Latest update September 3rd, 2026 10:25 AM
Guyana’s population surpasses 1 million – Chief Statistician
(Kaieteur News) – As the nation marked World Population Day 2026, Guyana found itself at a historic demographic turning point. Driven by economic expansion, the national population has officially surged past the one-million milestone, recording a leap to 1,025,334 residents by the end of 2025.
Amidst this transformation, Chief Statistician of the Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Errol La Cruez, issued a national address under the global theme, “Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.” La Cruez emphasised that the country’s economic and demographic evolution relies entirely on high-quality, evidence-based data to secure the future of its youngest citizens.
Errol LaCruez
“As Guyana continues to evolve both demographically and economically, reliable population data remain essential to understanding who we are, how our population is changing, and the associated opportunities and challenges,” La Cruez stated. “Official statistics provide an objective foundation for measuring progress and improving the well-being of our young people, whose aspirations will shape the future of Guyana.”
The journey to one million has been swift. According to the preliminary findings of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census, presented by the Bureau of Statistics to the Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Guyana’s population stood at 878,674 on Census Day (September 15, 2022). This represented a massive 17.63% increase over the 2012 census count of 746,955. Accounting for natural growth and net migration, the population climbed to 956,044 by the end of 2024, before officially crossing the historic seven-figure mark at the close of 2025.
The data exposed an incredibly youthful national profile with 42% of the population was below the age of 25 as of late 2025 and 61% of all Guyanese are under the age of 35. While this booming youth population provides an invaluable resource to expand the workforce and drive social innovation, La Cruez noted it simultaneously intensifies national demands for housing, healthcare, education, transportation, utilities, and sustainable employment.
Recent labour force data highlights economic strides, particularly for the younger demographic. Guyana’s overall unemployment rate plummeted from 14.5% in the third quarter of 2021 to a historic low of 6.8% by the fourth quarter of 2024. During this timeframe, the domestic workforce expanded by 122,389 individuals, climbing from 246,881 to 369,270 employed persons, while average monthly incomes rose for both salaried and self-employed workers.
Furthermore, young workers are diversifying away from traditional sectors. Modern youth employment is heavily concentrated in emerging fields, with wholesale and retail trade, construction, public administration, manufacturing, and education collectively accounting for 60.5% of youth jobs.
A recent visit by this publication to the Bureau of Statistics headquarters revealed that a specific demographic breakdown by ethnicity is currently not available. The Bureau of Statistics had previously stressed that adequate time is required to ensure absolute precision, noting that these preliminary findings will be further refined, expanded, and verified in a comprehensive final report to be officially released in due course.
As World Population Day highlights the path forward, the Bureau remains resolute in its mission. “Every statistic contributes to a deeper understanding of our population and a stronger foundation for Guyana’s sustainable development,” Mr. La Cruez concluded, calling on all stakeholders to champion the use of robust data to secure the dreams of Guyana’s youth.
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And how many were from the diaspora coming into the country just for the
FREE MONEY ?Are they still there or returned after the pay out ?