Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Guyana instead of United States, you would:

Health

be 44.2% less likely to be obese

In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Guyana, that number is 20.2% of people as of 2016.

live 8.7 years less

In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 32.3% less money

United States has a GDP per capita of $73,600 as of 2023, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

be 3.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In United States, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

be 2.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. In Guyana, however, that number is 35.0% as of 2006.

Life

have 36.9% more children

In United States, there are approximately 12.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Guyana, there are 16.7 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 5.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United States, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Guyana, 112.0 women do as of 2020.

be 4.3 times more likely to die during infancy

In United States, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Guyana, on the other hand, 22.1 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 26.2% less on education

United States spends 6.1% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Guyana spends 4.5% of total GDP on education as of 2018.

spend 70.7% less on healthcare

United States spends 18.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 5.5% of GDP as of 2020.

Geography

see 97.7% less coastline

United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Guyana, that number is 459 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.

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