Guyana - Geography

Here, let us take a look at the Geography of Guyana. 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; contains some of the largest unspoiled rainforests on the continent. Mother's mean age at first birth is 20.8 years (2009 est.) (Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29), whereas, the Maternal mortality ratio is 112 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Geographical data of Guyana
Location Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates 5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references South America
Tarrain mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Natural Resources bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Natural Hazards flash flood threat during rainy seasons
Irrigated Land 1,430 sq km (2012)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Major aquifers
Land Boundaries 2,933 km
Border Countries Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km
Coastline 459 km
Climate tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to August, November to January)
Area
Total Area
Land Area 196,849 sq km
Water Area 18,120 sq km
comparative Area slightly smaller than Idaho; almost twice the size of Tennessee
Maritime Claims
Territorial sea 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone 200 nm
Continental shelf 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
Elevations
Highest point Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
Lowest point Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation 207 m
Land Use
Agricultural land 8.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)
Forest 77.4% (2018 est.)
Other 14.2% (2018 est.)
Population Distribution

Population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with noteable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

People and Society

In Guyana, the different Ethnic groups are such that we have: East Indian 39.8%, African descent 29.3%, mixed 19.9%, Indigenous 10.5%, other 0.5% (includes Portuguese, Chinese, White) (2012 est.)

Population
Pop growth rate 0.32% (2024 est.)
Birth rate 16.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate 7 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Health expenditure 5.5% of GDP (2020)
Physicians Density
Hospital bed Density 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Total fertility rate 2.05 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Gross reproduction rate 1 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate 29.9% (2019/20)
Est married women (ages 15-49) 62.6% (2023 est.)
Literacy age 15 and over has ever attended school
Education expenditures 4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)
Net Migration rate -6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Nationality Guyanese | Guyanese (singular and plural)
Languages English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
Religions Protestant 34.8% (Pentecostal 22.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 5.4%, Anglican 5.2%, Methodist 1.4%), Hindu 24.8%, other Christian 20.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witness 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, other 0.9%, none 3.1% (2012 est.)
Age Structure
0-14 years 23.5% (male 95,223/female 91,272)
15-64 years 68.4% (male 281,669/female 261,261)
65 years and over 8.1% (2024 est.) (male 28,352/female 36,322)
Dependency Ratios
Total dependency ratio 53.6
Youth dependency ratio 44.1
Elderly dependency ratio 9.5
Potential support ratio 10.6 (2021 est.)
Median Age
Total 28.3 years (2024 est.)
Male 28.2 years
Female 28.4 years
Urbanization
Urban population 27.2% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas (Pop) 110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018).
Sex Ratio
At birth 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over 0.78 male(s)/female
Total population 1.04 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Infant Motality
Total 21.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female 18.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy at birth
Total population 72.4 years (2024 est.)
Male 70.6 years
Female 74.3 years
Drinking Water Sources
Improved: urban urban: 100% of population
Improved: rural rural: 95.6% of population
Improved: total total: 96.8% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 0% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 4.4% of population
Unimproved: total total: 3.2% of population (2020 est.)
Sanitation facility acess
Improved: urban urban: 97.8% of population
Improved: rural rural: 95.4% of population
Improved: total total: 96% of population
Unimproved: urban urban: 2.2% of population
Unimproved: rural rural: 4.6% of population
Unimproved: total total: 4% of population (2020 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
Total 5.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer 2.75 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits 2.3 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
Total 12.1% (2020 est.)
Male 21.7% (2020 est.)
Female 2.4% (2020 est.)
Demographic profile

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America and shares cultural and historical bonds with the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana's two largest ethnic groups are the Afro-Guyanese (descendants of African slaves) and the Indo-Guyanese (descendants of Indian indentured laborers), which together comprise about three quarters of Guyana's population. Tensions periodically have boiled over between the two groups, which back ethnically based political parties and vote along ethnic lines. Poverty reduction has stagnated since the late 1990s. About one-third of the Guyanese population lives below the poverty line; indigenous people are disproportionately affected. Although Guyana's literacy rate is reported to be among the highest in the Western Hemisphere, the level of functional literacy is considerably lower, which has been attributed to poor education quality, teacher training, and infrastructure.

Guyana's emigration rate is among the highest in the world - more than 55% of its citizens reside abroad - and it is one of the largest recipients of remittances relative to GDP among Latin American and Caribbean counties. Although remittances are a vital source of income for most citizens, the pervasive emigration of skilled workers deprives Guyana of professionals in healthcare and other key sectors. More than 80% of Guyanese nationals with tertiary level educations have emigrated. Brain drain and the concentration of limited medical resources in Georgetown hamper Guyana's ability to meet the health needs of its predominantly rural population. Guyana has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the region and continues to rely on international support for its HIV treatment and prevention programs.

All Important Facts about Guyana

Want to know more about Guyana? Check all different factbooks for Guyana below.

Guyana is found in South America