Official name: Co-operative Republic of Guyana

Head of State: President Bharrat Jagdeo (PPP/Civic) (since 1999; re-elected 28 Aug 2006)

Head of government: Prime Minister Samuel A A Hinds (since 1997)

Ruling party: People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/Civic) (re-elected 28 Aug 2006)

Area: 214,970 square km

Population: 768,000 (2005)

Capital: Georgetown

Official language: English

Currency: Guyana dollar (G$) = 100 cents

Exchange rate: G$201.69 per US$ (Jan 2007)

GDP per capita: US$1,039 (2005)

GDP real growth: -3.00% (2005)

Labour force: 334,000 (2004)

Unemployment: 30.00% (2005)* (includes underemployment rate)

Inflation: 6.90% (2005)

Balance of trade: -US$94.40 million (2005)

Foreign debt: US$1.33 billion (2004)

* estimated figure