Guyana: health and care

What is the infant mortality rate in Guyana?

Guyana's infant mortality rate was 11.0 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025, according to the indicator table in the Budget Speech 2026. The under-five mortality rate was 14.0 per 1,000. The crude death rate was 5.9 per 1,000 people.

International estimates are higher: the World Bank puts infant mortality at 23.2 per 1,000 in 2024, using UN modelled estimates. The two sources use different methods: the national figure comes from Guyana's own records, while the World Bank figure is a UN modelled estimate. Life expectancy at birth was 70.3 years in 2024, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Budget Speech 2026 (PDF) · World Bank: infant mortality, Guyana · World Bank: life expectancy, Guyana

How many doctors are there in Guyana?

Guyana had 19.3 physicians and 32.5 nurses per 10,000 people in 2025, according to the indicator table in the Budget Speech 2026 from the Ministry of Finance. There were 37 hospital beds per 10,000 people, up from 22 in 2021.

Per-person ratios depend on the population estimate, which has risen fast with migration; the same table puts the mid-2025 population at 990,600. The nurse ratio has fallen from 36.6 in 2021, while the physician ratio has risen from 17.8. Health spending was 10.1% of the national budget in 2025, according to the same table.

Official sources: Ministry of Finance: Budget Speech 2026 (PDF)

How many hospitals are there in Guyana?

Guyana had 391 health institutions in 2024, including 205 health posts, 144 health centres, 19 district hospitals, 8 regional hospitals and one national hospital, according to Ministry of Health figures published by the Bureau of Statistics. There were also 7 private hospitals, 3 specialist hospitals and 2 cottage hospitals.

Most health posts are in regions 1, 7, 8 and 9. Region 4, which includes Georgetown, has the national hospital and most private hospitals. Specialist, geriatric and private hospitals are not run by the regional health services.

Official sources: Bureau of Statistics: health institutions 2024

What is life expectancy in Guyana?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Guyana was 70.3 years in 2024. That is the highest since at least 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 74.0 years; Guyana is 31st highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 129th of 193.

What is the infant mortality rate in Guyana?

In 2024, the infant mortality rate in Guyana was 23.2 per 1,000, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 4th highest of 33 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 12.1 per 1,000. Worldwide: 62nd of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Guyana?

The WHO puts the maternal mortality ratio in Guyana at 75.0 per 100,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. Latin America & Caribbean median: 55.0 per 100,000; Guyana is 9th highest of 33. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 76th highest.

How much does Guyana spend on health?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 2.5% of GDP. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: 6.8% of GDP; Guyana is 33rd highest of 33. World rank, highest first: 187th of 191.

How much of health care in Guyana do patients pay for?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 26.3%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 22.5% (2020) to 38.9% (2012). Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 29.3%, and Guyana placed 23rd highest of 33. Worldwide: 106th of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Guyana?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2020, is 1.4 per 1,000. In 2010 the figure was 0.69 per 1,000. Across Latin America & Caribbean the middle value was 2.4 per 1,000, and Guyana placed 14th highest of 18. World rank, highest first: 81st of 136.

How many hospital beds per person does Guyana have?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 3.2 per 1,000. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2012. It is 7th highest of 22 in Latin America & Caribbean, where the median is 2.1 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 31st of 73.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Guyana?

WHO and UNICEF puts measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Guyana at 99.0% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Latin America & Caribbean median: 89.5%; Guyana is 1st highest of 32. Worldwide: 1st of 191.