Country explorer: Guyana

Guyana has experienced significant economic growth, as reflected by a substantial increase in its GDP per capita, distinguishing it from many of its regional peers by transitioning from a lower-income status towards becoming one of the more dynamic economies in the Caribbean region.

Guyana has experienced significant demographic shifts, including a period of population decline followed by recovery, persistently high net emigration, a gradual decline in fertility rates, and a steady increase in life expectancy, mirroring broader trends of modernization and demographic transition, albeit with unique challenges such as considerable emigration.

Guyana has seen notable progress in improving access to basic needs, with a substantial increase in the share of the population having access to clean cooking fuels, electricity, and safely managed sanitation facilities, indicative of significant strides towards enhancing living standards within the country.

Guyana has exhibited notable progress in human development, characterized by improvements in the Human Development Index, a reduction in child mortality rates, enhanced literacy rates, and increases in average learning-adjusted years of schooling, reflecting trends similar to those of its regional peers but with distinctive leaps in education and health outcomes.

Guyana has experienced minimal changes in its forest area, reflecting a stable approach to land conservation, while witnessing significant spikes and subsequent reductions in per capita CO₂ emissions including land-use change, contrasting with its notable efforts towards renewable electricity production primarily from bioenergy and the consistent vast renewable freshwater resources per capita, signaling its unique environmental stewardship in comparison to many of its peers.

Guyana has shown modest yet progressive advancements in technology and innovation, with a notable increase in internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, despite trailing behind higher-income countries and some regional peers, but demonstrates a growing capacity for scientific output.

Guyana has experienced notable societal transformations, including improving gender equality, although it remains high compared to Barbados and high-income countries, increasing life satisfaction, a gradual rise in the foreign-born population, and a decreasing age dependency ratio, indicating a potential shift towards a younger, more diverse, and increasingly satisfied society, reflective of broader global trends yet with distinct local dynamics.

Guyana has experienced notable governance transformations, including improvements in rule of law, reductions in corruption perceptions, and advancements in political and civil liberties, distinguished by significant increases in these areas post-2014, showcasing a unique trajectory of governance reform among its regional peers.