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Guyana

 Flag of Guyana

Last reviewed: 10 June 2011

Country information

Map of Guyana

GUYANA TODAY

Country Facts

Area: 214,970 sq km, 82,980 sq miles
Population:  753,000
Capital City: Georgetown(population about 250,000)
Nationality: Guyanese
Languages: English, Amerindian dialects, Creole
Religions: Christians 57%, Hindu 30%, Muslim 7%, and Other 6%
Ethnic Groups: East Indian 43%, African/black 30%, mixed 17%, Amerindian 9%, white and Chinese 1%
Currency: Guyanese dollar (GYD). (May 2010 308 GYD to 1 UK pound)
Major Political Parties: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), People's National Congress/Reform (PNCR) and Alliance for Change (AFC).
Government: Republic within the Commonwealth
Head of State: President Bharrat JAGDEO
Prime Minister: Hon Samuel HINDS, MP
Foreign Minister: Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett
Membership of international groups/organisations including: CARICOM, WTO, OAS, ACS, UNASUR, ECLAC, United Nations, the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific (ACP group), the Commonwealth, the Group of 77, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, Non-Aligned Movement, the Rio Group.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Guyana is part of the 'Guiana Shield' which, together with the adjacent Amazon Basin, is the largest equatorial forest in the world.
  • It is generally agreed that the name Guyana is derived from an Amerindian expression 'Guiana', which means 'land of many waters'.

Climate Change 

Guyana is particularly vulnerable to climate change.  90% of the population live on the coastal belt which is, on average, one metre below sea level.  Guyana also experiences very heavy rainfall. Severe flooding  in 2005 was estimated to have led to losses equivalent to 60% of GDP.

President Jagdeo has been active in recent years on international climate change policy. 75% of Guyana’s territory is rainforest and Guyana has been engaged in international efforts to devise approaches which avoid deforestation and contribute to climate change mitigation, including REDD+. In 2009 Guyana  signed a-performance-based bilateral  agreement withNorway to limit its deforestation, worth  up to  US$250 million over five years. Revenue from the agreement will help finance Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. President Jagdeo was also a member of the UN Secretary-General’s working group on climate finance in 2010.

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