About Us / Meet Guyana
Meet GuyanaLand of many waters, era of new opportunity
Guyana's name comes from the Amerindian word "wayna," meaning "land of many waters." The only Commonwealth member state on the South American continent, Guyana gained independence in 1966 and became a Cooperative Republic in 1970.
~779,000
Population
US$4.121 billion
GDP (2019)
1966
Independence
Cooperative Republic
Government
An economy transformed by discovery
Since the first Stabroek Block discovery in 2015, more than 16 further offshore finds have transformed Guyana into one of the fastest-growing economies on earth, drawing sustained international investor attention to the oil and gas sector.
Guyana is a member of the UN, IMF, World Bank, CARICOM, OAS, WTO and the Rio Group, and joined China's New Silk Road initiative in July 2018, unlocking infrastructure development across ports and roads.
Beyond energy, the country's natural heritage — including Kaieteur Falls and the Iwokrama rainforest — anchors a growing eco-tourism sector, while strong bilateral ties with Brazil support cooperation in infrastructure and technology.
Primary Sectors
- Agriculture
- Natural Gas
- Mining
- Petroleum
- Forestry
- Fishing
The Golden Arrowhead
- Green: Agriculture and forests
- White: Rivers and water
- Gold: Mineral wealth
- Black: Resilience and endurance
- Red: Dynamism and zeal for nation-building