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Guyana

Capital:Georgetown
Population:790,026
Currency:Guyana Dollar (GYD)
Language:English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Kaieteur Falls -- Georgetown

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Quick Look Factsheet

A multi-page overview of Guyana.

Guyana Factsheet

Customs and Culture

Cultural Attributes

Guyanese have a great sense of humor and love to tease one another. This is seen at social gatherings and even on solemn occasions such as funerals. Their humor is not meant to be unkind or to ridicule. It is intended to break the ice, cover up more serious emotions or simply to have fun. Religion is central to Guyanese people's lives.

Kaieteur Falls -- Georgetown

Land of Many Waters

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5 more cultural topics for members

Social Customs & Etiquette · Diet · Family · Dating Customs · Recreation

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Holidays

  • Republic Day

    2/23

    Independence

  • Christmas

    12/25

    Christmas

    From the second week of December until Christmas day masquerade street bands clad in colorfully ornate costumes dominate festivities with street dancers and dancers on stilts.

Dates of Interest

  • December 25th

    From the second week of December until Christmas day masquerade street bands clad in colorfully ornate costumes dominate festivities with street dancers and dancers on stilts.

How do people communicate and greet each other in Guyana?

Guyanese love to illustrate what they say through proverbs, a rich legacy from the country's many different cultures, and they have a great sense of humor, enjoying teasing one another.

Good to know

  • Humor and teasing appear even at solemn occasions such as funerals
  • Teasing is meant to break the ice or cover more serious emotions, not to ridicule
  • Expect proverbs like "Every rope gat two ends" (every story has two sides)

What are meals and eating customs like in Guyana?

Rice is a staple of the midday meal, while the evening meal is more elaborate and may feature rice, roti (a flat bread), or root vegetables such as cassava and yams with meat or seafood.

Good to know

  • Breakfast usually includes homemade bread with eggs, cheese, butter or a cooked vegetable and tea or coffee
  • Pepperpot is traditionally served during the Christmas holiday
  • Cuisine blends East Indian, African, Native, Chinese and Portuguese traditions, often enriched with spices
  • Poultry and seafood are popular, and fresh cow's milk may accompany the morning or evening meal

What should I know about visiting and hospitality in Guyana?

Whole families often drop in unexpectedly to visit relatives, and visitors are always welcomed and invariably offered food and drink.

Do

  • Welcome unexpected family visitors warmly
  • Offer guests food and drink

What should I wear in Guyana?

Business dress is moderately casual and suited to the tropical climate.

Good to know

  • Men typically wear a shirt and tie or a "shirtjac"
  • Women wear light business suits

How do Guyanese use gestures?

Guyanese talk with their hands.

Good to know

  • Expect expressive hand movements during conversation

What is family life like in Guyana?

Guyanese consider family to mean an extended family of parents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins.

Good to know

  • Families often picnic in scenic places such as riverbanks, with a "cook up" and bathing in the river
  • Outings may include several related families along with friends and neighbors

What do people do for recreation in Guyana?

Cricket is the national sport, played and enjoyed by both men and women, and dominoes is almost a national passion.

Good to know

  • Football (soccer) is the next most popular field game
  • Other sports include volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis, cycling and boxing
  • A card game called trump is popular
  • In Georgetown, walking on the kokers (Dutch-built sea walls) is a favorite activity

Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports

Photos of Guyana

Travel and Tourism

Travel Alert Status
Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Currency
Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Time Difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Climate
Guyana's climate is typical of most tropical countries. Humidity ranges from an average low of 68% in October to 77% in May, and an average high of 79% in October to 86% in May through August. The average annual mean (AAM) is 73% in the afternoons and 83% in the mornings. Minimum temperatures in Georgetown, on the coast, range between 22-26°C (71-80°F) year around, with an AAM low of 75. Maximum temperatures range between 28-32°C (83-90°F), year around, with an AAM high of 86. The sea breezes (east-northeast trade winds) significantly mitigate the heat on the coast. The coastal area typically has two wet seasons: May to mid-August, when about 40% of the total annual precipitation falls, and December to mid-January, which receive another 20%. However, occasional rain may fall at any time of the year. Georgetown and the coast average 90 inches of rainfall annually; in the interior, 60-150 inches occur.
Airports
49
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Recipes

Featured Dish

Roti (Flatbread)

Bread

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History

Historical Eras

  1. Amerindian Era

    5000 BCE – 1616

    For thousands of years before European contact, the Guiana region was inhabited by Arawak, Carib, and other Amerindian peoples who developed complex societies along its rivers and coasts. Christopher Columbus sighted the territory in 1498, but Spanish explorers largely bypassed it. The Amerindian population was devastated by disease, conflict, and displacement following sustained European contact.

  2. Dutch Colonial Period

    1616 – 1814

    The Dutch established the first permanent European settlement at Essequibo in 1616, followed by the colonies of Berbice and Demerara. Dutch engineers drained the swampy coastline with an elaborate system of dikes and canals, enabling a plantation economy built on sugarcane and enslaved African labor. The three colonies changed hands repeatedly among British, French, and Dutch powers during the Napoleonic Wars before final British conquest in 1803.

  3. British Guiana

    1814 – 1966

    The Treaty of Paris in 1814 formally ceded the colonies to Britain, and they were consolidated into British Guiana in 1831. The abolition of slavery in 1834–1838 prompted the large-scale importation of indentured laborers from India, China, and elsewhere, fundamentally reshaping the colony's ethnic composition. The early twentieth century saw rising political consciousness among Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese communities, culminating in the turbulent path to self-government in the 1950s and eventual independence in 1966.

  4. Burnham Era

    1966 – 1985

    Linden Forbes Burnham led Guyana as Prime Minister and later executive President, steering the country toward a socialist-cooperative republic model declared in 1970. His government nationalized major industries, including the sugar and bauxite sectors, and adopted a Marxist-Leninist economic framework that produced prolonged economic decline and shortages. Political repression, electoral fraud, and deepening ethnic polarization between Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese communities defined this authoritarian period.

  5. Transition & Reform

    1985 – 1992

    Following Burnham's death in 1985, Desmond Hoyte assumed the presidency and began cautiously reversing the failed socialist policies, reopening Guyana to foreign investment and IMF-guided economic reform. Despite these shifts, political dominance by the People's National Congress and widespread allegations of electoral manipulation persisted. This period represented an unstable interlude between authoritarianism and genuine democratic competition.

  6. Democratic Modern Era

    1992 – present

    The 1992 election of Cheddi Jagan is recognized as Guyana's first free and fair election since independence, marking a democratic turning point. Subsequent governments under Janet Jagan and Bharrat Jagdeo maintained democratic succession while navigating persistent ethnic tensions and economic underdevelopment. The early twenty-first century brought renewed optimism, culminating in major offshore oil discoveries that positioned Guyana as one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Overview

Amerindian wood carving

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Timeline of Key Events

  1. 1498

    Christopher Columbus sights Guyana.

    Christopher Columbus sights Guyana.

  2. 1581

    Dutch begin settling on the Pomeroon River

    Dutch begin settling on the Pomeroon River

  3. 1581

    Dutch begin settling on the Pomeroon River

    Sir Walter Raleigh explored the South American coast from the Orinoco River to the mouth of the Amazon, an area that he called “Guiana.”

  4. 1616

    The Dutch became the first to establish colonies in Guyana with Essequibo.

    The Dutch became the first to establish colonies in Guyana with Essequibo. Berbice followed in 1627, and then Demerara in 1752.

  5. 1620

    Dutch West India Company establishes a foothold in Guyana.

    Dutch West India Company establishes a foothold in Guyana, including armed bases, and imports slaves from Africa to work on the sugar plantations.

  6. 1781

    British temporarily seize all 3 of the Dutch colonies.

    British temporarily seize all 3 of the Dutch colonies; Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice.

  7. 1783

    French temporarily seize the colonies.

    French temporarily seize the colonies.

View full timeline (21 events)
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Interesting Facts

  • The word Guyana takes its name from a Native word, Guyana, meaning, land of many waters.

  • Guyana's most famous tourist attraction, the Kaieteur Falls, is among the five biggest waterfalls in the world. It is 250 m high, higher than Niagara Falls, and 100 m wide in the rainy season. It is surrounded by thick forest.

  • The famous English explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, visited Guyana in 1595. He believed that El Dorado, a legendary city where even the streets were made of gold, existed somewhere in Guyana. His book describing Guyana's riches inspired many Europeans to seek their fortunes there.

  • Guyana has the most unusual racial mix in South America. It is woven into every aspect of life in Guyana. For example, there are places with Dutch and Spanish names. Hindu temples and mosque domes can be seen, and you can hear calypso music, which is a blend of African rhythm and Spanish and native melodies.

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Geography and Environment

Guyana lies on the northern coast of South America. Its 285-mile coastline extends from Punta Playa (near the mouth of the Orinoco River) in the northwest to the Corentyne River in the east. The low-lying coastland, one of Guyana's three geographic regions, is a flat, often swampy strip of silt and clay about 5-1/2 feet below sea level at high tide. Man-made concrete walls and earthen barriers keep the ocean back and prevent floods.
Terrain
mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Climate
Guyana's climate is typical of most tropical countries. Humidity ranges from an average low of 68% in October to 77% in May, and an average high of 79% in October to 86% in May through August. The average annual mean (AAM) is 73% in the afternoons and 83% in the mornings. Minimum temperatures in Georgetown, on the coast, range between 22-26°C (71-80°F) year around, with an AAM low of 75. Maximum temperatures range between 28-32°C (83-90°F), year around, with an AAM high of 86. The sea breezes (east-northeast trade winds) significantly mitigate the heat on the coast. The coastal area typically has two wet seasons: May to mid-August, when about 40% of the total annual precipitation falls, and December to mid-January, which receive another 20%. However, occasional rain may fall at any time of the year. Georgetown and the coast average 90 inches of rainfall annually; in the interior, 60-150 inches occur.
Natural Hazards
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Current Environmental Issues
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
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People & Demographics

Religion

Languages Spoken

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

  • Creole
  • Hindi
  • Urdu

Population

Population
790,026
Population in Major Urban Areas
GEORGETOWN (capital) 127,000
Nationality Noun
Guyanese (singular and plural)
Ethnic Groups
East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7%

Education

Literacy Definition
Age 15 and over has ever attended school

Health Information

Life Expectancy at Birth
Life expectancy at birth in Guyana stands at approximately 67 to 68 years overall, reflecting a modest but gradually improving trend over recent decades. This figure places Guyana below the regional average for Latin America and the Caribbean, where life expectancy typically hovers around 75 years, highlighting ongoing health and development challenges within the country. Broken down by sex, women in Guyana live notably longer than men, with female life expectancy reaching roughly 70 to 71 years compared to approximately 64 to 65 years for males. This gender gap mirrors global patterns and is influenced by factors including higher rates of preventable injury and lifestyle-related illness among men. Several interrelated factors shape life expectancy outcomes in Guyana. Access to healthcare remains uneven, with residents in urban centers like Georgetown generally having better access to medical facilities and services than those in interior and hinterland communities, where indigenous Amerindian populations often face significant geographic barriers to care. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension are leading contributors to mortality, while infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS continue to affect public health outcomes, particularly in certain population groups. Guyana has one of the higher HIV prevalence rates in the Caribbean region, and the burden of this disease has historically weighed on overall life expectancy figures. Government and international health initiatives have worked to expand antiretroviral treatment access and strengthen prevention programs in recent years, yielding measurable progress in reducing HIV-related mortality. On a positive note, improvements in maternal and child health, increased immunization coverage, and expanded access to clean water and sanitation have contributed to incremental gains in life expectancy since the early 2000s. The country's substantial oil revenues, which began flowing significantly following major offshore discoveries brought into production in 2019 and ramping up through the early 2020s, are expected to fund further investments in healthcare infrastructure, potentially accelerating improvements in population health outcomes. Overall, while Guyana's life expectancy figures reflect real challenges in healthcare equity and disease burden, the trajectory points toward gradual improvement as economic development and health sector investments continue to expand.
Major Infectious Diseases — degree of risk
Very high
Infant Mortality Rate
Guyana's infant mortality rate has shown meaningful improvement over recent decades, reflecting gradual advances in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and access to medical services. As of the most recent available data, Guyana's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 22 to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while representing progress from earlier highs, remains elevated compared to regional neighbors such as Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, as well as the broader Latin American and Caribbean average. Infant mortality in Guyana is influenced by a combination of geographic, socioeconomic, and systemic health factors. The country's vast interior hinterland regions, where Indigenous and Amerindian communities are concentrated, face particularly acute challenges. Remoteness from health facilities, limited access to skilled birth attendants, and inadequate transportation infrastructure all contribute to higher rates of preventable infant deaths in these areas compared to the more urbanized coastal strip around Georgetown. Common causes of infant mortality include neonatal complications such as premature birth and low birth weight, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and vaccine-preventable illnesses. Malnutrition among mothers and young children also plays a contributing role. In response, the Guyanese government, working alongside international partners including UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has undertaken initiatives to expand prenatal care access, improve skilled attendance at births, and strengthen immunization coverage across the country. Progress has been documented over the past two decades. Guyana's infant mortality rate was significantly higher in the early 2000s, and the downward trend reflects investment in healthcare delivery, though the pace of improvement has been uneven across different regions and population groups. Closing the gap between rural hinterland communities and coastal urban centers remains one of the most pressing public health priorities for the country. By comparison, the global average infant mortality rate is approximately 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing Guyana near that threshold, though continued investment and targeted intervention are considered essential for further reduction.

Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy at Birth
Life expectancy at birth in Guyana stands at approximately 67 to 68 years overall, reflecting a modest but gradually improving trend over recent decades. This figure places Guyana below the regional average for Latin America and the Caribbean, where life expectancy typically hovers around 75 years, highlighting ongoing health and development challenges within the country. Broken down by sex, women in Guyana live notably longer than men, with female life expectancy reaching roughly 70 to 71 years compared to approximately 64 to 65 years for males. This gender gap mirrors global patterns and is influenced by factors including higher rates of preventable injury and lifestyle-related illness among men. Several interrelated factors shape life expectancy outcomes in Guyana. Access to healthcare remains uneven, with residents in urban centers like Georgetown generally having better access to medical facilities and services than those in interior and hinterland communities, where indigenous Amerindian populations often face significant geographic barriers to care. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension are leading contributors to mortality, while infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS continue to affect public health outcomes, particularly in certain population groups. Guyana has one of the higher HIV prevalence rates in the Caribbean region, and the burden of this disease has historically weighed on overall life expectancy figures. Government and international health initiatives have worked to expand antiretroviral treatment access and strengthen prevention programs in recent years, yielding measurable progress in reducing HIV-related mortality. On a positive note, improvements in maternal and child health, increased immunization coverage, and expanded access to clean water and sanitation have contributed to incremental gains in life expectancy since the early 2000s. The country's substantial oil revenues, which began flowing significantly following major offshore discoveries brought into production in 2019 and ramping up through the early 2020s, are expected to fund further investments in healthcare infrastructure, potentially accelerating improvements in population health outcomes. Overall, while Guyana's life expectancy figures reflect real challenges in healthcare equity and disease burden, the trajectory points toward gradual improvement as economic development and health sector investments continue to expand.
Infant Mortality Rate
Guyana's infant mortality rate has shown meaningful improvement over recent decades, reflecting gradual advances in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and access to medical services. As of the most recent available data, Guyana's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 22 to 24 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that, while representing progress from earlier highs, remains elevated compared to regional neighbors such as Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, as well as the broader Latin American and Caribbean average. Infant mortality in Guyana is influenced by a combination of geographic, socioeconomic, and systemic health factors. The country's vast interior hinterland regions, where Indigenous and Amerindian communities are concentrated, face particularly acute challenges. Remoteness from health facilities, limited access to skilled birth attendants, and inadequate transportation infrastructure all contribute to higher rates of preventable infant deaths in these areas compared to the more urbanized coastal strip around Georgetown. Common causes of infant mortality include neonatal complications such as premature birth and low birth weight, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and vaccine-preventable illnesses. Malnutrition among mothers and young children also plays a contributing role. In response, the Guyanese government, working alongside international partners including UNICEF and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has undertaken initiatives to expand prenatal care access, improve skilled attendance at births, and strengthen immunization coverage across the country. Progress has been documented over the past two decades. Guyana's infant mortality rate was significantly higher in the early 2000s, and the downward trend reflects investment in healthcare delivery, though the pace of improvement has been uneven across different regions and population groups. Closing the gap between rural hinterland communities and coastal urban centers remains one of the most pressing public health priorities for the country. By comparison, the global average infant mortality rate is approximately 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, placing Guyana near that threshold, though continued investment and targeted intervention are considered essential for further reduction.
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Government & Politics

Country Identity

Country Name
Guyana
Full Country Name
Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Former Name
British Guiana

Government Structure

Government Type
republic within the Commonwealth
Legal System
based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Irfaan ALI (since 2 August 2020); note - ALI won the March 2020 general elections after a prolonged electoral dispute; the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) returned to power following a recount process overseen by international observers head of government: President Irfaan ALI serves as both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Mark PHILLIPS (since 2 August 2020), appointed by the president, assists in executive functions cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held by 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Irfaan ALI elected president; the PPP/C received approximately 50.7% of the vote, defeating the incumbent A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition
Legislative Branch
Unicameral National Assembly (65 seats; members elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms; the president may also appoint up to four non-elected, non-voting ministers and two non-elected, non-voting parliamentary secretaries) Elections: last held on 2 March 2020 (next to be held in 2025) Election results: percent of vote by party — PPP/C 50.69%, APNU+AFC 47.34%, other 1.97%; seats by party — PPP/C 33, APNU+AFC 31, other 1
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Constitution
6-Oct-80
Independence
26 May 1966 (from UK)
National Holiday
Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Capital City

Capital Name
Georgetown
Capital - geographic coordinate
6 48 N, 58 09 W
Capital Time Difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

When the British took possession of the town from the Dutch in 1812, they renamed it Georgetown in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

Military

Branches: Guyana Defense Force: Army (includes Air Corps, Coast Guard)

Embassy / Diplomatic Mission

The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown

100 Young & Duke Streets

Georgetown, Guyana

Telephone: 011-592-225-4900

Emergency after-hours telephone: 011-592-623-1992

Facsimile: 011-592- 227-0221

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Economy

Guyana's economy has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, driven primarily by the rapid development of its offshore oil and gas sector.

Snapshot

Currency Name and Code
Guyana Dollar (GYD)
GDP — official exchange rate
$782,000,000 (USD)
GDP Real Growth Rate
26.2%
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News & Weather

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Climate Overview

Guyana's climate is typical of most tropical countries. Humidity ranges from an average low of 68% in October to 77% in May, and an average high of 79% in October to 86% in May through August. The average annual mean (AAM) is 73% in the afternoons and 83% in the mornings. Minimum temperatures in Georgetown, on the coast, range between 22-26°C (71-80°F) year around, with an AAM low of 75. Maximum temperatures range between 28-32°C (83-90°F), year around, with an AAM high of 86. The sea breezes (east-northeast trade winds) significantly mitigate the heat on the coast.

The coastal area typically has two wet seasons: May to mid-August, when about 40% of the total annual precipitation falls, and December to mid-January, which receive another 20%. However, occasional rain may fall at any time of the year. Georgetown and the coast average 90 inches of rainfall annually; in the interior, 60-150 inches occur.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Guyana?
The population of Guyana is approximately 790,026.
How do people communicate and greet each other in Guyana?
Guyanese love to illustrate what they say through proverbs, a rich legacy from the country's many different cultures, and they have a great sense of humor, enjoying teasing one another. Humor and teasing appear even at solemn occasions such as funerals Teasing is meant to break the ice or cover more serious emotions, not to ridicule Expect proverbs like "Every rope gat two ends" (every story has two sides)
What are meals and eating customs like in Guyana?
Rice is a staple of the midday meal, while the evening meal is more elaborate and may feature rice, roti (a flat bread), or root vegetables such as cassava and yams with meat or seafood. Breakfast usually includes homemade bread with eggs, cheese, butter or a cooked vegetable and tea or coffee Pepperpot is traditionally served during the Christmas holiday Cuisine blends East Indian, African, Native, Chinese and Portuguese traditions, often enriched with spices Poultry and seafood are popular, and fresh cow's milk may accompany the morning or evening meal
What should I know about visiting and hospitality in Guyana?
Whole families often drop in unexpectedly to visit relatives, and visitors are always welcomed and invariably offered food and drink. Do: Welcome unexpected family visitors warmly Offer guests food and drink
What should I wear in Guyana?
Business dress is moderately casual and suited to the tropical climate. Men typically wear a shirt and tie or a "shirtjac" Women wear light business suits
How do Guyanese use gestures?
Guyanese talk with their hands. Expect expressive hand movements during conversation
What is family life like in Guyana?
Guyanese consider family to mean an extended family of parents, children, grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins. Families often picnic in scenic places such as riverbanks, with a "cook up" and bathing in the river Outings may include several related families along with friends and neighbors
What do people do for recreation in Guyana?
Cricket is the national sport, played and enjoyed by both men and women, and dominoes is almost a national passion. Football (soccer) is the next most popular field game Other sports include volleyball, basketball, golf, tennis, cycling and boxing A card game called trump is popular In Georgetown, walking on the kokers (Dutch-built sea walls) is a favorite activity
What is the capital of Guyana?
Georgetown is the capital and largest city of Guyana, situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Demerara River. Founded during the period of British colonial rule, it serves as the country's political, commercial, and cultural hub. Georgetown is notable for its wooden colonial architecture, including the landmark St. George's Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden churches in the world. The city sits largely below sea level and relies on a centuries-old system of seawalls and drainage canals to manage flooding.
Where is Guyana located?
Guyana is located on the northeastern coast of South America, making it the only English-speaking country on the continent. It lies just north of the equator, bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Despite its South American geography, Guyana shares strong cultural and historical ties with the Caribbean, and it is often considered part of the Caribbean Community. The country's name is derived from a Native Amerindian word meaning "land of many waters," a fitting description of its river-rich landscape.
What countries border Guyana?
Guyana shares land borders with three countries. Venezuela lies to the west, Brazil to the south and southwest, and Suriname to the east. The northern boundary is formed by the Atlantic Ocean. Long-standing territorial disputes, particularly with Venezuela over the Essequibo region — which makes up roughly two-thirds of Guyana's territory — have defined much of the country's foreign relations history and remain an active geopolitical issue.
What is the main religion practiced in Guyana?
Christianity is the most widely practiced religion in Guyana, followed by approximately 50% of the population. Hinduism is the second largest faith, practiced by around 35% of Guyanese, largely among communities descended from South Asian indentured laborers brought to the country during the British colonial period. Islam accounts for roughly 10% of the population. Religion holds a central place in everyday Guyanese life, and this religious diversity reflects the country's complex multicultural heritage.
What is the currency of Guyana?
The official currency of Guyana is the Guyana Dollar, with the ISO currency code GYD. The Guyana Dollar replaced the British West Indian Dollar following independence and has been the national currency since 1966. In recent years, the discovery of significant offshore oil reserves has brought increased economic attention to Guyana, placing new pressures and opportunities on its monetary and fiscal systems. The economy has historically been anchored by agriculture, particularly sugar and rice production.
What language is spoken in Guyana?
English is the official language of Guyana and is used in government, education, and the media — a legacy of more than 150 years of British colonial rule. In daily life, most Guyanese speak Guyanese Creole, an English-based creole language that blends African, South Asian, and Indigenous linguistic influences. Hindi and Urdu are spoken within Indo-Guyanese communities, and various Amerindian dialects are used among Indigenous peoples in the interior. This linguistic diversity mirrors the country's multiethnic population.
What is the geography of Guyana like?
Guyana covers an area of approximately 214,969 square kilometres, making it one of the smaller nations in South America by area. The country's terrain is strikingly varied: a narrow, fertile coastal plain gives way to dense tropical rainforest covering much of the interior, while the southern and western regions rise into savannas and highlands. The Pakaraima Mountains in the west include Mount Roraima, one of the continent's most dramatic tepui plateaus. Guyana's vast interior remains largely undeveloped and is among the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
What is Guyana known for?
Guyana is known internationally for Kaieteur Falls, one of the world's most powerful waterfalls, standing 250 metres high — nearly five times the height of Niagara Falls — and surrounded by pristine rainforest. The country is also recognized for its diverse Creole cuisine, including dishes such as pepperpot, a slow-cooked meat stew with Indigenous roots. Guyana gained renewed global attention following major offshore oil discoveries in the 2010s that rapidly transformed its economy. The 16th-century legend of El Dorado, the fabled city of gold believed by English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh to lie within Guyana's interior, remains part of the country's enduring mystique.

Last reviewed 2026

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