Guyana Demographics

What is the population of Guyana?

Population	750,204
Population - note	note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected
Population Growth Rate	-0.21%
Urban Population	28.4%
Population in Major Urban Areas	GEORGETOWN (capital) 127,000
Nationality Noun	Guyanese (singular and plural)
Nationality Adjective	Guyanese
Ethnic Groups	East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7%
Languages Spoken	English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

Guyana Health Information

What are the health conditions in Guyana?

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 15-49	42.5%
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	7.18
Drinking Water Source - percent of rural population improved	97.9%
Drinking Water Source - percent of total population unimproved	2.4%
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	96.6%
Food or Waterborne Disease (s)	bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	5.9%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate	1.2%
HIV/Aids Deaths	100
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	2
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births	30.09
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births	38.59
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	34.45
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk	very high
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	280
Mean Age for Mother's First Birth	18.8
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	17.2%
People Living with HIV/AIDS	5,900
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	.21
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of total population unimproved	16.4%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	87.9%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of rural population improved	82%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	2.21
Underweight - percent of children under five years	11.1%
Vectorborne Disease (s)	dengue fever and malaria

Guyana Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Guyana?

Life Expectancy at Birth	67 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female	71 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male	63 Years
Median Age	24 Years
Median Age - female	25 Years
Median Age - male	23 Years

Guyana Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Guyana median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	16
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	7.18
Median Age	24 Years
Median Age - female	25 Years
Median Age - male	23 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population	-11.21
Population Growth Rate	-0.21%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female	1.04
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female	1
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.05
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female	.99
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female	.71

Guyana Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Guyana?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical care in Guyana does not meet U.S. standards. Care is available for minor medical conditions, although quality is very inconsistent. Emergency care and hospitalization for major medical illnesses or surgery are very limited, due to a lack of appropriately trained specialists, below standard in-hospital care, and poor sanitation. There are very few ambulances in Guyana. Ambulance service is limited to transportation without any medical care and is frequently not available for emergencies. An MRI (linked to the United States for interpretation) has been installed and is operational, but results may take up to 4 days. It is located on the compound of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, immediately behind the Embassy on Parade Street.

In the event of an emergency, the number for an ambulance is 913, but this number is not always operational and an ambulance may not be available. You are advised to bring prescription medicine sufficient for your length of stay and should be aware that Guyana's humid climate may affect some medicines. Some prescription medicines (mainly generic rather than name-brand) are available.

Special attention should be paid to HIV/AIDS in Guyana. In addition to elevated infection rates among high-risk populations, such as commercial sex workers, and mobile populations such as miners or loggers, data from the World Health Organization estimate that Guyana has among the highest prevalence rates in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Insect borne illnesses are common and include malaria, dengue, Leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease.

Guyana Education

What is school like in Guyana?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP	3.2%
Literacy - female	98.5%
Literacy - male	99.1%
Literacy - total population	98.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over has ever attended school
School Life Expectancy - female	11 Years
School Life Expectancy - male	9 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	10 Years

Guyana Literacy

Can people in Guyana read?

Literacy - female	98.5%
Literacy - male	99.1%
Literacy - total population	98.8%
Literacy Definition	age 15 and over has ever attended school
Predominant Language	English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

Guyana Crime

Is Guyana a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Serious crime, including murder and armed robbery, continues to be a major problem. The murder rate in Guyana is three times higher than the murder rate in the United States.

Armed robberies continue to occur intermittently, especially in major business and shopping districts. Hotel room strong-arm break-ins also occur; you should use caution when opening your hotel room doors and should safeguard any valuables left in hotel rooms. Criminals may act brazenly, and police officers themselves have been the victims of assaults and shootings. When traveling in a vehicle you should keep the doors locked and be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Pick pocketing, purse snatching, assault, and robbery can occur in all areas of Georgetown. The sea wall, from east of the Pegasus Hotel extending to Sheriff Street and adjacent areas, has been the site of several crimes; you should avoid these areas after dark. As cars parked in Georgetown have been subject to theft, you are urged to avoid leaving any valuables in vehicles left unattended and are encouraged to lock your vehicles at all times (when in or out of the vehicle). The National Park in Georgetown and the seawall from Sheriff Road to UG Road are frequented by joggers, dog walkers, and families and are generally considered safe during daylight hours but are not recommended at all after dusk.

Petty crimes also occur in the general area of Stabroek Market and to a lesser extent in the area behind Bourda Market. Care should be taken to safeguard personal property when shopping in these markets. The area around St. George's cathedral is known for having pickpockets and should be avoided after dark. Guyana's commercial downtown between Main Street and Water Street from Lamaha Road to Stabroek Market, including "Tiger Bay," is largely deserted outside of business hours and should be avoided after dark. U.S. passports and permanent residency cards are prized by thieves, as they may be used for smuggling and identity theft.

You should avoid walking around Georgetown alone, even in the main areas and especially after dark. Although bandits have been known to attack taxis, they are generally safe and remain the safest means of getting around town and to and from the airport. Only use taxis that are connected to major hotels or are painted yellow. All yellow taxies are registered with the Government of Guyana's licensing office. Exercise constant vigilance, and prior to entering any taxi, make note of the vehicle's license plate. This can be used to track down the driver in the event of being overcharged or if luggage is lost. Do not dress ostentatiously, as there have also been reports of gold chains or other jewelry being snatched off of pedestrians.

Local law-enforcement authorities are generally cooperative but lack the resources to respond effectively to serious criminal incidents. Nevertheless, if you are a victim of crime you are encouraged to contact the police as well as the American Citizens Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section.

Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Guyana Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Guyana, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In Guyana you may be taken in for questioning if you don't have your passport with you. It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, especially government buildings. Repercussions for driving under the influence result in a fine for the initial offense, a suspension of your license for the second offence and a jail term for succeeding offenses. It's very important to know what's legal and what's not where you are going.

Criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Guyana, your U.S. passport won't help you avoid arrest or prosecution. Persons violating Guyanese laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guyana are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Incarceration time prior to conviction and sentencing does not count toward time served.

If you are arrested in Guyana, Guyanese authorities are required by the Vienna Convention on Consular Notification to notify the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request that police or prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest.

Guyana Population Comparison

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