nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo
River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper
Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the
Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds;
two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in
south
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber,
shrimp, fish

Land use:
arable land: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 6%
forest and woodland: 83%
other: 8%

Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and
industrial chemicals; deforestation
natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy
seasons
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical
Timber 83, Whaling

People
------

Population: 712,091 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 118,796; female 114,327)
15-64 years: 63% (male 224,219; female 222,562)
65 years and over: 4% (male 14,582; female 17,605) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.9% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 19.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.55 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -18.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 51.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.1 years
male: 57.55 years
female: 62.78 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian
4%, European and Chinese 2%

Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%

Languages: English, Amerindian dialects

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1995 est.)
total population: 98.1%
male: 98.6%
female: 97.5%