country in South America From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Co-operative Republic of Guyana (formerly British Guiana) is a country in South America. It is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world (700,000 people live there inside its over 200,000 km² of area). Georgetown is the capital; like most of the country's settlements, it is on a flat coastal plain that goes from northwest to southeast. Venezuela claims the land west of the Essequibo River as part of Guayana Esequiba.
Co-operative Republic of Guyana[1] | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: "One People, One Nation, One Destiny" | |
| Anthem: "Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains" | |
.svg) | |
| Capital and largest city | Georgetown 6°46′N 58°10′W |
| Official languages | English |
| Recognised regional languages | Portuguese, Hindi, Spanish, Akawaio, Macushi, Wai Wai, Arawak, Patamona, Warrau, Carib, Wapishiana, Arekuna |
| National language | Guyanese Creole |
| Ethnic groups | East Indian 43.5% Black (African) 30.2% Mixed 16.7% Amerindian 9.1% Other 0.5%[2][3] |
| Demonym(s) | Guyanese |
| Government | Unitary Semi-presidential republic |
| Mohamed Irfaan Ali | |
| Mark Phillips | |
| Independence | |
| 1667–1814 | |
| 1814–1966 | |
• from the United Kingdom | 26 May 1966 |
• Republic | 23 February 1970 |
| Area | |
• Total | 214,970 km2 (83,000 sq mi) (84th) |
• Water (%) | 8.4 |
| Population | |
• July 2010 estimate | 752,940[2]1 (161st) |
• 2002 census | 751,223[3] |
• Density | 3.502/km2 (9.1/sq mi) (225th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $5.379 billion[4] |
• Per capita | $6,964[4] |
| GDP (nominal) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $2.215 billion[4] |
• Per capita | $2,868[4] |
| HDI (2010) |  0.611[5]medium · 107th |
| Currency | Guyanese dollar (GYD) |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (GYT Guyana Time) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | 592 |
| ISO 3166 code | GY |
| Internet TLD | .gy |
| |
Guyana's current president is Irfaan Ali. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on May 26, 1966 (before which it was called British Guiana). The republic is called cooperative for integrating different ethnic groups into government, introduced after the socialist government PNC won a majority in1968. The term "cooperative republic" however dates back from 1961.
Guyana is member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the Caribbean Community. It is ranked first in suicides per capita worldwide.[6][7]
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