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Geography: | |
| Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela | ||
| Area: 214,970 sq. km (82,980 sq. mi.); about the size of United Kingdom | ||
| Cities: Capital - Georgetown (pop.248,500); Linden (27,200); and New Amsterdam (17,700) | ||
| Terrian: Coastal plain, inland highlands, rain forest, and savanna | ||
| Climate: Tropical; hot, humid moderated by northeast trade wind; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January) | ||
| Natural Hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons | ||
| People: | ||
| Nationality: Guyanese | ||
| Population: 735,000 | ||
| Ethnic Groups: East Indian origin 49%, African origin 32%, mixed 12%, Amerindian 6%, White and Chinese 1% | ||
| Religions: Christian 50%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 8% | ||
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Languages: English, Guyanese, Creole, Indian dialects | |
| Education: Literacy- 98% of adults have attended school | ||
| Health: Infant mortality rate -
38.72/1,000 (2001 est.) Life expectancy: Total Population - 63.31 years male 60.52 years, female 66.24 years (2001 est.) |
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| Workforce: (245,000) Industry and Commerce 45%, Agriculture 33%, Services 22% | ||
| Government: | Country name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana (conventional long form) Guyana (conventional short form) former: British Guiana | |
| Type: Republic within the Commonwealth | ||
| Government: Democracy | ||
| Independence: May 26, 1966 from United Kingdom; Republic - February 23, 1970 | ||
| National holiday: Republic Day - February 23, 1970 | ||
| Constitution: October 6, 1980. | ||
| Legal System: based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law, has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction | ||
| Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal | ||
| Prime Minister: Samuel Hinds | ||
| President: Bharrat Jagdeo | ||
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Economy: | |
| GDP: purchasing power parity - $3.4 billion (2000 est.) | ||
| Real Annual Growth Rate: (GDP) 3% (est. 2000) | ||
| Per Capita GDP: purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2000 est.) | ||
| Agriculture: Products - sugar, rice. | ||
| Natural Resources: Gold, bauxite, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish | ||
| Industry: Types: Gold and bauxite, mining, manufacturing, processing | ||
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Major trading partners: UK, USA, Canada, France, and Japan | |
| Exchange Rate: $180 Guyana / $1 U.S. | ||
| Currency: Guyana Dollar, but U.S. currency is widely accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks, hotels, and established money exchange houses ("cambios") | ||
| Time: | ||
| Guyana Standard Time: 4 hours behind GMT and 1 hour ahead of EST. |
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Last updated:
04/13/2002
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