Caribbean
Country Profiles
Guyana
The Co-operative Republic of Guyana is one of two Caribbean
countries that are geographically located in South America.
It is the only English-speaking country in South America. The
population of Guyana lives mainly along the coastal plain and
in the capital city of Georgetown and its environs.
Guyana has an area of 214,970 square kilometres and is the
third smallest country in South America. The terrain is mostly
rolling highlands with low costal plains and savannah in the
south. The climate is tropical with two rainy seasons; the
first from May to August and the second from November to January.
The country is vulnerable to flash floods throughout the rainy
seasons.
Guyana is an independent republic within the British Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and Prime Minister
Samuel Hinds is the head of government. The next elections
are scheduled to be held March 2006. The capital city of Guyana
is Georgetown and there are ten administrative regions.
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People
|
|
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Human Development Index Ranking (out of 173)
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103
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Population (millions)
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0.8
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Population growth rate (%)
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-0.1
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Adult literacy rate (% age 15 and above)
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98.5
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Health
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Life expectancy
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63.0
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Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)
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55
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People living with HIV/AIDS (% adults 15-49)
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2.70
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Population using improved water sources (%)
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94
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Population using adequate sanitation facilities
(%)
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87
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Economy
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GDP (US$ billions)
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0.7
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Population living below national poverty line (%)
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43.2
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Source: United Nation Human Development Reports,
Human Development Indicators 2002
--- indicates information not available
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