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PEOPLE

Language
English is the official language. Creole and several indigenous languages are also spoken.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	0.8 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	0.7 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	0.7 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
0.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Half the population are descendants of indentured Indian workers. One-third have an African background and the rest are Native Americans, Chinese, European, and mixed European and Indian.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Most are Protestant (34 percent), Hindu (34 percent), Catholic (18 percent), or Muslim (9 percent). Some indigenous groups practice traditional religions.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	28.2 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	28.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	28.2 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	28.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	28.3 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	28.4 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	28.5 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	28.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1953
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Percentage of population under 15

2005	31.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	29.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	29.8 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	30 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	30.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	30.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT -4

Climate description
Equatorial in the lowlands, hot, wet and humid, rainfall and lower temperatures inland,period of most rainfall between May-July and November-January.

Currency
Guyana dollar

Telephone dialling code
(+) 592

Driving (left/right)
Left

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	65.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	63.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	63.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	63.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	63.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	63.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	62.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	60.6 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	60.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	60.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	60.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	58.9 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	68.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	66.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	66.1 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	66.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	66.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	67.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	45 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	46 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	47 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	48 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	52 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	54 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	54 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	55 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	60 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	62 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	63 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	64 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	69 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	74 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	86 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	95 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	470 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	170 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	97	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	103	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	107	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	104	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	92	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	103	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	12 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	14 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	14 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	12 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	6 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	8 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	9 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	93 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	83 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	83 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	94 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	81 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	70 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	70 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	87 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2001	98.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	99.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	98.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	98.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	98.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	98.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	144 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	135 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	121 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	106 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	106 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	90 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	368 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	368 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	368 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	368 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	225 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	181 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	105 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	100 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	53 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Internet users

2008	258 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	258 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	233 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	213 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	193 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	187 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	167 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	134 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	126 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	123 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	121 (joint)	Transparency International
2005	107 (joint)	Transparency International
2004	Not ranked
2003	Not ranked
2002	Not ranked	Transparency International
2001	Not ranked
2000	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Yes (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day

1990-2005	No data available percent
1990-2004	2.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	No data available percent
1990-2002	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2001	<2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	1250 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	1080 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	1040 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	940 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	920 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	880 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	890 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	1.1 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	0.9 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.8 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.7 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.8 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	-2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	-1.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	1.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	-1.4 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	9.0 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	18.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	4.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	4.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	5.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	4.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-1.9 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	6.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
No data available

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
No data available

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	48 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	48 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	26 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	48 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	2.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	2.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	2.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	2.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	2.5 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
High risk from P.falciparum and P.vivax throughout the year in all parts of the interior. Sporadic cases of malaria have been reported from the densely populated coastal belt. Chloroquine resistant P.falciparum reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	122 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	122 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	123 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	118 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	115 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	104 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	91 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	79 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	708	UNHCR
2007	677	UNHCR
2006	537	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	406	UNHCR
2004	194	UNHCR
2003	76	UNHCR
2002	49	UNHCR
2001	36	UNHCR
2000	36	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here
No data available

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	0	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	8.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2002-2004	5.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2000-2002	8.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1999-2001	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	4.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	4.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	4.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	4.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	4.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003