Dear Editor,
Recently, I was asked by a policymaker in New York about the population in Guyana and I was embarrassed because I could not answer with any certainty.
I was told over the weekend at a Jhandi in Brooklyn by a Berbician living in Queens, that there are two million (2,000,000) Guyanese living outside of Guyana and less than 500,000 people living in Guyana. This information, although it does seems accurate, it may nevertheless, have some truth about the proportion of Guyanese living abroad against those living in Guyana.
Therefore, I ventured to conduct an internet search of the population of Guyana and results were astonishing.
According to the UN-OHRLLS the population estimate is 770,794 (July 2008 est.) Another site, Population Reference Bureau published this chart and stated an estimated population in mid 2007 at 800,000. It also published an astonishing estimated decline in Guyana’s population by 25% at the end of the year 2050, and no change by 2025.
Demographic & Health Highlights
Population Mid-2007 800,000
Births per 1,000 Population 21
Deaths per 1,000 Population 9
Rate of Natural Increase (Percent) 1.2
Projected Population, 2025 800,000
Projected Population, 2050 600,000
Source:
http://www.prb.org/Countries/Guyana.aspx
According to the IMF data, the population is recorded as follows.
Year Population Rank Percent Change Date of
Information
2003 702,100 161 July 2003 est.
2004 765,283 161 9.00 % July 2005 est.
2005 765,283 161 0.00 % July 2005 est.
2006 767,245 161 0.26 % July 2006 est.
2007 769,095 160 0.24 % July 2007 est.
2008 770,794 160 0.22 % July 2008 est.
Now that I have seen three sets of data, I am even more confused. Perhaps, to help me understand these trends or estimates, someone can provide me with the correct data because I am not sure when last a national census was collected. Even within this data, I do not how many of the population is from 1-12, 13-19, 20-35, 35-50, 50-65, and over 65 years old. I do not know where they are concentrated and what services are needed to meet the needs of the population segments. I cannot understand how any business can develop any marketing strategy without these data. An effective government, business or political party, needs these data to plan appropriate strategies.
I know from gathering all my friends on Facebook, Hi5, Yahoo messenger, etc, there seems to be a very concentrated migration all around the world, especially, Canada and the USA. Equally, important is the migration of skilled Guyanese to other Caribbean countries. With all the murders, deaths from natural causes and HIV/AIDS, malaria, etc, and the increasing migration, how can the population be more than 500,000?
Without accurate demographic data, trends and shifts; how can a government plan sustainable development; forecast retirement, employment and taxation contributions and expenses?
If I were the leader of the AFC, I would stress the importance of collecting, cleaning and storing this data to run a better political campaign. Although, I am interested in knowing this data as a Guyanese citizen, it would also serve the government and all stakeholders well to know the truth.
Perhaps, it is time for the government, public and private citizens, to undertake a massive census collection/study. What is the accurate number?
Yours faithfully,
Steve Hemraj
Editor’s note
The last census was 2002. It should have been held in 2001, but was deferred because of the election that year.
