Quick facts
Guyana population overview
Guyana is the 11th most populous of 14 countries and territories in South America. The United Nations put the population at 839,243 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.6% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 14 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 16,113 births (19.2 per 1,000 people) and 6,378 deaths (7.6 per 1,000), and net emigration of roughly 4,784 people. The infant mortality rate is 17.5 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 569,143 in 1960 to 835,986 in 2025 — a change of +46.9%, or +0.6% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 26.5 years; life expectancy at birth is 70.6 years; women have on average 2.4 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 28.9% of residents are under 15 and 7% are 65 or older (2025); 26.5% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Georgetown. Guyana covers 214,970 km², giving a population density of about 3.9 people per km². GDP was $27.1B in 2025 — about $32,414 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Guyana population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #166 of 238 → | 843,206 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 839,243 |
| World rank | #166 of 238 |
| Rank in South America | #11 of 14 |
| Share of world population | 0.010% |
| Annual growth rate #125 of 238 → | +0.6% |
| Births per year est. | 16,113 |
| Deaths per year est. | 6,378 |
| Net migration per year est. · #220 of 238 → | -4,784 |
| Birth rate #75 of 216 → | 19.2 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #101 of 216 → | 7.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #69 of 238 → | 17.5 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #184 of 238 → | 94.7 males per 100 females |
| Median age #159 of 238 → | 26.5 years |
| Life expectancy #150 of 216 → | 70.6 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #82 of 216 → | 2.4 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #201 of 216 → | 26.5% |
| Surface area 2023 · #84 of 215 → | 214,970 km² |
| Population density #210 of 215 → | 3.9 per km² |
| Capital | Georgetown |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #121 of 212 → | $27.1B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #51 of 212 → | $32,414 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Guyana population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 843,206 | – | – |
| 2025 | 835,986 | +4,899 | +0.6% |
| 2024 | 831,087 | +4,734 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | 826,353 | +4,716 | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 821,637 | +6,155 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 815,482 | +8,001 | +1% |
| 2020 | 807,481 | +48,700 | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 758,781 | +9,525 | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 749,256 | -11,658 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 760,914 | -3,918 | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 764,832 | +6,444 | +0.2% |
| 1995 | 758,388 | +8,494 | +0.2% |
| 1990 | 749,894 | -21,583 | -0.6% |
| 1985 | 771,477 | -2,890 | -0.1% |
| 1980 | 774,367 | +28,974 | +0.8% |
| 1975 | 745,393 | +42,688 | +1.2% |
| 1970 | 702,705 | +67,577 | +2% |
| 1965 | 635,128 | +65,985 | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 569,143 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Guyana
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown Capital | 235,017 | 27.9% |
| 2 | Linden | 44,690 | 5.3% |
| 3 | New Amsterdam | 35,039 | 4.2% |
Georgetown is the largest city with 235,017 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Guyana cities →
About Guyana
Population over time
- From 569,143 in 1960 to 843,206 today — up 48.2%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1% per year.
- World rank: Population #166 of 238 · Population growth rate #125 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 70.3 years (2024), up 12.8 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 2.4 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #150 of 216 · Fertility rate #82 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 19.9 births vs 7.5 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 12.4 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #75 of 216 · Death rate #101 of 216.
Age structure
- 28.9% of the population is under 15 and 7% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.4% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #76 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #124 of 216 · Median age #159 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 3.79 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions are at or near their historical peak.
- Per person: 4.56 t in 2024, vs 2.14 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #142 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #59 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 660.6 kg of oil equivalent per person (2007), up 29.7% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 12.1% of final energy in 2022 (-43 points since 1990).
- World rank: Renewable energy share #134 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 87.1% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 94.5% to 87.1% since 1990 — roughly 15,932 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #6 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 26.5% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 29% in 1960 (-2.5 points).
- Still majority-rural — less than half the population lives in cities.
- World rank: Urban population #201 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 0.6% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 293,317 m³ in 2022, down 29.1% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #2 of 183 · Water stress #162 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $27.1B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 533.1% since 2015.
- That works out to $32,414 per person.
- World rank: GDP #121 of 212 · GDP per capita #51 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 12% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 3.3% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #26 of 186 · Inflation rate #87 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 83% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 112.6 per 100 people (2022) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #96 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #114 of 210.
Guyana in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Guyana in 2026?
As of October 2026, Guyana has an estimated population of 843,206. The United Nations estimated 839,243 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.6% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Guyana growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.6% per year — roughly 14 more people every day. Each year there are about 16,113 births and 6,378 deaths, with net migration of -4,784.
What is the population density of Guyana?
About 3.9 people per square kilometre: 843,206 people living on 214,970 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Guyana?
The median age is 26.5 years, and life expectancy at birth is 70.6 years. 28.9% of the population is under 15 and 7% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Guyana rank by population?
Guyana is the 166th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 11th in South America, with 0.010% of the global population.
How has the population of Guyana changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 569,143; by 2025 it had grown to 835,986 (+46.9%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
Explore more
Brazil
Colombia
Argentina
Peru
Solomon Islands
Bhutan
Réunion
ComorosCite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Guyana Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/guyana/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/guyana/">Guyana Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.6%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.