Guyana’s population hits 956,044

…foreign-born residents rise
…males outnumber females: 440,062 men to 432,608 women in 2022

The Bureau of Statistics has released the Preliminary Results of the Guyana National Population and Housing Census 2022, revealing that Guyana’s population stood at 878,674 on Census Night, midnight to 06:00h on September 15, 2022 but as of 2024 Guyana’s population is estimated at 956,044. The Population and Housing Census is Guyana’s largest national data collection exercise and is conducted every 10 years. During the exercise, census enumerators visit every household across the country to administer questionnaires used to collect critical social, demographic and economic data. The Census is regarded as a vital national undertaking and citizens are required by law to cooperate, as the data generated plays a critical role in national planning and development. The Bureau noted that the preliminary findings provide a snapshot of key demographic indicators and will be further refined in a comprehensive final report to be released at a later date. Notably, the 2022 Census was the first in Guyana to be conducted using Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) technology through the use of tablets, marking a major advancement in data collection.

Regional population distribution
According to the preliminary results, all regions recorded population growth between 2012 and 2022. Region Four (Demerara–Mahaica) remains the most populous region, accounting for 39.58 per cent of the total population with 347,759 residents. Region Three (Essequibo Islands–West Demerara) has now replaced Region Six as the second most populous region, comprising 16.38 per cent of the population with 143,884 residents. Speaking at the release of the preliminary census results at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh highlighted the notable growth in Regions Three and Four. “We saw some very interesting demographic trends, particularly with respect to the regional distribution of our population. Region Three has now overtaken Region Six as the second most populous region in our country, while Region Four continues to be the most populous,” the Minister said.
Dr Singh noted that the growth in Region Three is not unexpected, pointing to the expansion of new housing schemes and land development. “We have seen the opening up of new lands, the development of new housing areas, and the allocation of house lots in Region Three. Entire housing areas now exist that did not exist a generation ago,” he explained.

Foreign-born population on the rise
The census also captured changes in Guyana’s foreign-born population. Foreign-born residents are defined as individuals who were not Guyanese at birth but reside in Guyana, including those who have acquired citizenship through naturalisation. Locals, conversely, are persons born in Guyana or born abroad to Guyanese parents.
Preliminary findings show that in 2022, 96.93 per cent of Guyana’s resident population was locally born, while 3.07 per cent was foreign born. Singh explained that the growth in the foreign-born population includes children of returning members of the Guyanese diaspora, as well as migrants from neighbouring countries, reflecting long-standing patterns of cross-border movement. He noted that many foreign-born residents have come to Guyana as investors, workers and students, highlighting a relatively new phenomenon, foreign-born students travelling to Guyana to pursue tertiary education. “This is something that did not exist a generation ago, or even a decade ago. People are coming to Guyana to study, to work, and to invest and this is reflected in the expansion of the foreign-born population,” the Minister said.

Shifts in sex distribution
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Statistician Vanessa Profitt reported notable shifts in Guyana’s population composition between 2012 and 2022, particularly in relation to sex distribution. According to Profitt, females slightly outnumbered males in 2012, accounting for 50.2 per cent of the population, compared to 49.7 per cent males. However, she underlined that this trend reversed in 2022, with males comprising 50.1 per cent of the population and females 49.2 per cent. A regional analysis shows that males slightly outnumber females in Region Seven, a trend the Chief Statistician noted may be influenced by region-specific factors. She further explained that in most hinterland regions, males marginally exceed females, while on the coastline, particularly in Regions Four and 10, females outnumber males.
Addressing concerns about local- and foreign-born populations, Profitt reminded that census data is collected through a voluntary reporting process and is presented at face value. She noted that in 2012, the local-born population accounted for 98.9 per cent, while the foreign-born population stood at 1.0 per cent. By 2022, the foreign-born proportion increased to approximately 3.0 per cent, while the local-born share declined proportionally. However, Profitt clarified that this does not indicate an absolute decline in the local population, but rather an increase in the proportion of foreign-born residents.

Household growth trends
The Deputy Chief Statistician also highlighted trends in household growth, noting a steady increase over time. “The number of households has been increasing and this graphical display shows the contribution of each region. It demonstrates a clear upward trend,” Profitt said. Between 2012 and 2022, the number of households increased by 32.9 per cent, rising from 204,624 to 271,946 households. All regions recorded increases, with Region One experiencing the highest growth at 75.42 per cent, while Region Six, though still increasing, recorded the lowest growth rate at 22.27 per cent. She added that average household size has also increased over time, indicating changes in household composition across the country.