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Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was elected in 2001 and again in 2006. Early elections held in May 2015 resulted in the first change in governing party and the replacement of President Donald RAMOTAR by current President David GRANGER

Location

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Natural Resources

bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Population - distribution

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

748486
English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)
GEORGETOWN (capital) 124,000 (2014)
Conventional long form
Cooperative Republic of Guyana
Conventional short form
Guyana
Local long form
Local short form
parliamentary republic
Name
Georgetown
Geographic coordinates
6 48 N, 58 09 W
Time difference
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in recent years and is based largely on agriculture and extractive industries. The economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities - sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice - which represent nearly 60% of the country's GDP and are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices. Much of Guyana's growth in recent years has come from a surge in gold production in response to global prices, although downward trends in gold prices may threaten future growth. In 2014, production of sugar dropped to a 24-year low.
Inflation
-0.957%
External debt stocks
US$ 1,638,981,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
32.3%
Real Interest Rate
7.642%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
3.576%
Current Account Balance
US$ -144,207,565
Labor Force, Total
324,713
Employment in Agriculture
1.40%
Employment in Industry
15.10%
Employment in Services
68.90%
Unemployment Rate
11.44%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 2,016,067,797
Exports of goods and services
US$ 1,627,079,903
Total Merchandise Trade
83.78%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 116,958,230
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 142,876,383
sugarcane, rice, edible oils; beef, pork, poultry; shrimp, fish
bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Commodities
sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Partners
US 33.4%, Canada 17.9%, UK 6.7%, Ukraine 4.3%, Jamaica 4% (2015)
Commodities
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Partners
US 24.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 24.3%, China 10.8%, Suriname 9.5% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
D
A high-risk political and economic situation and an often very difficult business environment can have a very significant impact on corporate payment behavior. Corporate default probability is very high.
Business Climate Rating
D
The business environment is very difficult. Corporate financial information is rarely available and when available usually unreliable. The legal system makes debt collection very unpredictable. The institutional framework has very serious weaknesses. Intercompany transactions can thus be very difficult to manage in the highly risky environments rated D.
  • Substantial public investment in infrastructure and telecommunications
  • Attractive outlook to investors in the mining, hydroelectric, and agriculture sectors
  • Discovery of oil reserves off the coast of Guyana
  • Member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)
  • Excessive concentration in gold and bauxite mining; sugar, rice, and wood
  • Inadequacies in infrastructure, transport, education, and health
  • Sensitivity to climatic events
  • Dependence on international donors
  • Territorial dispute with Venezula
  • Growth of the shadow economy
  • Criminality linked with drug trafficking, against a backdrop of widespread poverty and corruption

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