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Background:
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Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana
had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to
black settlement of urban areas and the importation of
indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations.
This 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. |
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Location:
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Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,
between Suriname and Venezuela |
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Geographic coordinates:
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5
00 N, 59 00 W |
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Idaho |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km,
Venezuela 743 km |
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Coastline:
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459 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the
continental margin |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two
rainy seasons (May to August, November to January) |
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Terrain:
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mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.23%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 97.63% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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1,500 sq km (2003) |
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Natural hazards:
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flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
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Environment - current issues:
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water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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
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Population:
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767,245
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 and
death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in
the distribution of population by age and sex than would
otherwise be expected (July 2006 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.2% (male
102,551/female 98,772)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 265,193/female 260,892)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 17,043/female 22,794) (2006
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 27.4 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.9 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.25% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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18.28 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 32.19
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 65.86
years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.65 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.04 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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2.5% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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11,000 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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1,100 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guyanese
(singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese |
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Ethnic groups:
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East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and
mixed 7% |
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Religions:
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Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5% |
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Languages:
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English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and
over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form:
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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26
May 1966 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Republic Day, 23 February (1970) |
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Constitution:
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6
October 1980 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law with certain admixtures of
Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18
years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state:
President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed
presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN and
reelected in 2001
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 legislature
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of
a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at
least every five years (no term limits); elections last held 19
March 2001 (next to be held by 28 August 2006); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected;
percent of vote 52.9% |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly (65 members elected by popular
vote, also not more than four non-elected non-voting ministers
and two non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries
appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held by 28
August 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 52.9%,
PNC/R 41.9%, GAP/WPA 2.4%, ROAR 0.9%, TUF 0.7%, other 1.2%;
seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC/R 27, GAP/WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and
the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the
Caribbean Court of Justice |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj
RAMJATTAN]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for
All Party [C.N. SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or
PNC/R [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive
Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and
Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor
NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision Guyana [Peter
RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Citizens Initiative;
Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana
Public Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades
Union Congress |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM,
OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Roland W. BULLEN
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic
growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and
mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business
initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low
inflation, and the continued support of international
organizations. Growth slowed in 2003 and came back gradually in
2004, buoyed largely by increased export earnings; it slowed
again in 2005. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled
labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling
a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded
public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in
the near term from restructuring and partial privatization.
Export earnings from agriculture and mining have fallen sharply,
while the import bill has risen, driven by higher energy prices.
Guyana's entrance into the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME)
in January 2006 might broaden the country's export market,
primarily in the raw materials sector. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$3.549 billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$782 million (2005 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-2.5% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$4,600 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 37%
industry: 20.3%
services: 42.7% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force:
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418,000 (2001 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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9.1% (understated) (2000) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6.9% (2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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34.4% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $320.1
million
expenditures: $362.6 million; including capital
expenditures of $93.4 million (2005 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef,
pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp |
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Industries:
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bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles,
gold mining |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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779 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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724.5 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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11,300 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Natural gas - production:
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0 cu m (2003 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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0 cu m (2003 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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-$112 million (2005 est.) |
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Exports:
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$587.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp,
molasses, rum, timber |
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Exports - partners:
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US 18.7%, Canada 18.6%, UK 11.7%, Portugal 8.7%,
Jamaica 6.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.4% (2005) |
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Imports:
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$681.6 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
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Imports - partners:
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US 26.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 24.5%, Cuba 6.7%,
UK 4.8%, China 4.1% (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$261 million (2005 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$1.2 billion (2002) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country
Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997) |
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Currency (code):
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Guyanese dollar (GYD) |
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Exchange rates:
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Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 200.79 (2005),
198.31 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002), 187.32 (2001)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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102,700 (2004) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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104,600 (2004) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
fair system for long-distance service
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter
to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM
3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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3
(one public station; two private stations which relay US
satellite services) (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.gy
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Internet hosts:
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914 (2005) |
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Internet users:
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145,000 (2005) |
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Airports:
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90
(2006) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2006) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 81
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 65 (2006) |
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Railways:
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total: 187 km
standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
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Roadways:
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total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by
oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively
(2005) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 7 ships (1000
GRT or over) 11,031 GRT/12,899 DWT
by type: cargo 6, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 3, unknown 1) (2005) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Georgetown |
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Military branches:
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Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps,
Guyana People's Militia |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49:
206,098 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49:
137,964 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$6.48 million (2003 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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0.9% (2003 est.) |
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Disputes - international:
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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 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 UN
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to resolve the
long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the
territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
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Illicit drugs:
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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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This page was last updated
on 22 August, 2006
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