Geography
Guyana
Area
land
196,849 sq km
water
18,120 sq km
total
214,969 sq km
Climate
tropical climate; characterized by heat and humidity, influenced by northeast trade winds; experiences two rainy periods (from May to August and November to January)
Terrain
predominantly rolling highlands; a low coastal plain; savanna located in the southern region
Land use
other
9.5% (2023 est.)
forest
87.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
3.4% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 2.8% (2023 est.)
Location
Situated in Northern South America, adjacent to the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela
Coastline
459 km
Elevation
lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Laberintos del Norte on Mount Roraima 2,775 m
mean elevation
207 m
Irrigated land
1,430 sq km (2012)
Map references
South America
Land boundaries
total
2,933 km
border countries
Brazil 1,308 km; Suriname 836 km; Venezuela 789 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
risk of flash floods during the rainy periods
Geography - note
the third smallest nation in South America, following Suriname and Uruguay; home to some of the continent's largest untouched rainforests
Natural resources
resources include bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, and fish
Area - comparative
slightly less extensive than Idaho; nearly double the area of Tennessee
Geographic coordinates
5 00 N, 59 00 W
Population distribution
the population is primarily concentrated in the northeast, particularly in and around Georgetown, with significant clusters along the Berbice River to the east; the rest of the country has a sparse population
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage
Amazon (6,145,186 sq km), Orinoco (953,675 sq km)