Guyana sees record growth in buildings, population – Bureau of Statistics report

Guyana has seen a significant expansion in its housing and infrastructure over the past decade, as the county’s building stock increased over 42 percent, according to the Preliminary Population and Housing Census Report, which was released on January 12, by the Bureau of Statistics.
The report shows a total increase of buildings nationwide from 219,509 in 2012 to 311,742 in 2022 resulting in a total of 92,233 new buildings in the last 10 years. It further breaks that down to show Region Four (Demerara – Mahaica) accounting for a majority of these structures, with 124,910 buildings, which represents just over 40 percent of the nation’s total. The hinterland recorded the fastest growing rate, particularly Region Seven (Cuyuni – Mazaruni), where building stock more than doubled over the ten – year time period.
However, coastal regions continue to dominate in numbers, housing nearly 89 percent of all buildings while the hinterland regions, though smaller in shares, recorded the highest growth rate and pointed to expanding development activities. The majority of the buildings were classified as occupied, with a small portion being considered unoccupied, under construction or dilapidated.
The expansion in building stock occurred alongside steady population growth nationwide. The country’s population grew from 746,955 In 2012 to 878,674 in 2022, showing an increase of 131,719 persons, with all ten administrative regions showing an increase in population size.
Region four remains the most populous with an increase of almost 11.6 percent from a population of 311,563 to 347,759 over ten years. Region Three (Essequibo Islands – West Demerara) followed with from 107,785 in 2012 to 143,884 in 2022 and at a growth rate of 33.5 percent with an annual growth rate 2.9 percent, while Region Six (East Berbice – Corentyne) had an annual growth rate of 0.44 percent. The reports showed how Region Three superseded the growth Rate of Region Six, which according to previous Census Reports, would be the second most populous region.
The Bureau of Statistics said the Preliminary findings provide critical insight into housing demand, infrastructure expansion and population distribution and will inform future planning and development initiatives across Guyana.