Guyana

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $278 million expenditures: $299 million, including capital expenditures of $133 million (1996 est.)

Currency

1 Guyanese dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$1.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $NA

Economy-overview

In 1997, Guyana, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, posted its sixth straight year of economic growth of 5% or better, with the advance led by gold and bauxite mining and by sugar growing. 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

114,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

339 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

230 million kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Guyanese dollars (G$) per US$1-144.2 (January 1998), 142.4 (1997), 140.4 (1996), 142.0 (1995), 138.3 (1994), 126.7 (1993)

Exports

total value: $546 million (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses partners: Canada 33%, US 24%, UK 22% (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$1.8 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 39% industry: 28% services: 33% (1995 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$2,500 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

5% (1997 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% (1997 est.)

Labor force

NA

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.)

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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 James F. MACK 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 Janet JAGAN (since December 1997); replaced Samuel HINDS head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since December 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 15 December 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); 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, OIC (observer), 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 15 December 1997 (next to be held by March 2003) election results: percent of vote by party-PPP 54%, PNC 41%, AFG 1%, TUF 1%; seats by party-PPP 36, PNC 25, AFG 2, TUF 2

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; Alliance for Guyana (AFG), 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; National Republican Party (NRP), Robert GANGADEEN; Guyana Labor Party (GLP); Guyana Democratic Party (GDP), Asgar ALLY; Guyanese Organization 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: 201,126 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-fit for military service

males: 151,963 (1998 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 31% (male 112,339; female 108,095) 15-64 years: 64% (male 228,719; female 226,309) 65 years and over: 5% (male 14,652; female 17,840) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

18.49 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

8.72 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

East Indian 49%, black 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian 6%, white and Chinese 1%

Infant mortality rate

48.67 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

English, Amerindian dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.34 years male: 59.5 years female: 65.32 years (1998 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

-14.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

707,954 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

-0.47% (1998 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 (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (1998 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 [Koetari] Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

50 (1997 est.)

Airports-with paved runways

total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports-with unpaved runways

total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 34 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 7,970 km paved: 590 km unpaved: 7,380 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 2 cargo ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,340 GRT/4,530 DWT (1997 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