The information regarding guyana on this page is republished from the 2020 world fact book of the united states central intelligence agency and other sources. Central intelligence agency, office of current intelligence, job 79b01737a, box 14, 303 latin america, 19621969. The first human inhabitants of guyana probably entered the highlands during the 1st millennium bce. Christian 50%, hindu 35%, muslim 10%, other 5% national symbol. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Issn 155383 for additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to world leaders. Creolese guyanese creole is the most common language amongst guyanese while british english is taught in school, and used in government and business. In its day, warrior was the largest, fastest, most heavily armed and armored warship in the world. Cia the world factbook british indian ocean territory. Political environment guyana has a hybrid republicanparliamentary form of government.
Results through the first decade have proven encouraging. She was powered by sail or steamdriven propeller, or both. High court judges reside in the member states, with 3 in the british virgin islands. The guyanese economy has exhibited moderate economic growth since 1999, based on an expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Guyanese tend to be quite adept at codeswitching, using either creolese or british english when appropriate. The economy is heavily dependent upon the export of six commodities sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber, and rice which represent nearly 60% of the countrys gdp and are highly susceptible to adverse weather conditions and fluctuations in commodity prices. The guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in recent years and is based largely on agriculture and extractive industries. Guyana was originally three dutch latin american colonies. The world factbook, also known as the cia world factbook, is a reference resource produced by the central intelligence agency cia with almanacstyle information about the countries of the world. Presentday guyana reflects its british and dutch colonial past and its reactions to that past. All this material is in the public domain, so you may freely copy, edit and quote it in homework, projects, essays and other publications. Cooperative republic of guyana the countries wiki fandom.
Guyanas emigration rate is among the highest in the world more than 55% of its citizens reside abroad and it is one of the largest recipients of remittances relative to gdp among latin american and caribbean counties. Among the earliest settlers were groups of arawak, carib, and possibly warao warrau. Originally a dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 guyana had become a british possession. Mi5 files reveal details of 1953 coup that overthrew. Information on the cias assessment and actions is limited to 1966 and 1967.
The cias world factbook the central intelligence agency cia, part of the u. Cia the world factbook central america and caribbean. The cooperative republic of guyana is a semipresidential republic in south america. There were two attachments, neither found, both concerning support to antijagan political parties in guyana. After the colony was ceded to the british in 1814, the three were combined into british guiana. Guyana fact about guyana, guyana flag, guyana maps. Explorer christopher columbus sighted the guyana coast in 1498, and spain subsequently claimed, but. Guyanese people wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. First inhabited by arawak and later by carib indians, the virgin islands were settled by the dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the english in 1672. Guyanese people are people born in the country of guyana, which is located on the northern coast of south america and is bordered by the atlantic ocean, brazil, venezuela and suriname.
Guyana simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Guyana cia world factbook the best country factbook. Indigenous peoples inhabited guyana prior to european settlement, and their name for the land, guiana land of water, gave the country its name. This article incorporates public domain material from the cia world factbook. Here you will find the latest information, sourced from the cia world factbook and other public domain references around the internet. International monetary fund imf, world economic outlook database, oct. Venezuela claims the land west of the essequibo river as.
In 1989 guyana launched an economic recovery program, which marked a dramatic reversal from a statecontrolled, socialist economy towards a more open, free market system. World a the 2007 cia world factbook, by united states 2. English, amerindian dialects, creole, hindi, urdu independence. Background first settled by the french in 1604, french guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. French president elected by popular vote for a fiveyear term. The major groupings compose pentecostal, 23christianity, hinduism, and islam are the dominant religions.
Completed in 1861, she was the first armorplated, ironhulled warship built for the british royal navy. In recent years, the cia has combined those fact sheets into an online publication, the world factbook. Central america british virgin islands the world factbook. Cia activities in guyana refers to the actions of the united states central intelligence agency in guyana. President of the general council joseph hotenyou since 26 march 2001. The world factbook countrylocation locator map modal central america british virgin islands print. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of guyana 2020 information contained here. Guyana achieved independence from the uk in 1966, and since then it has been. Europe jersey the world factbook central intelligence agency. Guyana the world factbook central intelligence agency. After independence in 1966, it established a socialist governance that for a long time was greatly influence by the cia and other outside players guyana has undergone several peaceful changes. The world factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military. Cooperative republic of guyana conventional short form. President jacques chirac of france since 17 may 1995, represented by prefect ange mancini since 31 july 2002 head of government.
The world factbook 1990guyana wikisource, the free. It is the only englishspeaking country of south america. The official print version is available from the government printing office. Guyana achieved independence from the uk in 1966 and became a republic in 1970. Other companiessuch as skyhorse publishingalso print a paper edition. The islands were part of the british colony of the leeward islands from 18721960. The world factbook provides information on the history, people and society, government, economy, energy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Government continued the kennedy administrations policy of working with the british government to offer encouragement and support to the prowest leaders and political organizations of british guiana as that limited selfgoverning colony moved toward total independence. Lucia consists of the court of appeal headed by the chief justice and 4 judges and the high court with 18 judges. Brazil is the eighthlargest economy in the world, but is recovering from a recession in 2015 and 2016 that ranks as the worst in the countrys history.
In 1964 the cia helped foment race riots in thenbritish guiana in an effort to prevent cheddi jagan and his peoples progressive party. English official, guyanese creole, amerindian languages, indian. 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 abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from india to work the. Guyana is the only englishspeaking country in south america and shares cultural and historical bonds with the anglophone caribbean. Cia world fact book, 2004guyana wikisource, the free. The cooperative republic of guyanese greg is a country in south america. Secret documents declassified on friday by mi5 reveal in detail how in 1953 the uk under prime minister winston churchill overthrew the elected government of british guiana now guyana. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of guyana government 2020 information contained here. Cia the world factbook field listing currency code. Consumer prices rose about 35%, and the current account deficit widened substantially as sugar and bauxite exports fell. National intelligence estimate focused on guyanas short term, concluded that british guyana would make a smooth transition to independence. Guyana, country located in the northeastern corner of south america. Guyana continues to be influenced by british culture, as well as the cultures of the united states, europe, africa.
Cia world factbook the world factbook central intelligence. Geographically, guyana is part of the south american mainland, however it is much more culturally similar to the suriname and nearby island nations of the caribbean such as trinidad and tobago as compared to the. Hms warrior, a museum ship docked in portsmouth harbor, england. The united states state department and the cia, along with the british government, played a strong role in influencing who would politically control guyana during this time. In general, information available as of 1 january, 2004 was used in the preparation of the world factbook. Established as a territory of the uk in 1965, a number of the british indian ocean territory biot islands were transferred to the seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. The early communities practiced shifting agriculture supplemented by hunting. Rising on the plateau of tibet, the mekong flows generally southeast for 4,160 km 2,600 mi and empti.