Census data to guide future infrastructure, social services – Finance Minister 

Census data will play a critical role in guiding Guyana’s future infrastructure development and the expansion of social services, according to Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh. He made the remarks while speaking at the release of the preliminary census results at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
Dr Singh underscored the importance of reliable census data in shaping the country’s future, noting that the information gathered will be a key driver of evidence-based policymaking. This includes planning infrastructure projects, investing in social services, and ensuring the equitable distribution of resources across Guyana.
He emphasised that high-quality data allows the Government to accurately assess its current position and verify statistics, providing a strong foundation for effective policymaking. The Minister encouraged members of the public to download the report and review it after the engagement.
“The data not only corroborates what we know to be happening in our country, but it is also extremely valuable. The information generated from this census will form a critical input into future policymaking, including the rollout of infrastructural plans, investments in social services, and the demographic distribution of those services across the country. The utility of this data is not confined to Government and policymakers alone.”
The Finance Minister also noted that demographic data produced by the Bureau of Statistics is closely monitored by the private sector, as investors rely on such information to anticipate population trends and make strategic investment decisions. He said the census data will therefore be valuable not only to the Government but also to the private sector, echoing sentiments previously expressed by President Dr Irfaan Ali.
He added that throughout the current term of office, President Ali has consistently emphasised the importance of data-driven decision-making.
“Demographic data is closely watched by the private sector because investors are constantly making decisions based on anticipated trends. I therefore speak not only for the Government but also for the private sector when I say that this data will prove extremely valuable.”
The Bureau of Statistics has released the Preliminary Results of the Guyana National Population and Housing Census 2022, which revealed that Guyana’s population stood at 878,674 on Census Night, between midnight and 06:00h on September 15, 2022. As of 2024, the population is estimated at 956,044. The Population and Housing Census is Guyana’s largest national data-collection exercise and is conducted every ten years.

Stock statistics
Turning his attention to building stock statistics, he said the data aligns with the Government’s aggressive housing programme. He noted that President Dr Irfaan Ali, along with previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administrations, has made it an explicit policy objective to ensure that every Guyanese family has the opportunity to own a home. He added that the Government remains committed to increasing homeownership and has implemented targeted policies to make owning a home more affordable.
“We are seeing more young people, and not only young people, being able to own their own homes. Many who previously may have found it difficult to become homeowners are now finding it more affordable and are moving out of parental or familial homes into properties of their own.”
Buildings are classified as occupied, vacant, closed, under construction, dilapidated, or “not stated”. Compared to 2012, the national building stock grew by 42.02 per cent, increasing from 219,509 buildings in 2012 to 311,742 in 2022.
In 2022, hinterland regions (Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine) accounted for 11.42 per cent of the building stock, while the coastal regions comprised 88.58 per cent.
Of the 311,742 buildings nationwide, approximately 80.99 per cent (252,474) were occupied. Buildings under construction accounted for 4.47 percent (13,942), while dilapidated buildings made up 1.41 percent (4381). The remaining 13.13 per cent, or about 40,945 buildings, were reported as vacant, closed, or not stated.
Region Four recorded the highest number of unoccupied buildings (21,319), followed by Region Six (9377), while Region Eight recorded the lowest number (817).
Building stock growth was recorded across all regions, with the highest growth in Region Seven (105.17 per cent), followed by Region One (92.88 per cent) and Region Eight (88.5 per cent). Region Six recorded the lowest growth at 22.89 per cent.