GeoRealityMatch
Aerial shot of a vibrant coastal city bordered by lush greenery and calm sea under a bright sky.Capture of the Royal Victoria Institute showcasing its classic architectural style in Georgetown.

Guyana

South America

Medium safetyModerate cost of livingHigh development
Safety

102nd most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.093lower is more peacefulMedium safety
#102 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
19.1per 100,000 people a yearVery highUNODC / World Bank · 2023
Safety index
33.1Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferLowNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes above the median country

GNI per person
$28,470national income per person, US dollarsHigh
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
24.8New York = 100Very expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 934% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 861% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$50K$100K$97,899 PPP$32,414Inflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $3,136 a person, $7,346 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2007, $3,608 a person, $8,110 at PPP, inflation 12.2%2008, $4,009 a person, $8,437 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2009, $4,209 a person, $8,824 at PPP, inflation 3%2010, $4,582 a person, $9,337 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2011, $4,947 a person, $10,066 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2012, $5,444 a person, $10,627 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2013, $5,557 a person, $11,200 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2014, $5,473 a person, $11,145 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2015, $5,640 a person, $11,408 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $5,871 a person, $11,516 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2017, $6,179 a person, $12,243 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $6,048 a person, $12,443 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2019, $6,406 a person, $13,241 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2020, $6,776 a person, $16,819 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $9,861 a person, $22,866 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2022, $17,913 a person, $39,705 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2023, $20,474 a person, $54,774 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2024, $29,675 a person, $80,271 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $32,414 a person, $97,899 at PPP, inflation 3.3%$0$50K$100KInflation, % a year15%0200620102015202020252006, $3,136 a person, $7,346 at PPP, inflation 6.7%2007, $3,608 a person, $8,110 at PPP, inflation 12.2%2008, $4,009 a person, $8,437 at PPP, inflation 8.1%2009, $4,209 a person, $8,824 at PPP, inflation 3%2010, $4,582 a person, $9,337 at PPP, inflation 4.3%2011, $4,947 a person, $10,066 at PPP, inflation 4.4%2012, $5,444 a person, $10,627 at PPP, inflation 2.4%2013, $5,557 a person, $11,200 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2014, $5,473 a person, $11,145 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2015, $5,640 a person, $11,408 at PPP, inflation -0.9%2016, $5,871 a person, $11,516 at PPP, inflation 0.8%2017, $6,179 a person, $12,243 at PPP, inflation 1.9%2018, $6,048 a person, $12,443 at PPP, inflation 1.3%2019, $6,406 a person, $13,241 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2020, $6,776 a person, $16,819 at PPP, inflation 0.7%2021, $9,861 a person, $22,866 at PPP, inflation 4.5%2022, $17,913 a person, $39,705 at PPP, inflation 6.9%2023, $20,474 a person, $54,774 at PPP, inflation 2.8%2024, $29,675 a person, $80,271 at PPP, inflation 2.9%2025, $32,414 a person, $97,899 at PPP, inflation 3.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Below-average life expectancy

Life expectancy
70.3years, at birthModerate
#131 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
73WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100ModerateWHO · 2023
Air pollution
10.0PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageLowWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Very fast home internet

Unemployment rate
12%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
137 Mbpsmedian download speedVery fastOokla Speedtest · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet137 MbpsVery fast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Capture of the Royal Victoria Institute showcasing its classic architectural style in Georgetown.
How it changed

Guyana's Human Development Index

0.776High human development

89th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 8th of 12 in South America.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #88Ecuador0.777
  2. #89Dominican Republic0.776
  3. #89Guyana0.776
  4. #89Sri Lanka0.776
  5. #92Tonga0.769
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.494 in 1990 to 0.776 in 2023.

0.450.630.800.77619902000201020231990: 0.4941991: 0.4911992: 0.5071993: 0.5211994: 0.5311995: 0.5361996: 0.5461997: 0.5521998: 0.5571999: 0.5622000: 0.5672001: 0.5752002: 0.5802003: 0.5872004: 0.6002005: 0.6102006: 0.6192007: 0.6262008: 0.6322009: 0.6372010: 0.6472011: 0.6592012: 0.6642013: 0.6692014: 0.6782015: 0.6832016: 0.6902017: 0.6962018: 0.7022019: 0.7092020: 0.7222021: 0.7132022: 0.7632023: 0.7760.450.630.8019902000201020231990: 0.4941991: 0.4911992: 0.5071993: 0.5211994: 0.5311995: 0.5361996: 0.5461997: 0.5521998: 0.5571999: 0.5622000: 0.5672001: 0.5752002: 0.5802003: 0.5872004: 0.6002005: 0.6102006: 0.6192007: 0.6262008: 0.6322009: 0.6372010: 0.6472011: 0.6592012: 0.6642013: 0.6692014: 0.6782015: 0.6832016: 0.6902017: 0.6962018: 0.7022019: 0.7092020: 0.7222021: 0.7132022: 0.7632023: 0.776

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
70.3 years2024at birthUp 5.9 years from 64.4 years in 2005
Internet users
83%2024of people onlineUp 74 points from 9% in 2006
Urban population
26%2025of people in towns and citiesDown 1 point from 27% in 2006
Births per woman
2.402024births per womanDown 0.25 from 2.65 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
12%2022of energy usedDown 23 points from 36% in 2004
Access to electricity
93%2024of people with electricityUp 16 points from 78% in 2005
Infant mortality
232024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 14 from 37 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
4.6 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 2.6 t from 1.9 t in 2005
Forest area
87%2023of land under forestDown 7 points from 94% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Oil boom country: English-speaking, massive jungle, giant new petroleum revenues.

About Guyana

Guyana is a South American country on the Atlantic coast with a vast interior of Amazonian jungle, savanna, and some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, including Kaieteur Falls, which drops nearly five times the height of Niagara. The culture is a Creole blend of African, Indian, Amerindian, and European influences that makes it culturally unlike any of its South American neighbours. It suits wildlife enthusiasts and those drawn to the genuinely unexplored.

Practical facts

  • CapitalGeorgetown
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyGuyanese dollar (GYD)
  • Area211,140 km²
  • Plug typeType A/B
  • Drives on theleft
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Quick answers

What is Guyana's Human Development Index?

Guyana's Human Development Index is 0.776 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #89 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Guyana safe?

Guyana scores 2.09 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #102 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

How expensive is Guyana?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Guyana at 50.4 (New York = 100); that is #99 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Guyana?

Life expectancy at birth in Guyana is 70.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #131 of 195 countries.