Guyana

The **Co-operative Republic of Guyana** (formerly **British Guiana**) is a country in South America. It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world (700,000 people live there inside its over 200,000 km² of area). Georgetown is the capital; like most of the country's settlements, it is on a flat coastal plain that goes from northwest to southeast. Venezuela claims the land west of the Essequibo River as part of Guayana Esequiba.

Guyana's current president is Irfaan Ali. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966 (before which it was called **British Guiana**). The republic is called cooperative for integrating different ethnic groups into government, introduced after the socialist government PNC won a majority in1968. The term "cooperative republic" however dates back from 1961.

Guyana is member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Caribbean Community. It is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide.

## Related pages

- Guyana at the Olympics
- Guyana national football team
- List of rivers of Guyana

## Other websites

- President's Official Website
- Guyana Portal
- Guyana in the News
- Travel information on Guyana
- BBC's profile

## Infobox (country)

- **conventional long name**: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
- **common name**: Guyana
- **image flag**: Flag of Guyana.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of Arms of Guyana.svg
- **national motto**: "One People, One Nation, One Destiny"
- **national anthem**: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains"
- **image map**: Guyana (orthographic projection).svg
- **capital**: Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown
- **largest city**: capital
- **official languages**: English Language, English
- **languages type**: National language
- **languages**: Guyanese Creole
- **regional languages**: Portuguese language, Portuguese, Hindi, Spanish language, Spanish, Akawaio, Macushi, Wai-Wai (language), Wai Wai, Arawakan languages, Arawak, Patamona, Warrau, Carib language, Carib, Wapishiana, Arekuna
- **ethnic groups**: Indo-Guyanese, East Indian 43.5%
Afro-Guyanese, Black (African) 30.2%
Mixed 16.7%
Amerindian 9.1%
Other 0.5%
- **demonym**: Guyanese
- **government type**: Unitary state, Unitary Semi-presidential system, Semi-presidential republic
- **leader title1**: President of Guyana, President
- **leader name1**: Irfaan Ali, Mohamed Irfaan Ali
- **leader title2**: List of Prime Ministers of Guyana, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Mark Phillips (Guyana), Mark Phillips
- **area rank**: 84th
- **area km2**: 214,970
- **area sq mi**: 83,000
- **percent water**: 8.4
- **population estimate**: 752,940<sup>1</sup>
- **population estimate rank**: 161st
- **population estimate year**: July 2010
- **population census**: 751,223
- **population census year**: 2002
- **population density km2**: 3.502
- **population density sq mi**: 9.071
- **population density rank**: 225th
- **gdp ppp**: $5.379 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2010
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $6,964
- **gdp nominal**: $2.215 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2010
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $2,868
- **currency**: Guyanese dollar
- **currency code**: GYD
- **established event1**: Dutch Guiana
- **established date1**: 1667–1814
- **established event2**: British Guiana
- **established date2**: 1814–1966
- **sovereignty type**: Independence
- **established event3**: from the United Kingdom
- **established date3**: 26 May 1966
- **established event4**: Republic
- **established date4**: 23 February 1970
- **hdi**: 0.611
- **hdi change**: increase
- **hdi rank**: 107th
- **hdi year**: 2010
- **time zone**: GYT Guyana Time
- **utc offset**: -4
- **drives on**: left
- **cctld**: .gy
- **calling code**: 592
- **footnote a**: Around one-third of the people (230,000) live in the capital, Georgetown.