Capital

Guyana

name: Georgetown

geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 09 W

time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: when the British took possession of the town from the Dutch in 1812, they renamed it Georgetown in honor of King GEORGE III (1738-1820)

Sambia

name: Lusaka

geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after a village called Lusaka, located at Manda Hill, near where Zambia's National Assembly building currently stands; the village was named after a headman (chief) LUSAKASA

Mali

name: Bamako

geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name in the Bambara language can mean either "crocodile tail" or "crocodile river" and three crocodiles appear on the city seal

Citizenship

Guyana

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: na

Sambia

citizenship by birth: only if at least one parent is a citizen of Zambia

citizenship by descent only: yes, if at least one parent was a citizen of Zambia

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years for those with an ancestor who was a citizen of Zambia, otherwise 10 years residency is required

Mali

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Mali

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Legal system

Guyana

common law system, based on the English model, with some Roman-Dutch civil law influence

Sambia

mixed legal system of English common law and customary law

Mali

civil law system based on the French civil law model and influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Constitutional Court

Suffrage

Guyana

18 years of age; universal

Sambia

18 years of age; universal

Mali

18 years of age; universal

Area

Guyana

total: 214,969 sq km

land: 196,849 sq km

water: 18,120 sq km

Sambia

total: 752,618 sq km

land: 743,398 sq km

water: 9,220 sq km

Mali

total: 1,240,192 sq km

land: 1,220,190 sq km

water: 20,002 sq km

Land use

Guyana

agricultural land: 8.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 6.2% (2018 est.)

forest: 77.4% (2018 est.)

other: 14.2% (2018 est.)

Sambia

agricultural land: 31.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 4.8% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 26.9% (2018 est.)

forest: 66.3% (2018 est.)

other: 2% (2018 est.)

Mali

agricultural land: 34.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 5.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 28.4% (2018 est.)

forest: 10.2% (2018 est.)

other: 55.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Guyana

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Sambia

Southern Africa, east of Angola, south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mali

interior Western Africa, southwest of Algeria, north of Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso, west of Niger

Age structure

Guyana

0-14 years: 23.65% (male 95,605/female 91,654)

15-64 years: 68.49% (male 281,157/female 261,113)

65 years and over: 7.86% (2023 est.) (male 27,269/female 34,941)

Sambia

0-14 years: 42.49% (male 4,334,425/female 4,255,464)

15-64 years: 54.77% (male 5,529,526/female 5,541,857)

65 years and over: 2.74% (2023 est.) (male 250,984/female 303,773)

Mali

0-14 years: 47.05% (male 5,054,927/female 4,995,605)

15-64 years: 49.88% (male 5,006,470/female 5,647,289)

65 years and over: 3.07% (2023 est.) (male 323,170/female 332,261)

Birth rate

Guyana

16.7 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sambia

34.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Mali

40.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Guyana

7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sambia

6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Mali

8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Guyana

English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages (including Caribbean and Arawak languages), Indian languages (including Caribbean Hindustani, a dialect of Hindi), Chinese (2014 est.)

Sambia

Bemba 33.4%, Nyanja 14.7%, Tonga 11.4%, Lozi 5.5%, Chewa 4.5%, Nsenga 2.9%, Tumbuka 2.5%, Lunda (North Western) 1.9%, Kaonde 1.8%, Lala 1.8%, Lamba 1.8%, English (official) 1.7%, Luvale 1.5%, Mambwe 1.3%, Namwanga 1.2%, Lenje 1.1%, Bisa 1%, other 9.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2010 est.)

note: Zambia is said to have over 70 languages, although many of these may be considered dialects; all of Zambia's major languages are members of the Bantu family; Chewa and Nyanja are mutually intelligible dialects

Mali

Bambara (official), French 17.2%, Peuhl/Foulfoulbe/Fulani 9.4%, Dogon 7.2%, Maraka/Soninke 6.4%, Malinke 5.6%, Sonrhai/Djerma 5.6%, Minianka 4.3%, Tamacheq 3.5%, Senoufo 2.6%, Bobo 2.1%, other 6.3%, unspecified 0.7% (2009 est.)

note: Mali has 13 national languages in addition to its official language

Life expectancy at birth

Guyana

total population: 72.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 70.3 years

female: 74.1 years

Sambia

total population: 66.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 64.9 years

female: 68.4 years

Mali

total population: 62.8 years (2023 est.)

male: 60.6 years

female: 65.1 years

Major urban areas - population

Guyana

110,000 GEORGETOWN (capital) (2018)

Sambia

3.181 million LUSAKA (capital), 763,000 Kitwe (2023)

Mali

2.929 million BAMAKO (capital) (2023)

Median age

Guyana

total: 27.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 27.8 years

female: 28 years

Sambia

total: 18.2 years (2023 est.)

male: 18 years

female: 18.4 years

Mali

total: 16.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 15.6 years

female: 17 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Guyana

20.8 years (2009 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Sambia

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Mali

19.2 years (2018 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Net migration rate

Guyana

-7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Sambia

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Mali

-3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Guyana

population is heavily concentrated in the northeast in and around Georgetown, with noteable concentrations along the Berbice River to the east; the remainder of the country is sparsely populated

Sambia

one of the highest levels of urbanization in Africa; high density in the central area, particularly around the cities of Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, and Mufulira as shown in this population distribution map

Mali

the overwhelming majority of the population lives in the southern half of the country, with greater density along the border with Burkina Faso as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

Guyana

0.28% (2023 est.)

Sambia

2.86% (2023 est.)

Mali

2.93% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Guyana

2.06 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Sambia

4.49 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Mali

5.45 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Guyana

urban population: 27.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.01% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Sambia

urban population: 46.3% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.15% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Mali

urban population: 46.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 4.57% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Guyana

4.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Sambia

3.7% of GDP (2020)

Mali

4.4% of GDP (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Guyana

total: 11 years

male: 11 years

female: 12 years (2012)

Mali

total: 7 years

male: 8 years

female: 7 years (2017)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Guyana

-4.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Sambia

-7.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Mali

-2.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Guyana

33.52% (2021 est.)

Sambia

4.18% (2021 est.)

Mali

1.01% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Guyana

299,300 (2021 est.)

Sambia

8.113 million (2021 est.)

Mali

7.9 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Guyana

35% (2006 est.)

Sambia

54.4% (2015 est.)

Mali

42.1% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate

Guyana

16.42% (2021 est.)

16.43% (2020 est.)

13.99% (2019 est.)

Sambia

13.03% (2021 est.)

12.85% (2020 est.)

12.52% (2019 est.)

Mali

7.72% (2021 est.)

7.7% (2020 est.)

7.44% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Guyana

52.2% of GDP (2017 est.)

50.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Sambia

103.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

61.93% of GDP (2019 est.)

59.71% of GDP (2018 est.)

Mali

35.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

36% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Guyana

5.03% (2021 est.)

0.99% (2020 est.)

2.09% (2019 est.)

Sambia

22.02% (2021 est.)

15.73% (2020 est.)

9.15% (2019 est.)

Mali

3.93% (2021 est.)

0.44% (2020 est.)

-1.66% (2019 est.)

Exports

Guyana

$4.64 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.799 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.805 billion (2019 est.)

Sambia

$11.716 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$8.558 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$8.258 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Mali

$5.196 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$4.442 billion (2019 est.)

$4.186 billion (2018 est.)

Exports - partners

Guyana

United States 40%, Singapore 14%, United Arab Emirates 6%, United Kingdom 6%, Barbados 6% (2021)

Sambia

Switzerland 32%, China 14%, Namibia 12%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 9%, Singapore 8% (2020)

Mali

United Arab Emirates 66%, Switzerland 26% (2019)

Imports

Guyana

$6.611 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.756 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.025 billion (2019 est.)

Sambia

$7.701 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$7.049 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$8.036 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Mali

$6.339 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$6.559 billion (2019 est.)

$6.081 billion (2018 est.)

Imports - partners

Guyana

Singapore 33%, United States 19%, Trinidad and Tobago 12%, China 8%, Brazil 2% (2021)

Sambia

South Africa 31%, China 16%, United Arab Emirates 9%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 6%, India 5% (2020)

Mali

Senegal 23%, Cote d'Ivoire 15%, China 11%, France 9% (2019)

Airports

Guyana

117 (2021)

Sambia

88 (2021)

Mali

25 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Guyana

total: 95,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 12 (2020 est.)

Sambia

total: 82,317 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.5 (2020 est.)

Mali

total: 243,806 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Guyana

total: 680,000 (2021 est.)

percent of population: 85% (2021 est.)

Sambia

total: 3.99 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 21% (2021 est.)

Mali

total: 7.48 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 34% (2021 est.)

Sambia

total: 3,126 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 3,126 km (2014) 1.067-m gauge

note: includes 1,860 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA)

Mali

total: 593 km (2014)

narrow gauge: 593 km (2014) 1.000-m gauge

Roadways

Guyana

total: 3,995 km (2019)

paved: 799 km (2019)

unpaved: 3,196 km (2019)

Sambia

total: 67,671 km (2018)

paved: 14,888 km (2018)

unpaved: 52,783 km (2018)

Mali

total: 139,107 km (2018)

Telephones - fixed lines

Guyana

total subscriptions: 130,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2021 est.)

Sambia

total subscriptions: 66,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Mali

total subscriptions: 301,055 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Guyana

total subscriptions: 860,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Sambia

total subscriptions: 20 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2021 est.)

Mali

total subscriptions: 21,882,251 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Guyana

330 km (2012) (the Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo Rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively)

Sambia

2,250 km (2010) (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula Rivers)

Mali

1,800 km (2011) (downstream of Koulikoro; low water levels on the River Niger cause problems in dry years; in the months before the rainy season the river is not navigable by commercial vessels)

Disputes - international

Guyana

Guyana-Venezuela: Venezuela claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River and maintains that Guyana does not have jurisdiction to grant concessions in maritime areas off the Essequibo, waters which are potentially rich in hydrocarbon resources; Guyana submitted the dispute to the International Court of Justice in 2018; in December 2023, the Venezuelan Government conducted a public referendum asking its citizens to support establishing a state in the disputed territory, granting citizenship to current and future area residents, and rejecting the jurisdiction of the ICJ

Guyana-Suriname: Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari Rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne River

Sambia

Zambia-Angola: because the straight-line segments along the left bank (Zambian side) of the Cuando/Kwando River do not conform with the physical alignment of the unstable shoreline, Zambian residents in some areas have settled illegally on sections of shoreline that fall on the Angolan side of the boundary

Zambia-Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC): boundary commission continues discussions over Congolese-administered triangle of land on the right bank of the Lunkinda River claimed by Zambia near the DRC village of Pweto

Zambia-Tanzania: some drug smuggling may take place across the Zambia-Tanzania border; there are no known current territorial issues, as both states have continued to recognize the colonial boundaries last modified in 1937; the boundary in Lake Tanganyika remains undefined.

Zambia-Zimbabwe: in 2004, Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited, Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; in May 2021, Botswana and Zambia agreed in principle to let Zimbabwe be a partner in the bridge project as it enters its lasts phase

Mali

Mali-Burkina Faso: demarcation is underway with Burkina Faso