Population
826k persons, 1 July latest value, 2023
Population on 1 July. UN estimate to 2023, medium variant from 2024; past UN revisions for forecast checks.
Guyana
All indicators of the Macroscope base for Guyana, with sources. Below: what past UN and IMF releases projected and what actually happened.
GDP per capita, PPP
83,659
constant 2021 international $, 2025
What the data shows
Computed with the same code as the observations under the main chart and in the API (get_insights). Moving together in time does not prove a cause.
How the indicators changed
- Fertility (TFR): 5.83 in 1950 → 2.41 in 2023 (−59%). Peak: 6.34 in 1961; the latest value is 62% lower. The trend broke around 1963 and 1981: +0.04 → −0.16 → −0.03 a year.
- Births: 18.1k in 1950 → 16.8k in 2023 (−8%). Peak: 26.1k in 1971; the latest value is 36% lower. The trend broke around 1970 and 2010: +0.4k → −0.26k → +0.02k a year.
- Population: 418k in 1950 → 826k in 2023 (+98%). The trend broke around 1975 and 2014: +13.9k → −0.4k → +8.78k a year.
- Internet: 0% in 1990 → 83% in 2024 (+83 pp). Thresholds: above 10% since 2007, above 50% since 2019. Fastest growth in 2016–2021: 35.7% → 71.7%.
- Urban share: 29% in 1960 → 26.5% in 2025 (−2.5 pp). Peak: 30.1% in 1970; the latest value is 12% lower. The trend broke around 1996 and 2011: 0 → −0.21 → +0.01 a year.
- GDP per person (PPP): 5,074 PPP dollars in 1990 → 83,659 PPP dollars in 2025 (×16). The trend broke around 2019: change sped up (+176 → +10,891 a year).
- GDP growth: on average −3.1% in the 1980s, 4.8% in the 1990s, 1.8% in the 2000s, 3.8% in the 2010s, 37.3% in the 2020s. Lowest: −11.5% in 1983; highest: 63.3% in 2022.
- Inflation: on average 27.8% in the 1980s, 25.0% in the 1990s, 6.2% in the 2000s, 1.9% in the 2010s, 3.5% in the 2020s. Lowest: −0.9% in 2015; highest: 103.1% in 1991.
What changed at the same time
- The fastest decline of "Fertility (TFR)" was in 1968–1978: 5.75 → 3.97. Over the same years: births 25.7k → 24.5k; population 676k → 765k; urban share 30.1% → 29.6%; no data for the others in those years.
- Over the last 10 years (2013–2023): fertility (TFR) 2.71 → 2.41; births 16.9k → 16.8k; population 750k → 826k; internet 31% → 79.4%; urban share 26.4% → 26.5%; GDP per person (PPP) 11,897 PPP dollars → 49,312 PPP dollars; GDP growth 3.7% → 33.8%; inflation 1.9% → 2.8%.
How the indicators relate
- Fertility (TFR) and internet (1990–2023, 29 years): levels are strongly related, in opposite directions (r = −0.80); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.06). This looks like a shared trend: both change over time, but not in step from year to year.
- Fertility (TFR) and urban share (1960–2023, 64 years): levels are noticeably related, in the same direction (r = 0.66); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.16).
- Fertility (TFR) and GDP per person (PPP) (1990–2023, 34 years): levels are noticeably related, in opposite directions (r = −0.62); year-to-year changes show no reliable link (r = 0.06).
Forecasts vs actual
- Fertility (TFR): past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 0 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 11; median gap +21%.
- The UN 2012 projection expected this level (2.41) already around 2016: reality is 7 years behind it.
- The UN 2017 projection expected this level (2.41) already around 2020: reality is 3 years behind it.
- Fertility (TFR): UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 1.98 (−18% vs 2023), 2100 — 1.78 (−26% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 1.28.
- Births: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 0 of 11 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 11; median gap +31%.
- Births: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 13.8k (−17% vs 2023), 2100 — 9.08k (−46% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 3.17k.
- Population: past UN projections. The outcome was below the projection in 2 of 12 revisions (1998–2022) and above in 10; median gap +4.7%.
- Population: UN 2024 projection (medium): 2050 — 941k (+14% vs 2023), 2100 — 889k (+8% vs 2023); low variant for 2100: 552k.
- GDP growth: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1 pp above the forecast; below it in 50% of cases; typical error ±5.2 pp. The biggest miss was for 2020: IMF, October 2019 expected 85.6%, the outcome was 43.5%.
- GDP growth: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 16.2%, 2028 — 22.1%, 2031 — 1.1%.
- Inflation: IMF next-year forecasts (36 editions, 2007–2024). On average the outcome was 1.3 pp below the forecast; below it in 78% of cases; typical error ±2.6 pp. The biggest miss was for 2015: IMF, April 2014 expected 4.3%, the outcome was −0.9%.
- Inflation: latest IMF forecast (IMF, April 2026): 2026 — 4.1%, 2028 — 5.2%, 2031 — 5.5%.
UN projections vs actual
Solid line: actual data, UN WPP 2024 estimates to 2023, then national statistics where comparable with the UN. Dashed: medium variants of past UN revisions. The table shows what each revision expected for the latest year (or five-year period) with actual data.
Population
persons, 1 July
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2023 | 25 years | 1.03M | 826k | −19.6% |
| UN 2000 | 2023 | 23 years | 713k | 826k | +15.8% |
| UN 2002 | 2023 | 21 years | 734k | 826k | +12.7% |
| UN 2004 | 2023 | 19 years | 712k | 826k | +16% |
| UN 2006 | 2023 | 17 years | 690k | 826k | +19.8% |
| UN 2008 | 2023 | 15 years | 738k | 826k | +12% |
| UN 2010 | 2023 | 13 years | 781k | 826k | +5.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2023 | 11 years | 835k | 826k | −1% |
| UN 2015 | 2023 | 8 years | 800k | 826k | +3.4% |
| UN 2017 | 2023 | 6 years | 803k | 826k | +2.9% |
| UN 2019 | 2023 | 4 years | 798k | 826k | +3.6% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 814k | 826k | +1.5% |
Births
births per year
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 16.3k | 17.1k | +5% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 12.2k | 17.1k | +40.5% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 11.9k | 17.1k | +44.5% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 10.8k | 17.1k | +58.9% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 11.2k | 17.1k | +52.6% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 12.1k | 17.1k | +41.8% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 13.1k | 17.1k | +30.9% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 15.6k | 17.1k | +9.6% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 15.5k | 17.1k | +10.6% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 15.8k | 17.1k | +8.3% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 15.9k | 16.8k | +5.1% |
Total fertility rate
children per woman
- Actual
- UN 1998
- UN 2000
- UN 2002
- UN 2004
- UN 2006
- UN 2008
- UN 2010
- UN 2012
- UN 2015
- UN 2017
- UN 2019
- UN 2022
- UN 2024, medium
| Release | Target period | Horizon | Expected | Actual | Actual vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 1998 | 2015–2020 | 20 years | 2.10 | 2.58 | +22.7% |
| UN 2000 | 2015–2020 | 18 years | 2.10 | 2.58 | +22.7% |
| UN 2002 | 2015–2020 | 16 years | 2.01 | 2.58 | +28% |
| UN 2004 | 2015–2020 | 14 years | 1.85 | 2.58 | +38.9% |
| UN 2006 | 2015–2020 | 12 years | 2.13 | 2.58 | +21.1% |
| UN 2008 | 2015–2020 | 10 years | 2.13 | 2.58 | +21.2% |
| UN 2010 | 2015–2020 | 8 years | 2.07 | 2.58 | +24.4% |
| UN 2012 | 2015–2020 | 6 years | 2.40 | 2.58 | +7.5% |
| UN 2015 | 2015–2020 | 2 years | 2.47 | 2.58 | +4.1% |
| UN 2017 | 2015–2020 | 0 years | 2.47 | 2.58 | +4.2% |
| UN 2022 | 2023 | 1 year | 2.35 | 2.41 | +2.8% |
IMF forecasts vs actual
Solid line: actual values from the latest IMF edition (data get revised, so we use the newest). Dashed: April editions, current year and five years ahead. The table covers next-year forecasts from all editions: mean error shows bias, mean absolute error shows accuracy.
Real GDP growth
% per year
- Actual (IMF)
- WEO, April editions
| Indicator | Forecasts | Mean error | Mean absolute error | Actual below forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth | 36 | +1 pp | 5.2 pp | 50% |
| Inflation | 36 | −1.3 pp | 2.6 pp | 78% |
| Government gross debt | 28 | −12.8 pp | 15.7 pp | 79% |
All indicators
Demography
Births
16.8k births per year latest value, 2023
Live births per calendar year. UN WPP 2024 and national statistics (64 countries, 2015-2025).
Total fertility rate
2.41 children per woman latest value, 2023
Average number of children a woman would have at the age-specific fertility rates of the year.
Life expectancy at birth, women
73.9 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn girl would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Life expectancy at birth, men
66.5 years latest value, 2023
Years a newborn boy would live at the mortality rates of the year (UN).
Median age
25.6 years latest value, 2023
Age that divides the population in two halves (UN).
Mean age of mothers at childbirth
27 years latest value, 2023
Mean age of mothers at the birth of their children of any order (UN).
Sex ratio at birth
103.7 boys per 100 girls latest value, 2023
Boys born per 100 girls born (UN).
Net migration
−6.16k persons per year latest value, 2023
Immigrants minus emigrants per year (UN estimate and projection).
Old-age dependency
10.8 persons 65+ per 100 aged 20-64 latest value, 2020
Persons aged 65+ per 100 aged 20-64, every five years (UN).
Digitalisation
Internet users
83 % of population latest value, 2024
Share of individuals who used the Internet in the last three months from any device. ITU data.
Mobile cellular subscriptions
112.6 per 100 people latest value, 2022
Active mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people; can exceed 100 when people have several SIM cards. ITU data.
Fixed broadband subscriptions
12.9 subscriptions per 100 people latest value, 2022
Fixed subscriptions to high-speed Internet (256 kbit/s or more) per 100 people. ITU data.
Economy
GDP per capita, PPP
83,659 constant 2021 international $ latest value, 2025
Gross domestic product per person at purchasing power parity, constant 2021 international dollars (World Bank, ICP).
Real GDP growth
19.3 % per year latest value, 2025
Annual change of GDP at constant prices. Actual values and forecasts from IMF WEO editions.
Inflation
3.3 % per year, average latest value, 2025
Change of the annual average consumer price index (IMF WEO).
Government gross debt
28.6 % of GDP latest value, 2025
General government gross debt, percent of GDP (IMF WEO).
GDP per capita, US dollars
26,994 current US dollars latest value, 2025
GDP per person in current US dollars at market exchange rates (IMF WEO).
Society
Urban population
26.5 % of population latest value, 2025
Share of people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices (World Bank, from UN World Urbanization Prospects).
Tertiary enrolment, women
37.4 % gross latest value, 2024
Women enrolled in tertiary education as a share of women in the five-year age group after secondary school; can exceed 100 (UNESCO).
Women with upper secondary education
36.3 % of women 25+ latest value, 2019
Share of women aged 25+ who completed at least upper secondary education (UNESCO).
Life expectancy at birth
70.3 years latest value, 2024
Life expectancy at birth, both sexes (World Bank, from UN and national statistics).
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