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A country in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between [[Suriname]] and [[Venezuela]].
{{short description|Country in South America}}
{{Distinguish|text=the French overseas region of [[French Guiana]]. For other uses, see [[Guyana (disambiguation)]]}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{coord|5|-58.75|type:country_region:GY|format=dms|display=title}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox country
| coordinates = {{Coord|6|46|N|58|10|W|type:city}}
| conventional_long_name = Co-operative Republic of Guyana
| image_flag = Flag of Guyana.svg
| image_coat = Coat of Arms of Guyana.svg
| common_name = Guyana
| national_motto = "One People, One Nation, One Destiny"
| national_anthem = "[[Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains]]"<br /><center>[[File:National Anthem of Guyana.ogg]]</center>
| image_map = GUY orthographic.svg
| map_caption = {{map caption |location_color=dark green |region=[[South America]] |region_color= grey }}
| image_map2 =
| capital = [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]
| largest_city = capital
| official_languages = [[English language|English]]
| languages_type = [[Vernacular|Vernacular<br />language]]
| languages = [[Guyanese Creole]]
| regional_languages = {{collapsible list
|titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
|title = 10 indigenous languages
|[[Kapóng language|Akawaio]]
|[[Macushi language|Macushi]] |[[Waiwai language|Waiwai]] |[[Arawak language|Arawak (Lokono)]]
|[[Patamona language|Patamona]] |[[Warao language|Warrau]] |[[Carib language|Carib]]
|[[Wapishana language|Wapishana]] |[[Pemon language|Pemon (Arekuna)]]|[[Mawayana language|Mawayana]]
}}
| languages2_type = Other languages
| languages2 = {{collapsible list
| titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
| title = 6 languages
| [[Caribbean Hindustani#Guyanese Hindustani|Guyanese Hindustani]]
| [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
| [[Chinese language|Chinese]]
|[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|[[French language|French]]
}}
| ethnic_groups = {{unbulleted list
| 39.8% [[Indo-Guyanese|Indian]]
| {{nowrap|29.3% [[Afro-Guyanese|African]]}}
| 19.9% [[Multiracial|Mixed]]<br /> (including [[Dougla]] and [[Creole people#Caribbean|Creole]]-[[Mulatto]])
| 10.5% [[Indigenous peoples in Guyana|Indigenous Amerindian]]
| 0.5% Others<br /> (including [[Chinese Guyanese|Chinese]], [[Portuguese Guyanese|Portuguese]], [[White Caribbeans|other European]])<ref name="statisticsguyana.gov.gy">{{Cite book|url=http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/download.php?file=93 |title=Compedium 2: Population Composition|publisher=Bureau of Statistics, Guyana|date=July 2016|access-date=25 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709011240/http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/download.php?file=93 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}
| ethnic_groups_year = 2012
| religion = {{vunblist |62.7% [[Christianity]]| 24.8% [[Hinduism in Guyana|Hinduism]]| 6.8%
[[Islam in Guyana|Islam]]|3.1% None|2.6% Other<ref name="statisticsguyana.gov.gy"/>}}
| demonym = Guyanese
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[constitutional republic]]<ref>{{cite constitution|article=Preamble|section=Preamble|country=the Cooperative Republic of Guyana|ratified=20 February 1980|url=http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Guyana/guyana96.html}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = [[President of Guyana|President]]
| leader_name1 = [[Irfaan Ali]] {{small|([[People's Progressive Party (Guyana)|PPP/C]])}}
| leader_title2 = [[List of prime ministers of Guyana|Prime Minister/First Vice President]]
| leader_name2 = {{no wrap|[[Mark Phillips (Guyana)|Mark Phillips]] {{small|([[People's Progressive Party (Guyana)|PPP/C]])}}}}
| leader_title3 = [[Vice President of Guyana|Vice President]]
| leader_name3 = {{no wrap|[[Bharrat Jagdeo]] {{small|([[People's Progressive Party (Guyana)|PPP/C]])}}}}
| leader_title5 = [[Chief Justice of Guyana|Chief Justice]]
| leader_name5 = Roxane George-Wiltshire {{small|''(acting)''}}
| leader_title4 = [[List of Speakers of the National Assembly of Guyana|National Assembly Speaker]]
| leader_name4 = {{nowrap|[[Manzoor Nadir]] {{small|([[People's Progressive Party (Guyana)|PPP/C]])}}}}
| leader_title6 = Opposition Leader
| leader_name6 = Joseph Harmon {{small|([[Alliance for Change (Guyana)|AFC]]+[[A Partnership for National Unity|APNU]])}}
| legislature = [[National Assembly (Guyana)|National Assembly]]
| established_event1 = [[Dutch colonization of the Guianas|Dutch Guiana]]
| sovereignty_type = Formation
| established_event2 = [[British Guiana]]
| established_date1 = 1667–1814
| established_event3 = [[Independence]] from the [[United Kingdom]] becoming [[Guyana (1966–1970)|Guyana]]
| established_date2 = 1814–1966
| established_event4 = Republic
| established_date3 = 26 May 1966
| established_event5 = {{nowrap|[[Constitution of Guyana|Current constitution]]}}
| established_date4 = 23 February 1970
| established_date5 = 6 October 1980
| area_km2 = 214,970
| area_rank = 83rd <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi = 83,000 <!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->
| percent_water = 8.4
| population_estimate = 786,391{{UN_Population|ref}}
| population_census = 747,884<ref name="2012Census">[http://www.geohive.com/cntry/guyana.aspx Guyana 2012 Census] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806161129/http://www.geohive.com/cntry/guyana.aspx |date=6 August 2014 }} GeoHive– Guyana. Retrieved 2 August 2012.</ref>
| population_estimate_year = {{UN_Population|Year}}
| population_estimate_rank = 164th
| population_census_year = 2012
| population_density_km2 = 3.502
| population_density_rank = 232nd
| population_density_sq_mi = 9.071 <!-- Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]] -->
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $13.661 billion<ref name="IMFWEOGY">{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2020/October/weo-report?c=336,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2019&ey=2020&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|title=World Economic Outlook Database, October 2020 |publisher=[[International Monetary Fund]] |website=IMF.org |access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank = 144th
| GDP_PPP_year = 2020
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{increase}} $17,359<ref name="IMFWEOGY"/>
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 72nd
| GDP_nominal = {{increase}} $6.806 billion<ref name="IMFWEOGY"/>
| GDP_nominal_rank = 148th
| GDP_nominal_year = 2020
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{increase}} $8,649<ref name="IMFWEOGY"/>
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 68th
| Gini = <!-- number only -->
| Gini_year = <! --there is no update on the country's inequality index since 1998-->
| Gini_change = <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_ref =
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.682 <!-- number only -->
| HDI_year = 2019 <!-- Please use the year to which the data refers, not the publication year -->
| HDI_change = increase <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="HDI">{{cite book|title=Human Development Report 2020 The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene|date=15 December 2020|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|isbn=978-92-1-126442-5|pages=343–346|url=http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2020.pdf|access-date=16 December 2020}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 122nd
| currency = [[Guyanese dollar]]
| currency_code = GYD
| time_zone = [[Atlantic Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset = -4
| utc_offset_DST =
| time_zone_DST =
| drives_on = [[Right- and left-hand traffic|left]]
| calling_code = [[+592]]
| cctld = [[.gy]]
| today =
}}


'''Guyana''' (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ɡ|aɪ|ˈ|ɑː|n|ə}} or {{IPAc-en|ɡ|aɪ|ˈ|æ|n|ə}}),<ref>{{cite book|title=Longman pronunciation dictionary|first=John C.|last=Wells|publisher=Longman|location=Harlow, England|year=1990|isbn=978-0-582-05383-0}} entry "Guyana"</ref><ref name="AH">{{cite web|url=http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/Guyana|title=Guyana – Dictionary definition and pronunciation – Yahoo! Education|publisher=Education.yahoo.com|access-date=30 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029190609/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/Guyana|archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> officially the '''Co{{nbh}}operative Republic of Guyana''',<ref name="ISW">{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/s/inr/rls/4250.htm|title=Independent States in the World|publisher=state.gov}}</ref> is a country on the northern mainland of [[South America]] and the capital city is Georgetown. It is part of the mainland [[Caribbean|Caribbean region]] maintaining its strong cultural, historical, and political ties with other [[Caribbean]] countries and the [[Caribbean Community]] (CARICOM). Guyana is bordered by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the north, [[Brazil]] to the south and southwest, [[Venezuela]] to the west, and [[Suriname]] to the east. With {{convert|215000|sqkm|sqmi}}, Guyana is the third-smallest [[sovereign state]] by area in mainland South America after [[Uruguay]] and [[Suriname]]; it is also the [[List of South American countries by population|second-least populous sovereign state in South America]] after Suriname.


The region known as "[[the Guianas]]" consists of the [[Guiana Shield|large shield landmass]] north of the [[Amazon River]] and east of the [[Orinoco|Orinoco River]] known as the "land of many waters". There are nine [[Indigenous peoples in Guyana|indigenous]] tribes residing in Guyana: the [[Wai-wai people|Wai Wai]], [[Macushi people|Macushi]], [[Patamona people|Patamona]], [[Lokono]], [[Kalina people|Kalina]], [[Wapishana people|Wapishana]], [[Pemon people|Pemon]], [[Akawaio people|Akawaio]] and [[Warao people|Warao]]. Historically dominated by the Lokono and Kalina tribes, Guyana was colonised by the Dutch before coming under [[British Empire|British control]] in the late 18th century. It was governed as [[British Guiana]], with a mostly plantation-style economy until the 1950s. It gained independence in 1966, and officially became a republic within the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] in 1970. The legacy of British rule is reflected in the country's political administration and diverse population, which includes [[Indo-Guyanese|Indian]], [[Afro-Guyanese|African]], [[Indigenous peoples in Guyana|Amerindian]], [[Chinese Guyanese|Chinese]], [[Portuguese Guyanese|Portuguese]], [[White Caribbeans|other European]], and various multiracial groups. In 2017, 41% of the population of Guyana lived below the [[poverty line]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mondiplo.com/guyana-no-recuerda-a-walter-rodney|title=" Guyana no recuerda a Walter Rodney " - Le Monde diplomatique en español|website=mondiplo.com}}</ref>


Guyana totals 214970 sq km, which is slightly smaller then Idaho. It shares borders with [[Brazil]], [[Suriname]] and [[Venezuela]].
Guyana is the only South American nation in which English is the official language. The majority of the population, however, speak [[Guyanese Creole]], an [[English-based creole language]], as a first language. Guyana is part of the [[Anglophone Caribbean]]. CARICOM [[Secretariat (administrative office)|headquarters]] is in Guyana's capital and largest city, [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]. In 2008, the country joined the [[Union of South American Nations]] as a founding member.


== Etymology ==
The name "Guyana" derives from ''Guiana'', the original name for the region that formerly included Guyana (British Guiana), Suriname ([[Dutch colonization of the Guianas|Dutch Guiana]]), French Guiana, and parts of [[Colombia]], Venezuela and Brazil. According to the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'', "Guyana" comes from an indigenous Amerindian language and means "land of many waters".<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/Guyana | title= Guyana | publisher= Oxford Dictionaries | access-date= 9 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Guyana|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/Guyana|publisher=Oxford Dictionaries|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707214123/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/Guyana|archive-date=7 July 2015|access-date=9 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''The Co‑operative Republic'' in the official name referred to [[Socialism in liberal democratic constitutions#Guyana|co-operative socialism]].


== History ==
{{Main|History of Guyana}}
[[File:LocationNetherlandsGuiana.png|thumb|left|A map of Dutch Guiana 1667–1814]]


It has a climate which is tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds, with two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January).
There are nine [[Indigenous peoples in Guyana|indigenous]] tribes residing in Guyana: the [[Wai-wai people|Wai Wai]], [[Macushi people|Macushi]], [[Patamona people|Patamona]], [[Lokono]], [[Kalina people|Kalina]], [[Wapishana people|Wapishana]], [[Pemon people|Pemon]], [[Akawaio people|Akawaio]] and [[Warao people|Warao]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amerindian.gov.gy/discover/tribes/index.html |title=Ministry of Amerindian Affairs – Georgetown, Guyana |publisher=Amerindian.gov.gy |access-date=30 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602173603/http://www.amerindian.gov.gy/discover/tribes/index.html |archive-date=2 June 2013 }}</ref> Historically, the Lokono and Kalina tribes dominated Guyana. Although [[Christopher Columbus]] was the first European to sight Guyana during his third voyage (in 1498), and Sir [[Walter Raleigh]] wrote an account in 1596, the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] were the first Europeans to establish colonies: [[Pomeroon (colony)|Pomeroon]] (1581), [[Essequibo (colony)|Essequibo]] (1616), [[Berbice]] (1627), and [[Demerara]] (1752). After the [[Kingdom of Great Britain|British]] assumed control in 1796,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.san.beck.org/13-1a-SouthAmerica.html#a11|title=South America 1744–1817 by Sanderson Beck|access-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101025206/http://www.san.beck.org/13-1a-SouthAmerica.html#a11|archive-date=1 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> the Dutch formally ceded the area in 1814. In 1831 the three separate colonies became a single British colony known as [[British Guiana]].


[[File:Boundary lines of British Guiana 1896.jpg|thumb|Map of [[British Guiana]] from 1896]]
Since its independence in 1824, Venezuela has claimed the area of land to the west of the [[Essequibo River]]. [[Simón Bolívar]] wrote to the British government warning against the Berbice and Demerara settlers settling on land which the Venezuelans, as assumed heirs of Spanish claims on the area dating to the sixteenth century, claimed was theirs. In 1899 an international tribunal ruled the land belonged to Great Britain.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://legal.un.org/riaa/cases/vol_XXVIII/331-340.pdf|title=Award regarding the Boundary between the Colony of British Guiana and the United States of Venezuela, decision of 3 October 1899<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref> The British territorial claim stemmed from Dutch involvement and colonization of the area also dating to the sixteenth century, which was ceded to the British.


Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom as a dominion on 26 May 1966 and became a republic on 23 February 1970, remaining a member of the Commonwealth. Shortly after independence, [[Venezuela]] began to take diplomatic, economic and military action against Guyana in order to enforce its territorial claim to the [[Guayana Esequiba]].<ref name=":56">{{Cite journal|last=Ince|first=Basil A.|date=1970|title=The Venezuela-Guyana Boundary Dispute in the United Nations|journal=[[Caribbean Studies (journal)|Caribbean Studies]]|volume=9|issue=4|pages=5–26}}</ref> The [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] and the US [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA), along with the British government, also played a strong role in influencing political control in Guyana during this time.<ref>[http://www.guyana.org/govt/US-declassifed-documents-1964-1968.html US Declassified Documents (1964–1968)]. guyana.org {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070212125256/http://www.guyana.org/govt/US-declassifed-documents-1964-1968.html |date=12 February 2007 }}</ref> The American government supported [[Forbes Burnham]] during the early years of independence because [[Cheddi Jagan]] was identified as a [[Marxist]]. They provided secret financial support and political campaign advice to Burnham's [[People's National Congress (Guyana)|People's National Congress]], to the detriment of the Jagan-led [[People's Progressive Party (Guyana)|People's Progressive Party]], which was mostly supported by Guyanese of East Indian background.


Information source: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gy.html
In 1974, the Guyana government leased {{convert|3800|acre|ha|order=flip}} of land to [[Peoples Temple]], an American new religious movement, led by pastor [[Jim Jones]]. The settlement, informally called "[[Jonestown]]", eventually grew to a population of about 1,000 people, mostly emigrated from the United States. In 1978, Guyana received worldwide attention when 909 people died in a mass murder/suicide in Jonestown by drinking cyanide-laced [[Flavor Aid]]. A day prior, U.S. congressman [[Leo Ryan]] had visited and toured the settlement as part of an investigation. As he was preparing to leave at the [[Port Kaituma]] airstrip, a group of Peoples Temple members pulled up and opened fire on the visiting delegation, killing Ryan and four other people.

In May 2008, President [[Bharrat Jagdeo]] was a signatory to the [[UNASUR Constitutive Treaty]] of the Union of South American Nations. The Guyanese government officially ratified the treaty in 2010.

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Guyana}}
[[File:GuyanaKaieteurFalls2004.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Kaieteur Falls]] is the world's largest single-drop waterfall by volume.]]
[[File:Rupununi Savannah.jpg|thumb|[[Rupununi Savannah]]]]

The territory controlled by Guyana lies between latitudes [[1st parallel north|1°]] and [[9th parallel north|9°N]], and longitudes [[56th meridian west|56°]] and [[62nd meridian west|62°W]], and is one of the world's most sparsely populated countries.

The country can be divided into five natural regions; a narrow and fertile marshy plain along the Atlantic coast (low coastal plain) where most of the population lives; a white sand belt more inland (hilly sand and clay region), containing most of Guyana's mineral deposits; the dense [[rain forest]]s (Forested Highland Region) in the southern part of the country; the drier [[savannah]] areas in the south-west; and the smallest interior lowlands (interior savannah) consisting mostly of mountains that gradually rise to the Brazilian border.

Some of Guyana's highest mountains are [[Mount Ayanganna]] ({{convert|2042|m|ft|0|disp=or}}), [[Monte Caburaí]] ({{convert|1465|m|ft|0|disp=or}}) and [[Mount Roraima]] ({{convert|2772|m|ft|0|disp=or}} – the highest mountain in Guyana) on the Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela [[tripoint]] border, part of the [[Pakaraima]] range. Mount Roraima and Guyana's table-top mountains ([[tepui]]s) are said to have been the inspiration for [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]]'s 1912 novel ''[[The Lost World (Arthur Conan Doyle)|The Lost World]]''. There are also many volcanic [[escarpment]]s and waterfalls, including [[Kaieteur Falls]] which is believed to be the largest single-drop waterfall in the world.<ref name=independent>{{cite news|title= South America: Do the continental: The best of what's new; spectacular waterfalls, forgotten cities, pre-Inca trails |work = The Independent |date=14 November 2004 |page = Features, page 3 |first = Mark |last = Rowe }}</ref> North of the [[Rupununi River]] lies the [[Rupununi savannah]], south of which lie the [[Kanuku Mountains]].

The four longest rivers are the Essequibo at {{convert|1010|km|mi|0}} long, the [[Courentyne River]] at {{convert|724|km|mi|0}}, the [[Berbice River|Berbice]] at {{convert|595|km|mi|0}}, and the [[Demerara River|Demerara]] at {{convert|346|km|mi|0}}. The Courentyne river forms the border with Suriname. At the mouth of the Essequibo are several large islands, including the {{convert|145|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} wide [[Shell Beach, Guyana|Shell Beach]] along the northwest coast, which is also a major breeding area for [[sea turtle]]s (mainly [[leatherback sea turtle|leatherbacks]]) and other wildlife.

The local climate is [[tropical climate|tropical]] and generally hot and humid, though moderated by northeast [[trade winds]] along the coast. There are two rainy seasons, the first from May to mid-August, the second from mid-November to mid-January.

Guyana has one of the largest unspoiled [[rainforest]]s in South America, some parts of which are almost inaccessible by humans. The rich natural history of Guyana was described by early explorers [[Walter Raleigh|Sir Walter Raleigh]] and [[Charles Waterton]] and later by naturalists Sir [[David Attenborough]] and [[Gerald Durrell]]. In 2008, the [[BBC]] broadcast a three-part programme called ''Lost Land of the Jaguar'' which highlighted the huge diversity of wildlife, including undiscovered species and rare species such as the [[giant otter]] and [[harpy eagle]].

In 2012, Guyana received a $45 million reward from Norway for its rainforest protection efforts. This stems from a 2009 agreement between the nations for a total of $250 million for protecting and maintaining the natural habitat. Thus far, the country has received $115 million of the total grant.

=== Environment and biodiversity ===
{{See also|Category:Flora of Guyana|Category:Fauna of Guyana|Category:Orchids of Guyana}}Guyana is home to more than 900 species of birds; 225 species of mammals; 880 species of reptiles and more than 6,500 different species of plants.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tavani|first=Claudia|date=14 August 2018|title=The Most Amazing Wildlife in Guyana|url=https://myadventuresacrosstheworld.com/wildlife-in-guyana/|access-date=3 September 2019|website=My Adventures Across the World|language=en-US}}</ref> Among these wildlife categories the most notably famous are the [[Arapaima]], which is the world's largest scaled freshwater fish, [[giant anteater]], the largest anteater, [[giant otter]], the world's largest and rarest river otter and lastly the most notably famous of birds, cock of the rock (''[[Rupicola rupicola]]'').<ref>Attenborough, S. 1998 BBC. ''The Life of Birds''. p. 211. {{ISBN|0563-38792-0}}</ref>[[File:Guyana BMNG.png|thumb|upright|Satellite image of Guyana from 2004]]
[[File:Golden frog Kaieteur (2).jpg|thumb|''[[Anomaloglossus beebei]]'' (Kaieteur), specific to the Guianas]]
[[File:Rurrenabaque Bolivia - The Amazon.jpg|thumb|The [[hoatzin]] is the national bird of Guyana.]]

The following habitats have been categorised for Guyana: coastal, marine, littoral, estuarine palustrine, mangrove, riverine, lacustrine, swamp, savanna, white sand forest, brown sand forest, montane, cloud forest, moist lowland and dry evergreen scrub forests (NBAP, 1999). About 14 areas of biological interest have been identified as possible hotspots for a National Protected Area System.
More than 80% of Guyana is still covered by forests, those forest also contains the world's rarest [[orchids]] ranging from dry evergreen and seasonal forests to montane and lowland evergreen rain forests. These forests are home to more than a thousand species of trees. Guyana's tropical climate, unique geology, and relatively pristine ecosystems support extensive areas of species-rich rain forests and natural habitats with high levels of [[endemism]]. Approximately eight thousand species of plants occur in Guyana, half of which are found nowhere else.

Guyana has one of the highest levels of [[biodiversity]] in the world. With 1,168 [[vertebrate]] species and 814 bird species, it boasts one of the richest mammalian fauna assemblages of any comparably sized area in the world. Guyana is home to six ecoregions: [[Guayanan Highlands moist forests]], [[Guianan moist forests]], [[Orinoco Delta swamp forests]], [[Tepuis]], [[Guianan savanna]], and [[Guianan mangroves]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287}}</ref> The Guiana Shield region is little known and extremely rich biologically. Unlike other areas of South America, over 70% of the natural habitat remains pristine. Guyana ranks third in the world with a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 9.58/10.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity - Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057}}</ref>

The rich natural history of British Guiana was described by early explorers Sir Walter Raleigh and Charles Waterton and later by naturalists Sir David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell.

Southern Guyana is host to some of the most pristine expanses of evergreen forests in the northern part of South America. Most of the forests found are tall, evergreen hill-land and lower montane forests, with large expanses of flooded forest along major rivers. Thanks to the very low human population density of the area, most of these forests are still intact. The Smithsonian Institution has identified nearly 2,700 species of plants from this region, representing 239 distinct families, and there are certainly additional species still to be recorded. The diversity of plants supports diverse animal life, recently documented by a biological survey organised by Conservation International. The reportedly clean, unpolluted waters of the Essequibo watershed support a remarkable diversity of fish and aquatic invertebrates, and are home to [[giant otters]], [[capybaras]], and several species of [[caimans]].

On land, large mammals, such as [[jaguar]]s, [[tapirs]], [[bush dog]]s, [[giant anteater]]s, and [[saki monkey]]s are still common. Over 400 species of birds have been reported from the region, and the reptile and amphibian faunas are similarly rich.

=== Protection ===
In February 2004, the Government of Guyana issued a title to more than {{convert|1|e6acre|km2|order=flip}} of land in the Konashen Indigenous District as the [[Kanashen]] Community-Owned Conservation Area, managed by the [[Wai-Wai (people)|Wai Wai]], and the world's largest community-owned conservation Area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservation.org/Documents/CI_Konashen_COCA_Biodiversity_Booklet.pdf |title=Biodiversity in the Konashen Community-Owned Conservation Area, Guyana |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206142519/http://www.conservation.org/Documents/CI_Konashen_COCA_Biodiversity_Booklet.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2010 }}</ref> The [[Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development]] was also created for the protection and sustainable use of the Iwokrama forest area.

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Guyana|Agriculture in Guyana}}
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2014}}
{{See also|List of Guyanese companies}}
[[File:Tractor in field of rice by Khirsah1.jpg|thumb|A tractor in a rice field on Guyana's coastal plain]]
[[File:Guyana Exports Treemap 2017.svg|thumb|Graphical depiction of Guyana's product exports in 28 colour-coded categories (2017, very outdated, petroleum dominates the exports since year 2020)]]

The main economic activities in Guyana are agriculture (production of rice and [[Natural brown sugar|Demerara sugar]]), [[bauxite]] and gold mining, deep water Crude oil, timber, shrimp fishing and minerals. The sugar industry, which accounts for 28% of all export earnings, is largely run by the company [[GuySuCo]], which employs more people than any other industry. Many industries have a large foreign investment. For example, the American company [[Reynolds Metals]] and the British-Australian [[Rio Tinto Group|Rio Tinto's]] Rio Tinto Alcan subsidiary are heavily invested in Guyana's mineral industry; the Korean/Malaysian Barama Company has a large stake in the logging industry. Since 2015, foreign companies have made several significant deep water [[Petroleum exploration in Guyana|oil discoveries]].

Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled [[labour (economics)|labour]], deficient infrastructure, and until recently, sizable external debt. Low prices for key mining and agricultural commodities, combined with troubles in the bauxite and sugar industries, had threatened the government's tenuous fiscal position and dimmed prospects for the future. However, the Guyanese economy has rebounded slightly and exhibited moderate economic growth since 1999, thanks to an expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favourable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organisations. In 2008, the economy witnessed a 3% increase in growth amid the global [[Financial crisis of 2007–08|economic crisis]]. It grew 5.4% in 2011 and 3.7% in 2012. According to IMF projections, economic growth is expected to be 53% in 2020 following the completion of the first off-shore oil project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Economy May Be Crashing But Guyana Still Seen Growing 53% |last=Bristow |first=Matthew |work=Bloomberg.com |date=14 April 2020 |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-14/world-economy-may-be-crashing-but-guyana-still-seen-growing-53 }}</ref>

The production of [[balatá]] (natural [[latex]]) was once big business in Guyana. Most of the balata bleeding in Guyana took place in the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains in the Rupununi. Early exploitation also took place in the North West District, but most of the trees in the area were destroyed by illicit bleeding methods that involved cutting down the trees rather than making incisions in them. Uses of balatá included the making of [[cricket]] balls, the temporary filling of troublesome tooth cavities, and the crafting of figurines and other decorative items (particularly by the Macushi people of the Kanuku mountains).

Major [[private sector]] organisations include the Private Sector Commission (PSC)<ref>{{cite web |author=RedSpider, Romona Khan |url=http://www.psc.org.gy |title=Private Sector Commission |publisher=Psc.org.gy |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100628041741/http://www.psc.org.gy/ |archive-date=28 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI);<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.georgetownchamberofcommerce.org |title=Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) |publisher=Georgetownchamberofcommerce.org |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217153022/http://www.georgetownchamberofcommerce.org/ |archive-date=17 December 2010 }}</ref>

The government initiated a major overhaul of the tax code in early 2007. A [[Value Added Tax]] (VAT) replaced six different taxes. Prior to the implementation of the VAT, it had been relatively easy to evade sales tax, and many businesses were in violation of tax code. Many businesses opposed VAT introduction because of the extra paperwork required; however, the Government has remained firm on the VAT. By replacing several taxes with one flat tax rate, it will also be easier for government auditors to spot [[embezzlement]]. This was prevalent under the former PPP/C government who authorised the VAT to be equal to 50% of the value of the good.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

Guyana held huge amounts of debt which have been written off through various international agencies. In 2003 Guyana qualified for US$329 million of debt relief, in addition to the US$256 million from the original World Bank plan for assisting [[heavily indebted poor countries]] in 1999. The Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative in 2006/7 wrote off about US$611 million of Guyana’s debt by the [[International Monetary Fund]], the [[World Bank]] and the [[Inter-American Development Bank]]. In 2006, Japan finalized its bilateral debt cancellation agreement, in 2007, US$15 million was written off by China and in 2008, Venezuela cancelled US$12.5 million.<ref>{{Cite web|date=April 15, 2009|title=International Development Association Country Assistance Strategy for Guyana for the Period FY 2009-2012|url=http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/162121468035426088/pdf/479830CAS0P106101Official0Use0Only1.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-28|page=7}}</ref>

=== Summary ===
[[File:Guyana's splenders.jpg|thumb|[[Thatched roof]] houses in Guyana]]
{{Columns
|style="width:500px;" |gap=20px
|col1 =
; GDP (2019 estimate) : $4.121&nbsp;billion ($5,252 per capita)<ref name="IMFWEOGY"/>
; GDP growth rate: 86.7% (2020)<ref name="IMFWEOGY"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/33044/9781464814693.pdf |title=Global Economic Prospects, January 2020 : Slow Growth, Policy Challenges |page=101 |publisher=[[World Bank]] |website=openknowledge.worldbank.org |access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
; Inflation: 12.3%
; Unemployment: 11.0% (2007)<ref name="cia" />
; Arable land: 2%
; Labour force: 324,943 (2019)<ref>{{cite web |title=Labor force, total - Guyana |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.TLF.TOTL.IN?locations=GY |website=data.worldbank.org |publisher=World Bank |access-date=14 January 2020}}</ref>
; Agricultural produce: sugar, rice, vegetable oils, beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, fish, shrimp
; Industrial production: [[bauxite]], sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
|col2 =
; Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish, oil which was made known in May 2015.
; Exports: US$621.6&nbsp;million (2006 estimate)<br />sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, [[molasses]], rum, timber, citrus fruits.
; Imports: US$706.9&nbsp;million (2006 estimate)<br />manufactured items, machinery, petroleum, food.
; Major trading partners: Canada, US, UK, Portugal, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Cuba, Singapore, Japan, Brazil, Suriname (2009)
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Guyana|Guyanese people}}
[[File:Guyana population density.png|thumb|Guyana's population density in 2005 (people per km<sup>2</sup>)]]
[[File:Population Guyana.PNG|thumb|A graph showing the population of Guyana from 1961 to 2003. The population decline in the 1980s can be clearly seen.]]

The chief majority (about 90%) of Guyana's 773,000 population lives along a narrow coastal strip which ranges from a width of {{convert|10|to|40|mi|order=flip}} inland and which makes up approximately only 10% of the nation's total land area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geographia.com/guyana/geninfo.html|title=Guyana General Information|publisher=Geographia.com|access-date=2 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411064504/http://www.geographia.com/Guyana/geninfo.html|archive-date=11 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The present population of Guyana is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, with ethnic groups originating from [[India]], [[Africa]], [[Europe]], and [[China]], as well as indigenous or aboriginal peoples. Despite their diverse ethnic backgrounds, these groups share two common languages: English and Creole.

The largest ethnic group is the [[Indo-Guyanese]] (also known as [[Indo-Caribbeans|East Indians]]), the descendants of indentured laborers from India, who make up 43.5% of the population, according to the 2002 census. They are followed by the [[Afro-Guyanese]], the descendants of slaves from Africa, who constitute 30.2%. The Guyanese of mixed heritage make up 16.7%, while the indigenous peoples (known locally as [[Amerindians]]) make up 9.1%. The indigenous groups include the [[Lokono|Arawaks]], the [[Wai-wai people|Wai Wai]], the Caribs, the [[Akawaio people|Akawaio]], the [[Arecuna people|Arecuna]], the [[Patamona]], the [[Wapixana]], the [[Macushi]] and the [[Warao people|Warao]].<ref name="cia" /> The two largest groups, the Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese, have experienced some racial tension.<ref>"[https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2005/09/050920_guyana_race.shtml Guyana turns attention to racism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202071027/http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2005/09/050920_guyana_race.shtml |date=2 December 2010 }}". BBC News. 20 September 2005.</ref><ref>"[http://www.guyana.org/features/conflicts_indiansandblacks.html Conflict between Guyanese-Indians and Blacks in Trinidad and Guyana Socially, Economically and Politically] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202013914/http://www.guyana.org/features/conflicts_indiansandblacks.html |date=2 December 2010 }}". Gabrielle Hookumchand, Professor Moses Seenarine. 18 May 2000.</ref><ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/265657/20111212/guyana-politics-election-blacks-indians-ramotar-ppp.htm International Business Times: "Guyana: A Study in Polarized Racial Politics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715075007/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/265657/20111212/guyana-politics-election-blacks-indians-ramotar-ppp.htm |date=15 July 2012 }} 12 December 2011</ref>

Most Indo-Guyanese are descended from indentured laborers who migrated from [[North India]], especially the [[Bhojpuri region|Bhojpur]] and [[Awadh]] regions of the [[Hindi Belt]] in the present day states of [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/musicofhindutrin00myer |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/musicofhindutrin00myer/page/30 30] |title=Music of Hindu Trinidad |publisher=University of Chicago Press |author=Helen Myers |isbn=9780226554532 |year=1999}}</ref> A significant minority of Indo-Guyanese are also descended from indentured migrants who came from the South Indian states of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Andhra Pradesh]].<ref>{{cite book |url=http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter17.pdf |title=Indian Diaspora |website=Indiandiaspora.nic.in |access-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430175036/http://indiandiaspora.nic.in/diasporapdf/chapter17.pdf |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The distribution pattern in the 2002 census was similar to those of the 1980 and 1991 censuses, but the share of the two main groups has declined. Indo-Guyanese made up 51.9% of the total population in 1980, but by 1991 this had fallen to 48.6%, and then to 43.5% in the 2002 census. Those of African descent increased slightly from 30.8% to 32.3% during the first period (1980 and 1991) before falling to 30.2% in the 2002 census. With small growth in the overall population, the decline in the shares of the two larger groups has resulted in the relative increase of shares of the multiracial and Amerindian groups. The Amerindian population rose by 22,097 people between 1991 and 2002. This represents an increase of 47.3% or annual growth of 3.5%. Similarly, the multiracial population increased by 37,788 persons, representing a 43.0% increase or annual growth rate of 3.2% from the base period of 1991 census.

The number of [[Portuguese Guyanese|Portuguese]] people (4.3% of the population in 1891) has been declining constantly over the decades.<ref>"[http://www.guyana.org/special/portuguese.html Portuguese emigration from Madeira to British Guiana] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918073124/http://www.guyana.org/special/portuguese.html |date=18 September 2013 }}"</ref>

=== Largest cities ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Largest cities and towns of Guyana<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geonames.org/GY/largest-cities-in-guyana.html|title=Biggest Cities Guyana|access-date=1 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019083702/http://www.geonames.org/GY/largest-cities-in-guyana.html|archive-date=19 October 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! Rank !! [[List of cities and towns in Guyana|Name]] !! [[Regions of Guyana|Region]] !! Population
|-
| '''1''' || [[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]] || [[Demerara-Mahaica]] || 235,017
|-
| '''2''' || [[Linden, Guyana|Linden]] || [[Upper Demerara-Berbice]] || 44,690
|-
| '''3''' || [[New Amsterdam, Guyana|New Amsterdam]] || [[East Berbice-Corentyne]] || 35,039
|-
| '''4''' || [[Anna Regina]] || [[Pomeroon-Supenaam]] || 12,448
|-
| '''5''' || [[Bartica]] || [[Cuyuni-Mazaruni]] || 11,157
|-
| '''6''' || [[Skeldon, Guyana|Skeldon]] || [[East Berbice-Corentyne]] || 5,859
|-
| '''7''' || [[Rosignol]] || [[Mahaica-Berbice]] || 5,782
|-
| '''8''' || [[Mahaica]] (village) || [[Demerara-Mahaica]] || 4,867
|-
| '''9''' || [[Parika]] || [[Essequibo Islands-West Demerara]] || 4,081
|-
| '''10''' || [[Vreed en Hoop]] || [[Essequibo Islands-West Demerara]] || 3,073
|}

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Guyana}}
English is the official language of Guyana and is used for education, government, media, and services. The vast majority of the population speaks [[Guyanese Creole]], an English-based creole with slight African, Indian, and Amerindian influence, as their native tongue.<ref>Damoiseau, Robert (2003) ''Eléments de grammaire comparée français-créole guyanais'' Ibis rouge, Guyana, {{ISBN|2-84450-192-3}}</ref> In addition, the indigenous [[Cariban languages]] ([[Akawaio language|Akawaio]], [[Waiwai language|Wai-Wai]], and [[Macushi language|Macushi]]) are spoken by a small minority of Amerindians. [[Caribbean Hindustani#Guyanese Hindustani|Guyanese Hindustani]] and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] are retained and spoken by some Indo-Guyanese for cultural and religious reasons.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religion in Guyana (2012 census)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/269230.pdf |title=Data |website=state.gov |access-date=11 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206151252/https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/269230.pdf |archive-date=6 December 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| label1 = [[Pentecostal]]
| value1 =23
| color1 =#89CFF0
| label2 = [[Anglican]]
| value2 =5
| color2 =#ADD8E6
| label3 =[[Seventh-day Adventist]]
| value3 =5
| color3 =#B0E0E6
| label4 =[[Methodist]]
| value4 =1
| color4 =#15F4EE
| label5 =Other [[Christians]]{{efn|Mostly made up of other [[Protestants]], but also [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Mormons]], [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and other Christians.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}}}}
| value5 =21
| color5 =#1F75FE
| label6 =[[Roman Catholic]]
| value6 =7
| color6 =Violet
| label7 =[[Hindu]]
| value7 =25
| color7 =Orange
| label8 =[[Muslim]]
| value8 =7
| color8 =Green
| label9 =Other
| value9 =3
| color9 =Red
| label10 =[[Irreligious]]
| value10 =3
| color10 =Black
}}

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Guyana}}

According to a 2002 nationwide census on religious affiliation, 57.4% of the population was [[Christianity in Guyana#Christianity|Christian]], 28.4% was [[Hinduism in Guyana|Hindu]], 7.2% was [[Islam in Guyana|Muslim]], 1.9% adhered to other religions, while 2.3% of the population did not profess any.<ref name="CENSUS2002">{{cite web|url=http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/CensusReport2002.pdf|title=Final 2002 Census Compendium 2|website=gov.gy|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101024759/http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/CensusReport2002.pdf|archive-date=1 January 2017}}</ref>

Among Christians, most are Protestants (34.8%) or other Christian (20.8%), but there is also a minority of Roman Catholics (7.1%). Among Hindus, [[Sanātanī]] (orthodox Hinduism) is the major sect, along with a notable minority of those who follow the [[Arya Samaj in Guyana|Arya Samaj]], and a smaller minority who follow the [[International Society for Krishna Consciousness|ISKCON]], [[Sathya Sai Baba movement]], [[Chinmaya Mission]], or [[Kabir Panth]]. Among Muslims, Sunni are in the majority, while there are also Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. Among other religions, [[Rastafarianism]], [[Buddhism]], and the [[Baháʼí Faith in Guyana|Baha'i]] faith are the most popular.

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Guyana}}
{{More citations needed section|date=December 2008}}
[[File:Old residence.jpg|thumb|left|The State House, Guyana's presidential residence]]
[[File:20191121 Guyana 0062 Georgetown sRGB (49295972987).jpg|thumb|left|The Supreme Court of Guyana]]
[[File:Parliament building, Guyana.jpg|thumb|left|Guyana's parliament building since 1834]]

The [[politics of Guyana]] takes place in a framework of a [[Presidential system|presidential]] [[Representative democracy|representative democratic]] [[republic]], in which the [[President of Guyana]] is both [[head of state]] and [[head of government]], and of a [[multi-party system]]. [[Executive power]] is exercised by the President and the Government. [[Legislative power]] is vested in both the President and the [[National Assembly of Guyana]]. Historically, politics are a source of tension in the country, and violent riots have often broken out during elections. During the 1970s and 1980s, the political landscape was dominated by the People's National Congress.

In 1992, the first constitutional elections were overseen by former United States President [[Jimmy Carter]], and the People's Progressive Party led the country until 2015. The two parties are principally organised along ethnic lines and as a result often clash on issues related to the allocation of resources. In the General Elections held on 28 November 2011, the People's Progressive Party (PPP) retained a majority, and their presidential candidate [[Donald Ramotar]] was elected as president.

On 11 May 2015, early general elections were held. A coalition of the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) parties won 33 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly. On 16 May 2015, retired army general [[David A. Granger]] became the eighth President of Guyana. However, on 21 December 2018, a vote of confidence was called for, regarding terms under which the government granted a franchise for offshore oil exploration. Legislator Charrandass Persaud defected from the coalition and the vote failed, requiring new elections. The governing coalition litigated this result for the entire 90 days allowed for new elections. New elections were held on March 02, 2020 and results were declared on August 03, 2020, with the People's Progressive Party/Civic as the winner. Dr. Irfaan Mohamed Ali became the ninth President of Guyana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://guyanachronicle.com/2019/03/21/ruling-on-confidence-vote-appeal-friday
|title=Ruling on confidence vote appeal Friday
|author=Svetlana Marshall
|publisher=Guyana Chronicle
|date=21 March 2019}}</ref>

=== Public procurement ===
[[Government procurement|Public procurement]] in Guyana is overseen by the Public Procurement Commission, appointed under the Public Procurement Commission Act 2003. Due to lengthy delay in identifying and agreeing commission members, the commission was not appointed until 2016.<ref>[https://www.cips.org/supply-management/news/2016/august/guyana-hands-procurement-to-commission/ After 14 years, Guyana establishes procurement commission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021131901/https://www.cips.org/supply-management/news/2016/august/guyana-hands-procurement-to-commission/ |date=21 October 2016 }}, "Supply Management", 12 August 2016, accessed 1 October 2016</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Guyana Defence Force}}

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military service of Guyana.

=== Human rights ===
{{See also|LGBT rights in Guyana}}
[[Homosexuality|Homosexual]] acts, as well as [[anal sex|anal]] and [[oral sex]] are illegal in Guyana.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/gay-lesbian-bisexual-relationships-illegal-in-74-countries-a7033666.html |title= LGBT relationships are illegal in 74 countries, research finds |work= The Independent |date= 17 May 2016 |access-date= 29 August 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170827151517/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/gay-lesbian-bisexual-relationships-illegal-in-74-countries-a7033666.html |archive-date= 27 August 2017 |url-status=live |df= dmy-all }}</ref> It is currently the only country in South America that prohibits such acts. Engaging in such acts can warrant [[life imprisonment]], though it is [[Unenforced law|not enforced]]. These laws can be difficult to alter, as [[Constitution of Guyana|Guyana's Constitution]] protects laws inherited from the [[British Empire]] from constitutional review.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Burham |first1=Margaret A. |title=Saving Constitutional Rights from Judicial Scrutiny: The Savings Clause in the Law of the Commonwealth Caribbean |url=https://repository.law.miami.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1159&context=umialr |website=miami.edu |publisher=miami.edu |access-date=26 June 2020}}</ref> However, [[cross-dressing]] has been legal since 2018, when a ban was struck down by Guyana's court of last resort, the [[Caribbean Court of Justice]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ccj.org/ccj-declares-guyanas-cross-dressing-law-unconstitutional/|title=CCJ Declares Guyana's Cross-Dressing Law Unconstitutional|publisher=The Caribbean Court of Justice|date=13 November 2018|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref> [[President of Guyana|President]] [[David A. Granger]] (2015–2020) expressed support for these efforts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2016/01/06/president-to-respect-lgbt-rights/|title=President to respect LGBT rights|publisher=Guyana Chronicle|date=6 January 2016|access-date=4 August 2020}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
=== Regions and Neighbourhood Councils === <!--Linked from [[Administrative divisions of Guyana]]-->
{{Main|Regions of Guyana|Neighbourhood Councils of Guyana}}
Guyana is divided into 10 regions:<ref>[http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/Chapter3_Population_Redistribution_Internal_Migration.pdf Bureau of Statistics – Guyana] {{webarchive|url=https://www.webcitation.org/6ANd8NvxO?url=http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/Chapter3_Population_Redistribution_Internal_Migration.pdf |date=2 September 2012 }}, CHAPTER III: POPULATION REDISTRIBUTION AND INTERNAL MIGRATION, Table 3.4: Population Density, Guyana: 1980–2002</ref><ref>[http://gina.gov.gy/natprofile/gnprof.html Guyana – Government Information Agency], National Profile. gina.gov.gy {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814020614/http://gina.gov.gy/natprofile/gnprof.html |date=14 August 2007 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|- style="background:#bbb;"
! No
! Region
! Area km<sup>2</sup>
! Pop. <br />(2012 Census)
! Pop. Density <br />per km<sup>2</sup>
|-
| '''1''' || align=left | [[Barima-Waini]] || 20,339 || 26,941 || 1.32
|-
| '''2''' || align=left |[[Pomeroon-Supenaam]] || 6,195 || 46,810 || 7.56
|-
| '''3''' || align=left |[[Essequibo Islands-West Demerara]] || 3,755 || 107,416 || 28.61
|-
| '''4''' || align=left |[[Demerara-Mahaica]] || 2,232 || 313,429 || 140.43
|-
| '''5''' || align=left |[[Mahaica-Berbice]] || 4,190 || 49,723 || 11.87
|-
| '''6''' || align=left |[[East Berbice-Corentyne]] || 36,234 || 109,431 || 3.02
|-
| '''7''' || align=left |[[Cuyuni-Mazaruni]] || 47,213 || 20,280 || 0.43
|-
| '''8''' || align=left |[[Potaro-Siparuni]] || 20,051 || 10,190 || 0.51
|-
| '''9''' || align=left |[[Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo]] || 57,750 || 24,212 || 0.42
|-
| '''10''' || align=left |[[Upper Demerara-Berbice]] || 17,040 || 39,452 || 2.32
|-
| || align=left | '''Total''' || '''214,999''' || '''747,884''' || '''3.48'''
|}

The regions are divided into 27 neighbourhood councils.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/List_of_NDCs.pdf |title=Government of Guyana, Statistics |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113142144/http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/pubs/List_of_NDCs.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== International and regional relations ==
=== Boundary disputes ===
[[File:Essequiborivermap.png|thumb|250px|right|Map of Guyana, showing the [[Essequibo River]] and (shaded dark) the river's drainage basin. Venezuela claims territory up to the western bank of the river. The historical claim by the UK included the river basin well into current-day Venezuela.]]
{{See also|Schomburgk Line|Borders of Suriname}}
Guyana is in [[Territorial dispute|border disputes]] with both Suriname, which claims the area east of the left bank of the [[Corentyne River]] and the New River in southwestern Suriname, and Venezuela which claims the land west of the Essequibo River, once the [[Essequibo (colony)|Dutch colony of Essequibo]] as part of Venezuela's [[Guayana Essequiba]].<ref name="foxlatino">{{cite web |title = Guyana ponders judicial action in border dispute with Venezuela |url = http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/12/23/guyana-ponders-judicial-action-in-border-dispute-with-venezuela |work = FoxNews Latino |date = 23 December 2014 |access-date = 22 February 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150222140437/http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2014/12/23/guyana-ponders-judicial-action-in-border-dispute-with-venezuela/ |archive-date = 22 February 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2017-06-07.html |title=Tribunal decision tentatively set for August |access-date=9 July 2007 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406062803/http://www.guyanachronicle.com/ARCHIVES/archive%2017-06-07.html |archive-date=6 April 2009 }}. guyanachronicle.com, Archives for 17 June 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://landofsixpeoples.com/news701/nk0702053.html |title=Guyana to experience 'massive' oil exploration this year |publisher=Landofsixpeoples.com |date=5 February 2007 |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824175352/http://landofsixpeoples.com/news701/nk0702053.html |archive-date=24 August 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Business/Stories/2007/04/27/NEWS0000004303.html |title=News in the Caribbean |publisher=Caribbean360.com |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100725/http://www.caribbean360.com/News/Business/Stories/2007/04/27/NEWS0000004303.html |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> The maritime<ref>[http://www.islandjournal.net/reportc.htm?section=caribbeannewsnow&story=Foreign-affairs-minister-reiterates-Guyana%27s-territorial-sovereignty&id=21520&catid=13 Foreign affairs minister reiterates Guyana's territorial sovereignty] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112212835/http://www.islandjournal.net/reportc.htm?section=caribbeannewsnow&story=Foreign-affairs-minister-reiterates-Guyana%27s-territorial-sovereignty&id=21520&catid=13 |date=12 November 2014 }}. CaribbeanNetNews.com (17 February 2010).</ref><ref>[http://www.antiguaobserver.com/?p=24790 POINT OF CLARIFICATION: Guyana clears air on Suriname border talk]. [[Caribbean News Agency]] (17 February 2010).</ref> component of the territorial dispute with Suriname was arbitrated by the [[United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea]], and a ruling was announced on 21 September 2007. The ruling concerning the [[Caribbean Sea]] north of both nations found both parties violated treaty obligations and declined to order any compensation to either party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1147 |title=official site of the Permanent Court of Arbitration |publisher=Pca-cpa.org |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208082359/http://www.pca-cpa.org/showpage.asp?pag_id=1147 |archive-date=8 February 2013 }}</ref>

When the British surveyed British Guiana in 1840, they included the entire [[Cuyuni River]] basin within the colony. Venezuela did not agree with this as it claimed all lands west of the Essequibo River. In 1898, at Venezuela's request, an international [[Arbitral tribunal|arbitration tribunal]] was convened, and in 1899 the tribunal issued an award giving about 94% of the disputed territory to British Guiana. The arbitration was concluded, settled and accepted into International law by both Venezuela and the U.K. Venezuela brought up again the settled claim, during the 1960s cold war period, and during Guyana's Independence period. This issue is now governed by the Treaty of Geneva of 1966, which was signed by the Governments of Guyana, Great Britain and Venezuela, and Venezuela continues to claim [[Guayana Esequiba (Zona en Reclamación)|Guayana Esequiba]].<ref name="Ishmael">[http://www.guyana.org/features/trail_diplomacy.html Ishmael, Odeen (1998, rev. 2006) "The Trail Of Diplomacy: A Documentary History of the Guyana-Venezuela Border Issue"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628103711/http://www.guyana.org/features/trail_diplomacy.html |date=28 June 2009 }} Dr. Ishmael was Ambassador of Guyana to Venezuela when this was written.</ref> Venezuela calls this region "Zona en Reclamación" (Reclamation Zone) and Venezuelan maps of the national territory routinely include it, drawing it in with dashed lines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.a-venezuela.com/mapas/map/html/politico.html |title=Mapa Politico de Venezuela |publisher=A-venezuela.com |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220105637/http://www.a-venezuela.com/mapas/map/html/politico.html |archive-date=20 February 2010 }}</ref>

Specific small disputed areas involving Guyana are [[Ankoko Island]] with Venezuela; Corentyne River<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.islandjournal.net/reportc.htm?section=caribbeannewsnow&story=Guyana-and-Suriname-border-dispute-continues-despite-UN-findings&id=11740&catid=13 |title=Guyana and Suriname border dispute continues despite UN findings |access-date=15 December 2008 |first=Oscar |last=Ramjeet |date=28 October 2008 |work=Caribbean Net News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228020436/http://www.islandjournal.net/reportc.htm?section=caribbeannewsnow&story=Guyana-and-Suriname-border-dispute-continues-despite-UN-findings&id=11740&catid=13 |archive-date=28 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> with Suriname; and [[Tigri Area]] or [[New River Triangle]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/opinion/letters/10/24/there-is-no-agreement-recognizing-suriname%E2%80%99s-sovereignty-over-the-corentyne-river/ |title=There is no agreement recognizing Suriname's sovereignty over the Corentyne River |access-date=15 December 2008 |first=Carolyn |last=Rodrigues-Birkett |date=24 October 2008 |work=Stabroek Newspaper |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503102502/http://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/opinion/letters/10/24/there-is-no-agreement-recognizing-suriname%e2%80%99s-sovereignty-over-the-corentyne-river/ |archive-date=3 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> with Suriname. In 1967 a Surinamese survey team was found in the New River Triangle and was forcibly removed. In August 1969 a patrol of the [[Guyana Defence Force]] found a survey camp and a partially completed airstrip inside the triangle, and documented evidence of the Surinamese intention to occupy the entire disputed area. After an exchange of gunfire, the [[Surinamese people|Surinamese]] were driven from the triangle.

=== The [[Organisation of American States]] (OAS) ===
Guyana entered the Inter–American system in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=GUY|title=OAS – Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development|last=OAS|date=1 August 2009|website=oas.org|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014191244/http://www.oas.org/en/member_states/member_state.asp?sCode=GUY|archive-date=14 October 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Indigenous Leaders Summits of America (ILSA) ===
With Guyana having many groups of indigenous persons and given the geographical location of the country, the contributions of the Guyanese to the OAS respecting indigenous people may be significant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/en/topics/indigenous_peoples.asp|title=OAS – Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development|last=OAS|date=1 August 2009|website=oas.org|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222054758/http://www.oas.org/en/topics/indigenous_peoples.asp|archive-date=22 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

The position of the OAS respecting indigenous persons developed over the years. "The "OAS has supported and participated in the organisation of Indigenous Leaders Summits of Americas (ILSA)"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.summit-americas.org/cs_ind.html|title=Indigenous Peoples|website=summit-americas.org|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413215714/http://www.summit-americas.org/cs_ind.html|archive-date=13 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Draft American Declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous Persons appears to be a working document<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oas.org/consejo/CAJP/Indigenous%20special%20session.asp#Special|title=Events OAS Indigenous Special Events|website=oas.org|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104091030/http://www.oas.org/consejo/CAJP/Indigenous%20special%20session.asp#Special|archive-date=4 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Agreements which affect financial relationships ===
==== The Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty 1994 ====
At a CARICOM Meeting, representatives of Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana respectively signed The Double Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaty 1994 on 19 August 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ird.gov.tt/Media/Default/IRDTreaties/DTT-Caricom--1994.pdf|title=IRD Trinidad and Tobago – CARICOM Treaties|website=ird.gov.tt|access-date=27 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507154606/http://ird.gov.tt/Media/Default/IRDTreaties/DTT-Caricom--1994.pdf|archive-date=7 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

This treaty covered taxes, residence, tax jurisdictions, capital gains, business profits, interest, dividends, royalties and other areas.

==== FATCA ====
On 30 June 2014, Guyana signed a Model 1 agreement with the United States of America in relation to the [[Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act]] (FATCA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx|title=Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)|website=treasury.gov|access-date=16 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113122755/https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/tax-policy/treaties/Pages/FATCA.aspx|archive-date=13 January 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
This Model 1 agreement includes a reference to the Tax Information Exchange Agreement (Clause 3) which was signed on 22 July 1992 in Georgetown, Guyana intending to exchange Tax information on an automatic basis.

== Infrastructure and telecommunications ==
=== Transport ===
{{Main|Transport in Guyana}}
[[File:LethemBridge.jpg|thumb|Cross-border bridge from Guyana to Brazil near [[Lethem, Guyana|Lethem]]]]
There are a total of {{convert|116|mi|km|order=flip}} of railway, all dedicated to ore transport. There are {{convert|4952|mi|km|order=flip}} of highway, of which {{convert|367|mi|km|order=flip}} are paved. Navigable waterways extend {{convert|669|mi|km|order=flip}}, including the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers.
There are ports at Georgetown, Port Kaituma, and [[New Amsterdam, Guyana|New Amsterdam]]. There are two international airports ([[Cheddi Jagan International Airport]], Timehri and Eugene F. Correira International Airport (formerly [[Ogle Airport]]); along with about 90 airstrips, nine of which have paved runways. Guyana, Suriname and the [[Falkland Islands]] are the only three regions in South America which [[drive on the left]].

=== Electricity ===
{{Main|Electricity sector in Guyana}}
The electricity sector in Guyana is dominated by [[Guyana Power and Light]] (GPL), the state-owned vertically integrated utility. Although the country has a large potential for hydroelectric and [[bagasse]]-fueled power generation, most of its 226 [[Megawatt|MW]] of installed capacity correspond to diesel-engine driven generators.<ref>{{cite book|publisher=World Bank|date=2007|url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2007/10/05/000020439_20071005091246/Rendered/PDF/359511GY0V2.pdf|title=Guyana Investment Climate Assessment, Vol II|pages=71, 73}}</ref>

Several initiatives are in place to improve [[Hinterland energy in Guyana|energy access in the hinterland]]. Guyana is endowed with renewable energy resources and is likely to benefit greatly from the energy transition. It is ranked no. 3 among 156 countries in the index of geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition (GeGaLo Index).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Overland |first1=Indra |last2=Bazilian |first2=Morgan |last3=Ilimbek Uulu |first3=Talgat |last4=Vakulchuk |first4=Roman |last5=Westphal |first5=Kirsten |title=The GeGaLo index: Geopolitical gains and losses after energy transition |journal=Energy Strategy Reviews |date=1 November 2019 |volume=26 |pages=100406 |doi=10.1016/j.esr.2019.100406 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

== Health ==
{{Main|Health in Guyana}}

[[Life expectancy]] at birth is estimated to be 69.5 years as of 2020<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=South America :: Guyana — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/|access-date=2020-12-10|website=www.cia.gov}}</ref>

The PAHO/ WHO Global Health Report 2014 (using statistics of 2012) ranked the country as having the highest [[suicide]] rate in the world, with a mortality rate of 44.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/131056/1/9789241564779_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1 |title=WHO Report 2014 Preventing suicide: A global imperative. |access-date=4 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616024658/http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/131056/1/9789241564779_eng.pdf?ua=1&ua=1 |archive-date=16 June 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/americas/21616972-when-it-comes-people-taking-their-own-lives-guyana-leads-world-desperate-measures|title=Desperate measures|date=13 September 2014|via=The Economist|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610122736/http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21616972-when-it-comes-people-taking-their-own-lives-guyana-leads-world-desperate-measures|archive-date=10 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> According to 2011 estimates from the [[WHO]], [[HIV]] [[prevalence]] is 1.2% of the teen/adult population (ages 15–49).<ref>[https://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/EN_WHS2011_Part1.pdf WHO Health-Related Millennium Development Goals Report 2011] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617072744/http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/EN_WHS2011_Part1.pdf |date=17 June 2012 }}. Part1</ref>

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Guyana}}
[[File:Queens College Guyana.jpg|thumb]]
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2013}}

Guyana lacks a critical mass of expertise in many of the disciplines and activities on which it depends. At 88.5%, Guyana's [[literacy rate]] is the [[list of countries by literacy rate|lowest]] in South America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EDULIT_DS&popupcustomise=true&lang=en#|title=Education|last=UIS|website=data.uis.unesco.org|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905185501/http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=EDULIT_DS&popupcustomise=true&lang=en|archive-date=5 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Guyanese education system is modelled on the former [[British education]] system. Students are expected to take the NGSA (National Grade Six Assessment) for entrance into high school in grade 7. They take the [[CXC]] at the end of high school. Schools have introduced the [[Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination|CAPE]] exams which all other Caribbean countries have introduced. The [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-level system]], inherited from the British era, is offered only in a few schools.

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Guyana}}
{{See also|Literature of Guyana|Music of Guyana}}
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2013}}
{| style="float:right;" class="wikitable"
|+ <span style="font-size:115%;">Holidays</span>
|-
| 1 January || New Year's Day
|-
| Spring || [[Youman Nabi]] (Mawlid)
|-
| 23 February || [[Republic Day]]{{\}}[[Mashramani]]
|-
| March || [[Phagwah]]
|-
| March{{\}}April || [[Good Friday]]
|-
| March{{\}}April || [[Easter Sunday]]
|-
| 1 May || [[Labour Day]]
|-
| 5 May || [[Indian Arrival Day]]
|-
| 26 May || [[Independence Day]]
|-
| First Monday in July || [[CARICOM Day]]
|-
| 1 August || [[Emancipation Day]]
|-
| October{{\}}November || [[Diwali]]
|-
| 25 December || Christmas
|-
| {{nowrap|26 or 27 December}} || [[Boxing Day]]
|}

Guyana's culture is very similar to that of the English-speaking Caribbean, and has historically been tied to the English-speaking Caribbean as part of the British Empire when it became a possession in the nineteenth century. Guyana is a founding member of the [[Caricom]] (Caribbean Community) economic bloc and also the home of the Bloc's Headquarters, the CARICOM Secretariat.

Guyana's geographical location, its sparsely populated rain-forest regions, and its substantial Amerindian population differentiate it from English-speaking Caribbean countries. Its blend of Indo-Guyanese (East Indian) and Afro-Guyanese (African) cultures gives it similarities to [[Trinidad]] and distinguishes it from other parts of the Americas. Guyana shares similar interests with the islands in the West Indies, such as food, festive events, music, sports, etc.

Guyana plays international cricket as a part of the [[West Indian cricket team|West Indies cricket team]], and the [[Guyanese cricket team|Guyana team]] plays [[first class cricket|first-class cricket]] against other nations of the Caribbean. In March and April 2007 Guyana co-hosted the [[Cricket World Cup 2007]]. In addition to its CARICOM membership, Guyana is a member of [[CONCACAF]], the international football federation for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Events include [[Mashramani]] (Mash), [[Phagwah]] ([[Holi]]), and [[Deepavali]] ([[Diwali]]).
=== Landmarks ===
[[File:20191121 Guyana 0048 Georgetown sRGB (49295795336).jpg|thumb|upright|[[St George's Cathedral, Georgetown]]]]

* [[St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown|St George's Anglican Cathedral]]: A historic Anglican Cathedral made of wood.
* [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]]: The world's fourth-longest floating bridge.
* [[Berbice Bridge]]: The world's sixth-longest floating bridge.
* [[Secretariat of the Caribbean Community|Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Building]]: Houses the headquarters of the largest and most powerful economic union in the Caribbean.
* [[Providence Stadium]]: Situated on Providence on the north bank of the Demerara River and built in time for the ICC World Cup 2007, it is the largest sports stadium in the country. It is also near the Providence Mall, forming a major spot for leisure in Guyana.
* [[Arthur Chung]] Conference Centre:<ref name="Ministry of Public Telecommunications &#124; Republic of Guyana 2017">{{cite web |title=Arthur Chung Conference Centre |website=Ministry of Public Telecommunications &#124; Republic of Guyana |date=6 March 2017 |url=https://mopt.gov.gy/agencies/arthur-chung-conference-centre/ |access-date=10 December 2019}}</ref> Presented as a gift from the People's Republic of China to the Government of Guyana. It is the only one of its kind in the country.
* [[Stabroek Market]]: A large cast-iron colonial structure that looked like a statue was located next to the Demerara River.
* [[Georgetown City Hall|City Hall]]: A beautiful wooden structure also from the colonial era.
* [[Takutu River Bridge]]: A bridge across the Takutu River, connecting Lethem in Guyana to Bonfim in Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Takutu Bridge to open Friday |work=Kaieteur News |date=29 July 2009 |url= https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2009/07/29/takutu-bridge-to-open-friday/ }}</ref>
* [[Umana Yana]]: An Amerindian benab, that is a national monument built in 1972, for a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Non-Aligned nations (It was rebuilt in 2016).
* [[Shell Beach, Guyana|Shell Beach]]: Approximately 140&nbsp;km long beach. In some parts beach consists of pure shells, very high biological diversity. Important nesting site for 8 species of sea turtles.

== Sport ==
{{See also|Cricket in the West Indies}}
[[File:Providence Stadium outside.jpg|thumb|left|Providence Stadium as seen from the East Bank Highway]]

The major sports in Guyana are [[Guyana national cricket team|cricket]] (Guyana is part of the West Indies as defined for international cricket purposes<ref>{{cite web|title=Composition and countries|url=http://www.windiescricket.com/|work=W.I Cricket team|publisher=West Indies Cricket Board|access-date=27 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103005917/http://windiescricket.com/|archive-date=3 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>), [[Basketball in Guyana|basketball]], [[association football|football]], and volleyball.<ref>{{cite web|title=SPORTS, LITERATURE|url=http://www.guyana.org/Handbook/sprtslit.html|publisher=Guyana News and Information|access-date=30 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111034/http://www.guyana.org/Handbook/sprtslit.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Minor sports include [[beach cricket|softball cricket (beach cricket)]], field hockey, [[netball]], [[rounders]], [[lawn tennis]], table tennis, [[boxing]], [[squash (sport)|squash]], [[Guyana national rugby union team|rugby]], [[horse racing]] and a few others.

Guyana played host to [[international cricket]] matches as part of the [[2007 Cricket World Cup]] (CWC 2007). The new 15,000-seat [[Providence Stadium]], also referred to as Guyana National Stadium, was built in time for the World Cup and was ready for the beginning of play on 28 March. At the first international game of CWC 2007 at the stadium, [[Lasith Malinga]] of the [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lankan team]] took four wickets in four consecutive deliveries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Providence stadium – Records and statistics|url=http://www.cricketworld4u.com/grounds/00042.php|access-date=27 November 2013|newspaper=Cricket World 4U|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232539/http://www.cricketworld4u.com/grounds/00042.php|archive-date=2 December 2013}}</ref>

[[Guyana's national basketball team]] has traditionally been one of the top contenders at the [[CaribeBasket]], the top international basketball tournament for countries in the [[Caribbean]].

For international football purposes, [[Guyana national football team|Guyana]] is part of CONCACAF. The highest league in their club system is the [[GFF Elite League]]. [[Guyana national football team|Guyana's national football team]] has never qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]], however they qualified for the [[Caribbean Cup]] in [[1991 Caribbean Cup|1991]], finishing fourth, and [[2007 Caribbean Cup|2007]]. In 2019, they qualified for the [[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] for the first time, after finishing 7th in the [[2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League qualifying|qualifiers]]. They finished 3rd in Group D, having lost two matches and drawn one.

Guyana also has five courses for horse racing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Service|first=K News|title=Guyana Horse Racing Authority continues its drive to regularize the sport|url=http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/07/11/guyana-horse-racing-authority-continues-its-drive-to-regularize-the-sport/|access-date=27 November 2013|newspaper=Kaiteur News|date=11 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002449/http://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2013/07/11/guyana-horse-racing-authority-continues-its-drive-to-regularize-the-sport/|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{clear}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Guyana|Caribbean}}
* [[Index of Guyana-related articles]]
* [[Outline of Guyana]]
* [[Petroleum exploration in Guyana]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist
|refs =
<ref name="cia">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/ |title=The World Factbook: Guyana |publisher=CIA |access-date=6 January 2014 }}</ref>
<!-- REFERENCE NOT USED IN ARTICLE
<ref name="imf2">{{cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2016&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=336&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=25&pr.y=14 |title=Guyana |publisher=International Monetary Fund |access-date=18 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220111010/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2016&ey=2020&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=336&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=25&pr.y=14 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>-->
}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book
| last = Brock
| first = Stanley E.
| author-link = Stan Brock (philanthropist)
| title = All the Cowboys Were Indians
| edition = Commemorative, illustrated (reprint of ''Jungle Cowboy'')
| year = 1999
| publisher = Synergy South, Inc
| location = Lenoir City, TN
| isbn = 978-1-892329-00-4
| oclc = 51089880
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dtUcPQAACAAJ
| access-date = 7 January 2010
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Brock
| first = Stanley E.
| author-link = Stan Brock (philanthropist)
| title = Jungle Cowboy
| edition = illustrated
| year = 1972
| publisher = Robert Hale Ltd
| location = London
| isbn = 978-0-7091-2972-1
| oclc = 650259
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=awK7PAAACAAJ
| access-date = 7 January 2010
}}
* Donald Haack, ''Bush Pilot in Diamond Country''
* [[Hamish MacInnes]], ''Climb to the Lost World'' (1974)
* Andrew Salkey, ''Georgetown Journal'' (1970)
* Marion Morrison, ''Guyana'' (Enchantment of the World Series)
* Bob Temple, ''Guyana''
* Noel C. Bacchus, ''Guyana Farewell: A Recollection of Childhood in a Faraway Place''
* Marcus Colchester, ''Guyana: Fragile Frontier''
* Matthew French Young, ''Guyana: My Fifty Years in the Guyanese Wilds''
* Margaret Bacon, ''Journey to Guyana''
* Father Andrew Morrison SJ, ''Justice: The Struggle For Democracy in Guyana 1952–1992''
* {{cite book
| last = Daly
| first = Vere T.
| title = The Making of Guyana
| year = 1974
| publisher = Macmillan
| isbn = 978-0-333-14482-4
| oclc = 1257829
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UOFrAAAAMAAJ
| access-date = 7 January 2010
}}
* [[D. Graham Burnett]], ''Masters of All They Surveyed: Exploration, Geography and a British El Dorado''
* Ovid Abrams, ''Metegee: The History and Culture of Guyana''
* {{cite book
| last = Waugh
| first = Evelyn
| author-link = Evelyn Waugh
| title = Ninety-two days: The account of a tropical journey through British Guiana and part of Brazil
| year = 1934
| publisher = Farrar & Rinehart
| location = New York
| oclc = 3000330
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Ed4YAAAAYAAJ
| access-date = 7 January 2010
}}
* Gerald Durrell, ''Three Singles To Adventure''
* Cheddi Jagan. ''The West on Trial: My Fight for Guyana's Freedom''
* Cheddi Jagan. ''My Fight For Guyana's Freedom: With Reflections on My Father by Nadira Jagan-Brancier''.
* Colin Henfrey, ''Through Indian Eyes: A Journey Among the Indian Tribes of Guiana''.
* Stephen G. Rabe, ''US Intervention in British Guiana: A Cold War Story''.
* Charles Waterton, ''Wanderings in South America''.
* David Attenborough, ''Zoo Quest to Guiana'' (Lutterworth Press, London: 1956).
* John Gimlette, ''Wild Coast: Travels on South America's Untamed Edge'', 2011.
* {{cite book
| last = Clementi
| first = Cecil
| author-link = Cecil Clementi
| title = The Chinese in British Guiana
| year = 1915
| publisher = The Argosy Company Limited
| location = Georgetown, British Guiana
| url = http://caribbeanpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Cecil-Clementi-The-Chinese-In-British-Guiana-Complete-Text.pdf
| access-date = 27 October 2015
}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|Guyana|n=Category:Guyana|voy=Guyana|m=no|mw=no|species=no}}
* [https://op.gov.gy/ Office of the President, Republic of Guyana] (official website).
* [http://www.parliament.gov.gy/ Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana] (official website).
* [https://www.guyanasouthamerica.gy/ News, Sports, Tourism, Businesses, History and Culture.]
* [https://www.guyanafeed.com/ Guyana News]
* {{Wikiatlas|Guyana}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|287083}}
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/ Guyana]. ''[[The World Factbook]]''. [[Central Intelligence Agency]].
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1211325.stm Country Profile] from the [[BBC News]].
* [https://www.britannica.com/place/Guyana Guyana] from the ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080607084928/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/guyana.htm Guyana] at ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''.
* {{in lang|es}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20160908154936/http://esequibo.mppre.gob.ve/ Derechos Venezolanos de Soberania en el Esequibo], Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Exteriores.
* [https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&u=http://esequibo.mppre.gob.ve/&oi=translate&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://esequibo.mppre.gob.ve/%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D691%26prmd%3Divns Venezuelan rights of sovereignty in the Essequibo], Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs (translated by Google).
* {{curlie|Regional/South_America/Guyana}}
* The State of the World's Midwifery, [https://www.unfpa.org/ICPD_GY Guyana Country Profile].
* [http://www.ifs.du.edu/ifs/frm_CountryProfile.aspx?Country=GY Key Development Forecasts for Guyana] from [[International Futures]].
{{Guyana topics}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Articles related to Guyana
| list =
{{Regions of Guyana}}
{{Settlements in Guyana}}
{{The Guianas}}
{{Countries of South America}}
{{Commonwealth of Nations}}
{{Organisation of Islamic Cooperation}}
{{SACN}}
{{Caricom}}
{{Organization of American States}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Guyana| ]]
[[Category:Commonwealth republics]]
[[Category:Countries in South America]]
[[Category:Small Island Developing States]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
[[Category:Former British colonies and protectorates in the Americas]]
[[Category:Former monarchies of South America]]
[[Category:Member states of the Caribbean Community]]
[[Category:Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations]]
[[Category:Member states of the Union of South American Nations]]
[[Category:Member states of the United Nations]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1966]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in South America]]

Revision as of 19:47, 2 March 2021

A country in Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela.


Guyana totals 214970 sq km, which is slightly smaller then Idaho. It shares borders with Brazil, Suriname and Venezuela.


It has a climate which is tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds, with two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January).


Information source: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gy.html

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