Guyana

Co-operative Republic of Guyana
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "One people, one nation, one destiny"
Anthem: Dear Land of Guyana, of Rivers and Plains
Capital (and largest city)	Georgetown
Official languages	English
Government	Socialist republic
- President	Bharrat Jagdeo
Independence
- from the UK	May 26, 1966
- Republic	February 23, 1970
Area
- Total	214,969 km² (84th) 83,000 sq mi
- Water (%)	8.4
Population
- July 2005 estimate	751,0001 (162nd)
- 2002 census	751,223
- Density	3.5 /km² (217th) 9.1 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$3.489 billion (157th)
- Per capita	$4,612 (105th)
HDI (2003)	0.720 (medium) (107th)
Currency	Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Internet TLD	.gy
Calling code	+592
1 Population estimate includes excess mortality due to AIDS. Around one-third of the population (230,000) live in the capital Georgetown.

Guyana (properly pronounced ; occasionally Anglicized as and incorrectly as ), officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is the only nation state of the Commonwealth of Nations on the mainland of South America. It is north of the equator but in the tropics and has coast on the Atlantic Ocean. Guyana is bordered to the east by Suriname, to the south and southwest by Brazil and to the west by Venezuela. It is the third smallest country on the mainland of South America and approximately the size of Great Britain. Guyana is the only South American country whose official language is English, and is one of only two remaining countries on mainland America whose traffic still drives on the left.

Guyana is an Amerindian word meaning "Land of many waters". The country can be characterized by its vast rain forests dissected by numerous rivers, creeks and waterfalls, notably Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River. Guyana's tepuis are famous for being the inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1912 novel The Lost World. The country enjoys a friendly, multicultural society, high floral and faunal biodiversity, prize-winning rum, British Colonial architecture and Demerara sugar.

Though geographically part of South America, culturally Guyana is Caribbean rather than Latin American and it is considered part of the West Indies. Other languages of Guyana include Creolese, Akawaio, Wai-Wai, Arawak and Macushi.

Guyana is currently in a border dispute with Suriname, which claims the land east of the Corentyne River in southeastern Guyana. Venezuela claims the land west of the Essequibo River as part of Guayana Esequiba.