Part 315

Location: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Geographic coordinates: 5 00 N, 59 00 W

Map references: South America

Area: total area: 214,970 sq km land area: 196,850 sq km comparative area: slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries: total: 2,462 km border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Coastline: 459 km

Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: all of the area west of the Essequibo River claimed by Venezuela; Suriname claims area between New (Upper Courantyne) and Courantyne/Kutari Rivers (all headwaters of the Courantyne)

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain: mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Land use: arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 83% other: 8%

Irrigated land: 1,300 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation natural hazards: flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Whaling

People ------

Population: 712,091 (July 1996 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 33% (male 118,796; female 114,327) 15-64 years: 63% (male 224,219; female 222,562) 65 years and over: 4% (male 14,582; female 17,605) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: -0.9% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 19.03 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 9.55 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Net migration rate: -18.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female all ages: 1.01 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 51.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 60.1 years male: 57.55 years female: 62.78 years (1996 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality: noun: Guyanese (singular and plural) adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic divisions: East Indian 51%, black and mixed 43%, Amerindian 4%, European and Chinese 2%

Religions: Christian 57%, Hindu 33%, Muslim 9%, other 1%