture - products

sugar, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; development potential exists for fishing and forestry

Budget

revenues: $209 million expenditures: $303 million, including capital expenditures of $109 million (1995 est.)

Currency

1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Debt - external

$1.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient : ODA, $NA

Economy - overview

In 1996, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its fifth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar. Favorable growth factors have included expansion in the key agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiative, a more realistic exchange rate, a moderate inflation rate, and the continued support of international organizations. Serious underlying economic problems will continue. Electric power has been in short supply and constitutes a major barrier to future gains in national output. The government must persist in efforts to manage its sizable external debt and extend its privatization program.

Electricity - capacity

157,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita

301 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production

318 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1 - 140.3 (February 1997), 141.1 (December 1996), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993), 125.0 (1992)

Exports

total value: $565 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities : sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: Canada 33%, US 24%, UK 22% (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.8 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 49% industry: 28% services: 33% (1995 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,490 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.9% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $589 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food partners : US 29%, Trinidad and Tobago 17%, Netherlands Antilles 17%, UK 11%, (1994 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

5.6% (1994 est.)

Industries

bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, fishing (shrimp), textiles, gold mining

Inflation rate - consumer price index

4.5% (1996 est.)

Labor force

NA

Unemployment rate

12% (1992 est.)

Area

total: 214,970 sq km land: 196,850 sq km water : 18,120 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Idaho

Climate

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

Coastline

459 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Environment - current issues

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to : Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Tropical Timber 94

Geographic coordinates

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Irrigated land

1,300 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 2,462 km border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Land use

arable land : 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 84% other: 8% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf : 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Natural resources

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

Terrain

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

6 October 1980

Country name

conventional long form : Co-operative Republic of Guyana conventional short form: Guyana former: British Guiana

Data code

GY

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Hugh SIMON embassy: 99-100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown telephone: [592] (2) 54900 through 54909, 57960 through 57969

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Ali Odeen ISHMAEL chancery : 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900, 6901 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Executive President Samuel HINDS (since March 1997); replaced Cheddi JAGAN who died in office, March 1997 head of government: Prime Minister Janet JAGAN (since March 1997); filled vacancy created when Samuel HINDS ascended to office of Executive President following death of Cheddi JAGAN, March 1997 cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature elections: president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly after legislative elections, which must be held within five years; legislative elections last held 5 October 1992 (next to be held NA 1997); prime minister appointed by the president

FAX

[592] (2) 58497

Flag description

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

Government type

republic

Independence

26 May 1966 (from UK)

International organization participation

ACP, C, Caricom, CCC, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Judicature

Legal system

based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (65 seats, 53 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 5 October 1992 (next to be held by October 1997) election results: percent of vote by party - PPP 53.4%, PNC 42.3%, WPA 2%, TUF 1.2%; seats by party - PPP 36, PNC 26, WPA 2, TUF 1

National capital

Georgetown

National holiday

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Political parties and leaders

People's Progressive Party (PPP), People's National Congress (PNC), Hugh Desmond HOYTE; For a Good and Green Guyana (GGG), Hamilton GREEN; Working People's Alliance (WPA), Rupert ROOPNARINE; Democratic Labor Movement (DLM), Paul TENNASSEE; People's Democratic Movement (PDM), Llewellyn JOHN; National Democratic Front (NDF), Joseph BACCHUS; The United Force (TUF), Manzoor NADIR; United Republican Party (URP), Leslie RAMSAMMY; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP); Guyana Democratic Party (GDP), Asgar ALLY; Guyanese Organized for Liberty and Democracy Party (GOLD), Anthony MEKDECI

Political pressure groups and leaders

Trades Union Congress (TUC); Guyana Council of Indian Organizations (GCIO); Civil Liberties Action Committee (CLAC) note: the latter two organizations are small and active but not well organized

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military branches

Guyana Defense Force (GDF; includes Ground Forces, Coast Guard, and Air Corps), Guyana People's Militia (GPM), Guyana National Service (GNS)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7 million (1994)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (1994)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 198,350 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males: 150,105 (1997 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 32% (male 115,120; female 110,741) 15-64 years: 63% (male 225,199; female 222,793) 65 years and over : 5% (male 14,563; female 17,700) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate

18.71 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate

10.02 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups

East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, white and Chinese 2%

Infant mortality rate

51.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 59.27 years male : 56.93 years female: 61.74 years (1997 est.)

Literacy

definition : age 15 and over has ever attended school total population: 98.1% male: 98.6% female: 97.5% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Net migration rate

-16.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Population

706,116 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.78% (1997 est.)

Religions

Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%

Sex ratio

at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.16 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international

all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to the US and Europe; producer of cannabis HAITI

Airports

47 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m : 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m : 32 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 7,820 km paved: 571 km unpaved : 7,249 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

total : 1 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,317 GRT/2,558 DWT (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bartica, Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam, Parika

Railways

total: 88 km standard gauge: 40 km 1.435-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport) narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge (dedicated to ore transport)

Waterways

6,000 km total of navigable waterways; Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km, respectively