Guyana |
Background: | |
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011. |
Nationality: | |
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese | |
Ethnic Groups: | |
East Indian 43.5%, black (African) 30.2%, mixed 16.7%, Amerindian 9.1%, other 0.5% (2002 census) | |
Languages: | |
English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Caribbean Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Urdu | |
Religions: | |
Protestant 30.5% (Pentecostal 16.9%, Anglican 6.9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5%, Methodist 1.7%), Hindu 28.4%, Roman Catholic 8.1%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, Muslim 7.2%, other Christian 17.7%, other 4.3%, none 4.3% (2002 census) | |
Population: | |
741,908 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected |
Major Cities - Population: | |
GEORGETOWN (capital) 132,000 (2009) |
Statistics | |
Percent Urbanization | 29 % |
Total People Groups | 21 |
Unreached People Groups | 1 |
Region | Central and South America |
10/40 Window | No |
Official National Language | English |
Primary Religion | Christianity |
Percent Christian Adherent | 51.4% [1] |
Percent Evangelical | 13.9% [2] |
Country Progress Level | 3.1 |
Persecution Ranking | Not ranked (1=High to 50=Low OD) |
Human Development Index | 0.611 (0=Low to 1=High UN) |
ClassesEvents | RevivalCulture | NewsFeatures | |
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