Guyana’s population almost 1 million – prelim census report

Last Updated on Monday, 12 January 2026, 19:45 by Writer

Guyana’s population is now officially 878,674 but it is estimated at 956,044 at the end of 2024, according to data released by the Bureau of Statistics on Monday.

Chief Statistician Errol La Cruez estimates there was 89 percent household coverage due to smaller households, more working people all due to the “changing nature of society.”

He said there are more migrants, some of whom are undocumented and would not want to engage with officials.

While acknowledging there were difficulties in accessing people, he said “overall we have a high degree of confidence in the data we have presented here.”

In presenting a snapshot of the preliminary report of the 2022 population and housing census, Deputy Chief Statistician and Census Officer, Vanessa Profitt also said that as at September 15, 2022 the population was 878,674 persons.

The 2012 census had recorded a population of 746,955.

She said the figures represent the “highest population growth rate since the Second World War.

Back in 2012, she said the local born population was 98 percent. But now, there has been a slight increase to 3 percent and local born slightly decreased.

Finance minister Dr Ashni Singh said many residents had migrated from neighbouring countries, in addition to investors, workers and students. “We see that reflected in the expansion of the foreign-born population,” Dr Singh said.

He said there would be a “far more comprehensive” preliminary report that would be posted on the Bureau of Statistics website. He said the final report would “come in due course”.

The opposition A Partnership For National Unity had demanded that government release the census report rather than withhold such vital information to the detriment of its political opponent and the business community.

Dr Singh said the opening of new lands and “heavily populated” housing areas in Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands) have seen the populatuon there surpassing Region Six’s (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Dr Singh said the construction boom shows that there has been a 42 percent increase in “building stock” in recent years.

Dr Singh attributed the shrinking household size from 4.7 percent in 1991 to 3.23 in 2022 to increased home ownership stimulated by, among other things, the lifting of the value added tax on some building materials.

The finance minister said the census and housing data would “prove extremely valuable” for the private sector as well as the government’s investment in infrastructure and social services.

Plans are also in train, he said, to ensure there is “marked improvement” in access to services.