Demographics of Guyana

This article is about the demographic features of Guyana, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

Guyana population pyramid in 2020
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1831 98,000—    
1911 296,041+202.1%
1931 310,933+5.0%
1946 375,701+20.8%
1960 560,330+49.1%
1970 701,718+25.2%
1980 759,567+8.2%
1991 723,673−4.7%
2002 751,223+3.8%
2012 746,955−0.6%
2015 741,962−0.7%
Source: [1]

Guyana's population (Guyanese people) is made up of six main ethnic groups: Indians, Africans, Amerindians, Europeans (mainly Portuguese) and Chinese. Ninety percent of the inhabitants live on the narrow coastal plain, where population density is more than 115 inhabitants per square kilometre (300/sq mi). The population density for Guyana as a whole is low: less than four inhabitants per square kilometre (10.4/sq mi).

Guyana continues to be influenced by British culture, as well as the cultures of the United States, Europe, Africa, the Islamic world, East and South Asian countries, and Latin America, esp. neighboring countries of Venezuela and Brazil. It is one of three countries and two territories to form The Guianas, such as Suriname and the island of Trinidad and Tobago; and territories like the French Guiana and parts of neighboring countries named for Guayana (Venezuela) and Amapá of Brazil.

Population

According to the 2019 revision of the World Population Prospects[2][3], the total population was 779,006 in 2018. The proportion of children below the age of 15 in 2010 was 33.6%, 62.1% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 4.3% was 65 years or older.[4]

Total population
(x 1000)		 Proportion
aged 0–14
(%)		 Proportion
aged 15–64
(%)		 Proportion
aged 65+
(%)
1950 40739.956.04.1
1955 48343.652.83.6
1960 56046.350.43.3
1965 64047.749.03.4
1970 72148.747.93.4
1975 74945.550.93.6
1980 77742.553.73.8
1985 75238.657.04.4
1990 72534.460.65.0
1995 72834.660.45.0
2000 73335.560.04.5
2005 74636.959.33.8
2010 75433.662.14.3

Structure of the population[5]

Structure of the population (01.07.2010) (Estimates – unrevised data)

Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 393,059 391,835 784,894 100
0–4 34,029 33,673 67,701 8.63
5–9 32,778 32,423 65,201 8.31
10–14 39,978 37,943 77,921 9.93
15–19 43,487 41,518 85,004 10.83
20–24 34,877 34,545 69,423 8.84
25–29 26,816 28,694 55,510 7.07
30–34 27,189 27,635 54,824 6.98
35–39 27,764 25,690 53,454 6.81
40–44 27,112 25,322 52,434 6.68
45–49 25,775 24,914 50,689 6.46
50–54 22,163 23,275 45,438 5.59
55–59 17,672 17,488 35,160 4.48
60–64 13,995 13,878 27,873 3.55
65–69 7,988 9,467 17,455 2.22
70–74 5,440 7,012 12,451 1.59
75–79 3,529 4,585 8,114 1.03
80+ 2,469 3,773 6,242 0.80
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 106,785 104,039 210,824 26.86
15–64 266,848 262,959 529,807 67.50
65+ 19,426 24,837 44,263 5.64

Age structure


0–14 years: 35.6% (male 135,629; female 131,518; total 267,146)
15–64 years: 60.2% (male 226,058; female 226,551; total 452,609)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 14,347; female 17,120; total 31,467) (2002 census)[6][7]

Vital statistics

The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates of vital statistics of Guyana. [4]

Period Live births
per year		 Deaths
per year		 Natural change
per year		 CBR* CDR* NC* TFR* IMR* Life expectancy
total		 Life expectancy
males		 Life expectancy
females
1950–195520,0008,00012,00049.418.131.46.6811849.246.552.0
1955–196023,0008,00015,00047.515.831.76.7710751.749.454.1
1960–196525,0008,00017,00041.513.627.96.159853.751.855.6
1965–197027,0008,00019,00040.012.527.56.119255.153.856.4
1970–197525,0007,00018,00034.111.023.24.908357.255.958.6
1975–198024,0007,00017,00031.110.021.03.947758.857.460.3
1980–198523,0007,00016,00028.79.619.13.267360.057.962.5
1985–199019,0007,00012,00026.49.816.62.706860.657.963.8
1990–199519,0007,00012,00023.59.813.72.556361.458.564.9
1995–200018,0007,00011,00022.08.913.02.505663.160.166.6
2000–200516,0007,0009,00020.17.612.52.434965.762.769.1
2005–201014,0006,0008,00018.85.912.92.334268.765.571.9
*CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)

Vital statistics

[8]

Population Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Total fertility rate Infant mortality rate
1948 16 5765 43711 139
1949 17 1375 26411 873
1950 16 9855 93811 047
1951 18 3575 63712 720
1952 19 5555 77213 783
1953 20 1485 87614 272
1954 20 2635 63514 628
1955 21 0735 55715 516
1956 21 6685 38016 288
1957 22 9835 72617 257
1958 23 6615 19518 466
1959 24 4675 31319 154
1960 23 7185 16718 551
1961 24 3235 06919 254
1962 25 3164 66420 652
1963 25 7964 57321 223
1964 25 5414 74820 793
1965 25 8304 70521 125
1966 26 3485 23421 114
1967 23 3355 38817 947
1968 23 4675 61917 848
1969 22 129
1970 23 7034 80818 895
1971 22 9335 24817 685
1972 25 0655 96219 103
1973 24 1005 59918 501
1974 23 1006 16116 939
1975 23 2005 92417 276
1976 24 2006 25116 949
1977 5 883
1978 23 2006 00017 200
1984 4 781
1992 712 415
1993 734 854 4 514
1994 745 994 4 304
1995 760 379
1996 770 139
1997 775 137 5 117
1998 773 432 4 977
1999 770 584 4 197
2000 756 395
2001 753 862 4 629
2002 751 647 5 003
2003 749 739 4 986
2004 748 144 5 141
2005 746 865 14 8605 2309 630 19.66.912.7 22.0
2006 745 898 14 8305 0209 810 19.56.612.9 19.2
2007 745 246 14 5005 0409 460 19.06.612.4 20.3
2008 774 443 15 2404 98010 260 19.96.513.4 17.5
2009 753 227 14 4615 2709 191 19.27.012.2 10.8
2010 752 113 14 2905 2609 030 19.07.012.0 14.7
2011 750 663 14 1105 1808 930 18.86.911.9 14.4
2012 746 724 13 7805 1608 620 18.46.911.5 13.8
2013 746 263 13 8204 9308 890 18.56.611.9 2.6 12.9
2014 745 874 14 8005 4609 340 19.87.312.5 23.3
2015 744 945 13 0605 0508 010 17.66.810.8 21.8
2016 743 458 5 109
2017 741 365 13 6084 9098 699
2018 744 962
2019 5 766

Fertility and births

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[9]

Year CBR (Total) TFR (Total) CBR (Urban) TFR (Urban) CBR (Rural) TFR (Rural)
2005 21.3 2.6 20.3 2.4 21.7 2.8
2009 23 2,8 (2,1) 17 2,1 (1,7) 24 3,0 (2,3)

Ethnic groups
Ethnic groups of Guyana (2012 Census)
Ethnic groups percent
Indian
 
 39.83%
Black
 
 29.25%
Mixed
 
 19.88%
Amerindian
 
 10.51%
Other (includes Chinese, European)
 
 0.5%

The present population of Guyana is racially and ethnically heterogeneous, with ethnic groups originating from India, Africa, Europe, and China, as well as indigenous or aboriginal peoples.

The largest ethnic group are the Indo-Guyanese, the descendants of indentured laborers from India, who make up 39.8% of the population, according to the 2012 census.[10] They are followed by the Afro-Guyanese, the descendants of enslaved laborers from Africa, who constitute 29.3. Guyanese of mixed heritage make up 19.9% while the indigenous peoples (known locally as Amerindians) make up 10.5% The indigenous groups include the Arawaks, the Wai Wai, the Caribs, the Akawaio, the Arecuna, the Patamona, the Wapixana, the Macushi and the Warao. [10]The two largest groups, the Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese, have experienced some racial tension.[11][12][13][14]

Most Indo-Guyanese are descended from indentured laborers who migrated from North India, especially the Bhojpur and Awadh regions of the Hindi Belt in the present day states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand.[15] A significant minority of Indo-Guyanese are also descended from indentured migrants who came from the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.[16]

The distribution pattern in the 2002 census was similar to those of the 1980 and 1991 censuses, but the share of the two main groups has declined. Indo-Guyanese made up 51.9% of the total population in 1980, but by 1991 this had fallen to 48.6%, and then to 43.5% in the 2002 census. Those of African descent increased slightly from 30.8% to 32.3% during the first period (1980 and 1991) before falling to 30.2% in the 2002 census. With small growth in the overall population, the decline in the shares of the two larger groups has resulted in the relative increase of shares of the multiracial and Amerindian groups. The Amerindian population rose by 22,097 people between 1991 and 2002. This represents an increase of 47.3% or annual growth of 3.5%. Similarly, the multiracial population increased by 37,788 persons, representing a 43.0% increase or annual growth rate of 3.2% from the base period of 1991 census.

The number of Chinese and White population (mostly consisting of Portuguese) is about 0.5%.[17][18]

Population of Guyana according to ethnic group[19][20][21]
Ethnic
group		 Census 1946Census 1960Census 1980Census 1991Census 2002Census 2012
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
Indian163,43443.5267,84047.8394,41751.9351,93948.6326,27743.4297,49339.8
Black143,38538.2183,98032.8234,09430.8233,46532.3227,06230.2218,48329.3
Mixed37,68510.067,18912.084,76411.287,88112.1125,72716.7148,53219.9
Amerindian16,3224.325.4504.540,3435.346,7226.568,6759.178,49210.5
White8,5432.33,2180.63,7900.52,2670.31,9740.32,3250.3
Chinese3,5670.94,0740.71,8640.21,2900.21,3960.21,3770.2
Other2,7650.78,6551.52940.01070.01120.02530.0
Total375,701560,406759,566723,671751,223746,955

Language
Main article: Languages of Guyana

English is the official language of Guyana, which is the only South American country with English as the official language.[22][23]

Guyanese Creole (an English-based creole with African and/or East Indian syntax) is widely spoken in Guyana.[22]

A number of Amerindian languages are also spoken by a minority of the population. These include Cariban languages such as Macushi, Akawaio and Wai-Wai; Arawakan languages such as Arawak (or Lokono) and Wapishana.[22][23]

Other languages spoken include Chinese, Guyanese Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) and Tamil.[22][23]

Second and third languages

Portuguese is increasingly widely used as a second language in Guyana, particularly in the south of the country, bordering on Brazil.[22] Dutch and French are spoken by those who frequently visit neighboring French Guiana and Suriname. French is widely taught in secondary schools along with Spanish as foreign languages. Spanish is also used by a minority of the population as a second language. Spanish is spoken typically by visitors and residents from Venezuela.[24]

Religion
See also: Religion in Guyana

Religion in Guyana (2012 census)[25]

  Pentecostal (22.8%)
  Seventh-day Adventist (5.4%)
  Anglican (5.2%)
  Methodist (1.4%)
  Jehovah's Witnesses (1.3%)
  Roman Catholic (7.1%)
  Other Christians[lower-alpha 1] (20.8%)
  Hindu (24.8%)
  Muslim (6.8%)
  Other (2.6%)
  Irreligious (3.1%)

Notes
  1. Mostly made up of other Protestants, but also Eastern Orthodox, Mormons, and other Christians.

References
  1. "Final 2012 Census Compendium". Bureau of Statistics - Guyana. Retrieved 27 July 2017.
  2. ""World Population prospects – Population division"". population.un.org. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. ""Overall total population" – World Population Prospects: The 2019 Revision" (xslx). population.un.org (custom data acquired via website). United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  4. "Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision". Esa.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  5. "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  6. Guyana Census 2002, population composition, Ch. 2 (p. 44)
  7. Total population 751,223, where 15–64 years is 452,609/751,223 ~= 60.2%.
  8. "DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE: GUYANA" (PDF). Caricomstats.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  9. "Guyana - Demographic and Health Survey 2009". microdata.worldbank.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  10. https://statisticsguyana.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Final_2012_Census_Compendium2.pdf
  11. "Guyana turns attention to racism". BBC News. 20 September 2005.
  12. "Conflict between East-Indian and Blacks in Trinidad and Guyana Socially, Economically and Politically". Gabrielle Hookumchand, Professor Moses Seenarine. 18 May 2000.
  13. International Business Times: "Guyana: A Study in Polarized Racial Politics" Archived 15 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine 12 December 2011
  14. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/03/26/ethnic-conflict-democracy-guyana/
  15. Helen Myers (1999). Music of Hindu Trinidad. University of Chicago Press. p. 30. ISBN 9780226554532.
  16. Indian Diaspora (PDF). Indiandiaspora.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  17. "South America :: GUYANA". Cia.gov. CIA The World Factbook. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  18. "Portuguese emigration from Madeira to British Guiana". Guyana.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  19. "2012 Census Compendium 2". Statisticsguyana.gov.gy. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  20. "United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics". unstats.un.org. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  21. Guyana Census 2002, population composition, Ch. 2 (pp. 27–28)
  22. Smock, Kirk (2008). Guyana: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt. pp. 19. ISBN 978 1 84162 223 1.
  23. Ali, Arif (2008). Guyana. London: Hansib. ISBN 978-1-906190-10-1.
  24. Damoiseau, Robert (2003) Eléments de grammaire comparée français-créole guyanais Ibis rouge, Guyana, ISBN 2-84450-192-3
  25. Guyana 2012 census compendium 2. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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