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South America :: Guyana

- ## Introduction :: GUYANA

- Background:
  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 reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.

- ## Geography :: GUYANA

- Location:
  Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
  Geographic coordinates:
  5 00 N, 59 00 W
  Map references:
  South America
  Area:
  total: 214,969 sq km
  land: 196,849 sq km
  water: 18,120 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Idaho
  Land boundaries:
  total: 2,933 km
  border countries (3): Brazil 1,308 km, Suriname 836 km, Venezuela 789 km
  Coastline:
  459 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
  Climate:
  tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
  Terrain:
  mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
  Natural resources:
  bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 8.4%
  arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 0.1%; permanent pasture 6.2%
  forest: 77.4%
  other: 14.2% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  1,501 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  241 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 1.64 cu km/yr (4%/1%/94%)
  per capita: 2,222 cu m/yr (2010)
  Natural hazards:
  flash flood threat during rainy seasons
  Environment - current issues:
  water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  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

- ## People and Society :: GUYANA

- Nationality:
  noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
  adjective: Guyanese
  Ethnic groups:
  East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, white) (2002 est.)
  Languages:
  English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
  Religions:
  Protestant 30.5% (Pentecostal 16.9%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%), Hindu 28.4%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Muslim 7.2%, Jehovah's Witness 1.1%, other Christian 17.7%, other 1.9%, none 4.3%, unspecified 0.9% (2002 est.)
  Demographic profile:
  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.
  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.
  Population:
  735,222
  note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 28.07% (male 105,078/female 101,296)
  15-24 years: 21.26% (male 80,303/female 76,022)
  25-54 years: 37.42% (male 143,490/female 131,644)
  55-64 years: 7.72% (male 25,426/female 31,304)
  65 years and over: 5.53% (male 16,877/female 23,782) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 51.1%
  youth dependency ratio: 43.5%
  elderly dependency ratio: 7.6%
  potential support ratio: 13.2% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 25.4 years
  male: 25 years
  female: 25.8 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  0.02% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192
  Birth rate:
  15.59 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Death rate:
  7.32 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Net migration rate:
  -8.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 207
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 28.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  GEORGETOWN (capital) 124,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 32.56 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 36.52 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 65
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 68.09 years
  male: 65.1 years
  female: 71.24 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Total fertility rate:
  2.08 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  42.5% (2009)
  Health expenditures:
  6.5% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 93
  Physicians density:
  0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
  Hospital bed density:
  2 beds/1,000 population (2009)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 98.2% of population
  rural: 98.3% of population
  total: 98.3% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 1.8% of population
  rural: 1.7% of population
  total: 1.7% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 87.9% of population
  rural: 82% of population
  total: 83.7% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 12.1% of population
  rural: 18% of population
  total: 16.3% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  1.81% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 29
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  9,700 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  100 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: very high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  21.9% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  11.1% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 67
  Education expenditures:
  3.2% of GDP (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
  total population: 88.5%
  male: 87.2%
  female: 89.8% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 10 years
  male: 9 years
  female: 11 years (2012)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 30,255
  percentage: 16% (2006 est.)
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 46.05%
  male: 43.59%
  female: 50% (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 8

- ## Government :: GUYANA

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
  conventional short form: Guyana
  former: British Guiana
  Government type:
  republic
  Capital:
  name: Georgetown
  geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  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
  Independence:
  26 May 1966 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest promulgated 6 October 1980; amended many times, last in 2007 (2013)
  Legal system:
  common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Donald RAMOTAR (since 03 December 2011)
  head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992, except for a period as chief of state after the death of President Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
  cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the National Assembly from party lists to serve a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28 November 2011 (next to be held by December 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
  election results: Donald RAMOTAR (PPP/C) elected president by National Assembly; percent of vote - 48.6%
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies and a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 11 May 2015 (next to be held by May 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by party - APNU 50.3%, PPP/C 49.19%, other 0.51%; seats by party - APNU 33, PPP/C 32
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): 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 ceased final appeals in civil and criminal cases to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London), replacing it with the Caribbean Court of Justice, the judicial organ of the Caribbean Community
  judge selection and term of office: 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: Land Court; magistrates' courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  A Partnership for National Unity or APNU [David A. GRANGER]
  Alliance for Change or AFC [Khemraj RAMJATTAN]
  Justice for All Party [C.N. SHARMA]
  People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Donald RAMOTAR]
  Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]
  The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]
  The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]
  Vision Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  Amerindian People's Association
  Guyana Bar Association
  Guyana Citizens Initiative
  Guyana Human Rights Association
  Guyana Public Service Union or GPSU
  Private Sector Commission
  Trades Union Congress
  International organization participation:
  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, UN, UNASUR, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN (since 4 December 2003)
  chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
  FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
  consulate(s) general: New York
  consulate(s): Houston, Miami
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador D. Brent HARDT (since 19 August 2011)
  embassy: US Embassy, 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
  mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
  telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
  FAX: [592] 225-8497
  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; 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
  National symbol(s):
  Canje pheasant (hoatzin), jaguar, Victoria Regia water lily; national colors: red, yellow, green, black, white
  National anthem:
  name: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
  lyrics/music: Archibald Leonard LUKERL/Robert Cyril Gladstone POTTER
  note: adopted 1966

- ## Economy :: GUYANA

- Economy - overview:
  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's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 has 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. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. Despite recent 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 (HIPC) debt forgiveness, brought the debt-to-GDP ratio down from 183% in 2006 to 58% in 2014. Guyana had become heavily indebted as a result of the inward-looking, state-led development model pursued in the 1970s and 1980s. Much of Guyana's growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production in response to global prices, although downward trends in gold prices may threaten future growth. In 2014, production of sugar dropped to a 24-year low.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $5.514 billion (2014 est.)
  $5.311 billion (2013 est.)
  $5.047 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 174
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $2.997 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  3.8% (2014 est.)
  5.2% (2013 est.)
  4.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $6,900 (2014 est.)
  $6,600 (2013 est.)
  $6,300 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Gross national saving:
  3.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  3.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
  7.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 165
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 89.2%
  government consumption: 11.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 24.6%
  investment in inventories: -12.3%
  exports of goods and services: 52%
  imports of goods and services: -64.8%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 20.3%
  industry: 39.2%
  services: 40.5% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  sugarcane, rice, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry; shrimp, fish
  Industries:
  bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
  Industrial production growth rate:
  12% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 6
  Labor force:
  313,800 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 163
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: NA%
  industry: NA%
  services: NA%
  Unemployment rate:
  11.1% (2013)
  11.3% (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 117
  Population below poverty line:
  35% (2006 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 1.3%
  highest 10%: 33.8% (1999)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  44.6 (2007)
  43.2 (1999)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Budget:
  revenues: $732.2 million
  expenditures: $874.3 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  23.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  -4.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 152
  Public debt:
  58% of GDP (2014 est.)
  56.6% of GDP (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1% (2014 est.)
  1.9% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 58
  Central bank discount rate:
  5.5% (31 December 2011)
  4.25% (31 December 2010)
  country comparison to the world: 66
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  13.2% (31 December 2014 est.)
  13.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 56
  Stock of narrow money:
  $603.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $558.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Stock of broad money:
  $1.59 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.52 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $1.495 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $1.406 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $610.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
  $440.4 million (31 December 2011)
  $339.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Current account balance:
  -$477 million (2014 est.)
  -$405.4 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Exports:
  $1.308 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.343 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 155
  Exports - commodities:
  sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
  Exports - partners:
  US 31.9%, Canada 21.3%, Venezuela 10.9%, UK 6.4% (2014)
  Imports:
  $1.981 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.859 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Imports - commodities:
  manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
  Imports - partners:
  US 21.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 19.9%, Venezuela 12%, China 9.9%, Suriname 8% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $779.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $783.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Debt - external:
  $1.846 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 148
  Exchange rates:
  Guyanese dollars (GYD) per US dollar -
  206.9 (2014 est.)
  205.39 (2013 est.)
  204.36 (2012 est.)
  204.02 (2011 est.)
  203.64 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: GUYANA

- Electricity - production:
  725 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Electricity - consumption:
  523 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 171
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  363,500 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  96% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  0.3% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  3.7% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 59
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  10,880 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  10,780 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 153
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 147
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  1.661 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 156

- ## Communications :: GUYANA

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 160,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 22 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 134
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 566,900
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 167
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: fair system for long-distance service; microwave radio relay network for trunk lines; many areas still lack fixed-line telephone services
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity is about 20 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 70 per 100 persons in 2011
  international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  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 continue to constrain competition in broadcast media (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (2009)
  Television broadcast stations:
  3 (1 public station; 2 private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)
  Internet country code:
  .gy
  Internet users:
  total: 270,200
  percent of population: 36.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 149

- ## Transportation :: GUYANA

- Airports:
  117 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 11
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
  914 to 1,523 m: 1
  under 914 m: 8 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 106
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 16
  under 914 m:
  89 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 7,970 km
  paved: 590 km
  unpaved: 7,380 km (2000)
  country comparison to the world: 141
  Waterways:
  330 km (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively) (2012)
  country comparison to the world: 91
  Merchant marine:
  total: 10
  by type: cargo 7, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
  registered in other countries: 3 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 2, unknown 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Georgetown

- ## Military :: GUYANA

- Military branches:
  Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Air Corps, Coast Guard) (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age or older for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 189,840 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 133,239
  females age 16-49: 147,719 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 8,849
  female: 8,460 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  1.09% of GDP (2012)
  1.17% of GDP (2011)
  1.09% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 93

- ## Transnational Issues :: GUYANA

- Disputes - international:
  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; Guyana seeks arbitration under provisions of the UNCLOS to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Guyana is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; Guyanese and foreign women and girls are forced into prostitution in Guyana; forced labor, especially of children, is reported in mining, agriculture, forestry, domestic service, and shops; Indonesian workers are victims of forced labor on Guyanese-flagged fishing boats
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Guyana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,it is making significant efforts to do so; limited efforts were made to protect and provide assistance to victims in 2013, and authorities operated a hotline for trafficking victims; the government failed to increase its efforts to hold trafficking offenders accountable with jail time, creating an enabling environment for human trafficking and further endangering victims (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising money laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

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