Updated July 13, 2020
Guyana: An Overview
Located on the north coast of South America, English-
President David Granger leads a coalition that narrowly
speaking Guyana has characteristics of a Caribbean nation
won in 2015, with 33 of 65 seats in the unicameral National
because of its British colonial heritage (the country became
Assembly. The coalition consists of Granger’s A
independent in 1966). Guyana participates in Caribbean
Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance for
regional organizations, and its capital Georgetown serves as
Change (AFC), with its Member of Parliament Moses
headquarters for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a
Nagamootoo serving as prime minister. The largest party in
regional integration organization.
APNU is the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR),
which dominated the political system until the early 1990s;
Figure 1. Map of Guyana
the party traditionally has had an Afro-Guyanese base of
support. The AFC identifies as a multiracial party.
The opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C),
led by former President Bharrat Jagdeo (1999-2011), has 32
seats in the National Assembly. Traditionally supported by
Indo-Guyanese, the PPP/C governed Guyana from 1992
until its defeat in the 2015 elections.
Guyana at a Glance
Population: 785,000 (2019, IMF est.)
Ethnic Groups: Indo-Guyanese, or those of East Indian
heritage, almost 40%; Afro-Guyanese, almost 30%; mixed,
20%; Amerindian, almost 11% (2012, CIA est.)
Area: 83,000 square miles, about the size of Idaho
GDP: $4.1 bil ion (2019, current prices, IMF est.)
Real GDP Growth: 4.7% (2019 est.); 53% (2020 est.); 6.3%
(2021est.) (constant prices, IMF)
Per Capita GDP: $5,252 (2019, current prices, IMF est.)
Life Expectancy: 69.8 years (2018, WB)
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Economic
Outlook Database, Oct. 2019 and April 2020; Central Intel igence
Guyana currently is facing two major challenges—a
Agency (CIA), World Factbook; World Bank (WB), World
political crisis concerning the conduct of the March 2,
Development Indicators.
2020, elections, and a public health threat due to the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Guyana is facing increasing international pressure to
March 2020 Elections
finalize results from its March elections. U.S. officials
Originally due by September 2020, Guyana held national
and some Members of Congress have expressed support
elections on March 2, 2020, because the ruling coalition
for the recount completed in June (see H.Con.Res. 101).
lost a no-confidence motion in December 2018. A legal
challenge to the motion delayed elections until after the
With regard to COVID-19, as of July 13, 2020, Guyana
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ, Guyana’s highest court of
reported 17 deaths and 297 confirmed cases. The
appeals) ruled in June 2019 that it was valid. Running for
economic impact of COVID-19 on Guyana will not be
reelection, Granger is the presidential candidate of the
as severe as in other Caribbean countries because of
APNU/AFC coalition, and the PPP/C’s candidate is Irfaan
Guyana’s recently begun offshore oil production.
Ali, who previously served as housing minister.
Political Environment
Final election results have not been released because of
Guyana has a hybrid republican/parliamentary form of
fraud allegations. On March 6, several international election
government. The presidential candidate of the party or
observer missions—from the Organization of American
coalition receiving the most votes becomes president, and
States, the Carter Center, the European Union (EU), and the
the president appoints the prime minister.
Commonwealth—maintained that the tabulation of results
was interrupted and incomplete. Legal challenges delayed a
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Guyana: An Overview
recount, but it was finally held between May 6 and June 8,
After the March 2020 elections, U.S. Ambassador Sarah-
overseen by a three-member CARICOM team. Preliminary
Ann Lynch joined the heads of mission from Canada, the
recount results showed the opposition PPP/C secured
United Kingdom, and the EU to issue a March 6 joint
enough votes to win. The CARICOM team concluded that
statement expressing “deep concern over credible
the recount, despite some irregularities, reflected the “will
allegations of electoral fraud.” The ambassadors called on
of the voters,” whereas Guyana’s chief election officer
President Granger to avoid a transition of government,
(CEO) maintained that the vote was not free or fair because
maintaining it would be “unconstitutional” because the
of numerous irregularities.
tabulation process “lacked credibility and transparency.”
On June 5, the ambassadors commended Granger and
Further hurdles have delayed the release of final election
opposition leader Jagdeo for supporting the recount and
results. On June 16, the chairperson of the Guyana
their commitment to abide by its results. In a June 24
Elections Commission (GECOM) directed the CEO to
statement, the ambassadors said that “election results are
prepare a final election report based on the recount, but a
long overdue” and expected GECOM to meet “its
legal challenge ensued. On June 22, Guyana’s Court of
constitutional duty” to issue an electoral declaration on the
Appeal ruled that the winner could be declared only on the
basis of the recount “to ensure the democratic choice of the
basis of “more valid votes cast.” This led the CEO to
people is fulfilled.” In a July 1 press briefing, Secretary of
submit a report to GECOM on June 23 removing more than
State Mike Pompeo stated that he instructed the State
115,000 votes cast, which would result in an APNU/AFC
Department “to ensure those who undermine Guyana’s
victory. A subsequent legal challenge to the CCJ led to a
democracy are held accountable.”
July 8 decision invalidating the Court of Appeal ruling and
the CEO’s June 23 report. On July 11, the CEO submitted
Trade. The United States ran a trade surplus of $540
another report to GECOM showing a victory for the ruling
million with Guyana in 2019, with U.S. exports valued at
coalition, contrary to the recount results.
$672 million, up 24% from 2018 (led by machinery and
iron/steel pipes for oil drilling) and U.S. imports valued at
Oil Changes Guyana’s Economic Outlook $132 million (led by seafood, aluminum ores, and gold). In
Guyana’s economy traditionally has been based on
1988, Guyana became a beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin
agriculture (rice and sugar) and mining (gold and bauxite),
Economic Recovery Act (CBERA), a preferential trade
but the discovery of significant amounts of offshore oil is
program for Caribbean imports. In 2000, it became a
bolstering the economy. ExxonMobil leads a consortium
beneficiary of the Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act
that includes Hess and China National Offshore Oil
(CBTPA), a program that provides enhanced tariff
Corporation and has been involved in oil and gas
treatment for certain imports from the region, including
exploration in Guyana since 2008. Since 2015, the
goods made with U.S. yarns, fabrics, and threads. CBERA
consortium has identified 16 commercially viable
has no set expiration date; CBTPA expires in September
discoveries in the Stabroek Block, about 120 miles
2020. Legislation has been introduced in both houses (H.R.
offshore. Production began in December 2019 and is soon
991 and S. 2473) to extend the CBTPA to September 2030.
expected to reach 120,000 barrels of oil per day (b/d) and
more than 750,000 b/d by 2026. Recoverable oil is
U.S. Foreign Aid. U.S. assistance includes a small bilateral
estimated at more than 8 billion barrels.
aid program to improve the capacity of Guyana’s security
forces to police its border and provide security and larger
The discovery of offshore oil vastly changes the economic
spigots of assistance through global and regional programs.
development prospects of Guyana, which used to be one of
According to the U.S. Agency for International
the hemisphere’s poorest countries. The International
Development, U.S aid to Guyana amounted to $4.7 million
Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that economic growth in
in FY2018 (latest full year available), with top sectors
2019 reached 4.7% and for 2020, despite the recent decline
including HIV/AIDS and basic education and health.
in world oil prices and the economic consequences of the
Guyana has received assistance since 2004 to combat
COVID-19 pandemic, is forecasting 53% growth. Guyana’s
HIV/AIDS and since 2009 to help combat the drug trade
development of its oil resources has raised concerns about
and improve citizen security through the Caribbean Basin
corruption. In 2019, Guyana’s National Assembly approved
Security Initiative. Before the suspension of a Peace Corps
legislation providing a framework for the establishment of a
program due to COVID-19, Guyana had over 60 volunteers
Natural Resource Fund for managing the country’s oil
working on education, health, and environmental projects.
wealth. The IMF welcomed the action but called for
Guyana to take additional steps, including establishing a
Among other U.S. aid spigots, the United States also has
fiscal responsibility framework to avoid fiscal deficits;
provided almost $4.8 million in humanitarian assistance
promoting effective, transparent management of the oil
from FY2017 to FY2020 through international
wealth; and strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
organizations for some 22,000 Venezuelan refugees and
migrants in Guyana. Most recently, the United States is
U.S.-Guyana Relations
providing assistance to help respond to the COVID-19
U.S. relations with Guyana improved in the early 1990s
pandemic through a portion of $2.2 million in health
when the government moved away from one-party
funding for the Caribbean and $350,000 in humanitarian
domination of the political system and embraced a market
assistance for Venezuelan refugees and host communities.
economy and free and fair elections.
Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs
IF11381
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Guyana: An Overview
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permissio n of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11381 · VERSION 8 · UPDATED