Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Guyana's sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military. Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis in each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Guyana's sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 61.2

Guyana actively delegates part of its sovereignty by participating in international unions and organizations: the United Nations (a member of the Security Council in 2024-2025), the OAS, CARICOM (a full member), the Commonwealth of Nations, the WTO, the Interparliamentary Union, the Global Biodiversity Alliance and others, including intensive cooperation with the EU and participation in international projects on security, trade and climate.

National legislation is partially limited by international norms: the country has ratified UN Conventions and recognized the decisions of international courts (ICC, International Court of Justice), and adopted an arbitration reform in 2024 that fully complies with UNCITRAL standards, which emphasizes the supremacy of international arbitration in foreign trade cases; at the same time, the constitution retains the priority of national law on domestic issues and judicial proceedings.

Domestic political stability is higher than in comparable countries in the region: after the political crises of 2015-2020, ethnic tensions persist, but current President Irfaan Ali and the ruling party have gained a stable majority, recent elections have been peaceful, the conflict with Venezuela has increased the consolidation of society; Ali's rating is 69% according to the November 2023 poll.

Government Effectiveness (WGI) — about -0.27 (2023-2024), which corresponds to the average level for the Caribbean region and indicates an average management efficiency, with a tendency to improve due to economic growth and increased investment.

E-government (EGDI): the UN EGDI index for Guyana is 0.547 (2022), the country occupies an average position in the Caribbean; basic online services have been introduced, a public services portal is operating, and a joint e-government infrastructure is developing with the support of CARICOM and the EU.

Support for the national leader: Irfaan Ali enjoys high support amid economic growth, new social programs, and successful diplomacy on territorial disputes; the trust rating exceeded 65-69% at the end of 2023.

There are no foreign military bases in the country: The Constitution and legislation explicitly prohibit the deployment of foreign (especially the United States, Great Britain) bases and permanent military contingents.

Participation/distancing from transnational courts: Guyana recognizes the jurisdiction of international courts (the ICC, the International Court of Justice, the CARICOM Court of Justice), actively uses arbitration and participates in international proceedings (especially on borders with Venezuela), reforms arbitration regulation in accordance with the UNCITRAL model.

Centralization/decentralization of power: the country retains formal administrative centralization, but there is a system of regional self-government (10 regions with elected councils and their own budgets), a system of governance at the community and city levels is gradually being introduced, and the role of regional authorities is growing.

Transparency of the security services and their control: there is parliamentary oversight of the activities of the police and intelligence services, reporting and civil control mechanisms have been implemented, but full transparency has not been achieved, and debates periodically arise about reforms and the need to strengthen control by civil society and the Ombudsman.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, coverage is 93%.

Economic sovereignty — 52.8

GDP per capita (PPP) in Guyana in 2024 is $70,297-79,906 according to the World Bank, TradingEconomics and Statista; growth was record-breaking due to the oil boom — 396% higher than the global average. Sovereign gold and foreign exchange reserves amounted to $1.01 billion as of the end of 2024 (World Bank and Statista data), including gold, currency and special drawing rights.

Government debt (% of GDP): according to IMF and TradingEconomics, in 2024, government debt reached 24.3% of GDP; by the end of 2023, it reached 26.6%, and in 2026 it is projected to be no higher than 28% (the lowest values over the past 30 years).

Food security is ensured by its own agricultural sector: rice, sugar, bananas, coconut, vegetables and tropical fruits are grown, as well as extensive exports of fish and seafood; problems remain with access to high-quality nutrition in certain regions, but the country does not critically depend on food imports.

Energy independence is growing rapidly: after the discovery of large oil fields (Liza Field, ExxonMobil from 2020), the country is rapidly increasing oil production, developing gas projects, and is projected to become one of the largest oil exporters in South America by 2025. Traditional hydroelectric power plants and biomass complement the mix, but oil is now the main factor.

Proven resources: the largest proven oil reserves (more than 11 billion barrels according to internal estimates), gold (about 15 129 kg in 2022), bauxite, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, extensive timber and fish resources; export of resources is a driver of economic growth. Freshwater reserves: Guyana is known as one of the most water-rich countries in the region, with many rivers and lakes; according to the UN Water and Statista categories, the country occupies a leading position in South America in terms of water reserves per capita.

National payment processing: The Central Bank of Guyana ("Bank of Guyana") controls all settlements, has a well-developed network of national bank clearing, electronic payment systems have been introduced, and the national systems are also supported by international networks (Visa, MasterCard).

The share of the national currency in calculations: all internal calculations are carried out in the Guyanese dollar (GYD), foreign currency is used only for external economic transactions; the national currency completely dominates the country.

Its own issuing center and credit policy: the Bank of Guyana is engaged in issuing and regulating, it determines monetary policy, inflation and credit parameters, acts as an independent body, inflation is regulated mainly through monetary instruments and currency transactions.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 90%

Technological sovereignty — 36.4

According to international data, R&D expenditures (% of GDP) in Guyana are absent or close to zero (below 0.05% of GDP), there are practically no own institutional R&D programs, and R&D financing is extremely limited.

Import substitution in high-tech: the country is almost completely dependent on imports of IT equipment, electronics, medical equipment, engineering components and software; there are no active import substitution programs, local assembly of equipment is minimal. Higher education enrollment: by 2024, enrollment is about 11.6% of the relevant age population; this is significantly lower than the global and regional averages (Caribbean: 25-35%).

Internet penetration: at the beginning of 2024, 85.3% of the country's residents use the Internet regularly, the number of users is 696.9 thousand; among households, the penetration is even higher. Own national digital platforms: state registries are working (Portals.gov.gy), tax reporting and company registration services, and e-government elements are being introduced, but there are no services for education, medicine, or a fully integrated solution; the market is dominated by international platforms.

High-tech import dependence: extreme — the bulk of goods (IT, electronics, communications) are supplied from the USA, China, the EU, there is no own production, only some advanced assembly services. Digitalization of public services: basic services (taxes, registration, information, part of education) have been transferred online, the e-government portal is developing with the support of CARICOM and the EU, the EGDI level is average for the Caribbean region, the main functions are available online, but integration is limited.

Biotechnological autonomy: there is no own sector, all machinery, reagents, vaccines, laboratory equipment are supplied from abroad, R&D in biotechnologies is not carried out; pharmaceutical production is at the level of packaging of finished products.

Robotics autonomy: completely absent; there are educational STEM clubs in the country, isolated startups and participation of schoolchildren in regional competitions, industrial production and scientific projects are not being implemented.

Autonomy in chips and microelectronics: it is completely absent, the entire element base, chips, control systems, and programmable electronics are implanted from other countries, and there is no assembly or engineering technology park.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 91% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 49.3

Cybersecurity (CERT/ITU): Guyana has a national CIRT (Guyana National CIRT)— a government unit responsible for cybersecurity; the country has received Tier 4 "evolving" status in the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 (20-55 points out of 100, basic measures and legal regulation, weakness — technical and organizational maturity).

IXP/Network development: In May 2025, the first national Internet Exchange Point (GYIXP) was launched, located at the University of Guyana; this ensures traffic localization, increased speed, reduced dependence on routing through foreign nodes, and increased independence, security, and sustainability of national digital services. Media in the national language: The official language is English; Guyanese Creole is widely spoken, there are languages of small nations (Akwaio, Wai Wai, Arakuna, Hindustani, etc.), English and Creole are used on public radio and TV, as well as cultural programs in indigenous languages.

BigTech resilience: The country's digital space is based on platforms and cloud networks of Google, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, there are practically no national analogues, most of the social communication, advertising and streaming is provided by BigTech; sustainability is low.

The share of own media content: Local content prevails in the radio and TV segment (up to 60%), but foreign media stream dominates in social networks and streaming services. Own IT products and software: Government and private companies develop only basic services for registries, tax reporting and payments, there are no export or competitive products; the market consists mainly of integrators of global solutions and service platforms.

Digital service coverage: 85.3% of the population uses the Internet, almost all schools, hospitals, and government institutions are connected to local networks and WiFi, basic digital payments, public services, and registration are available through government portals.

National cloud storage systems: A government-owned data storage platform (NDMA, data centers) has been developed, but most of the infrastructure is built on Amazon, Google, and Microsoft clouds; there is no complete independence, just like the neighbors.

Sovereignty of mobile communications: Operators are national companies under state license, regulation within the country, however, the equipment, the core of networks and software are imported, the share of technological independence is low. The legal regime of personal data: The Law on Personal Data Protection (adopted in 2024) is directly applicable, the requirements for coordination, control, and storage comply with the recommendations of the United Nations and CARICOM, the national regulator is in force, but the level of technical supervision is still basic.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 92%.

Cultural sovereignty — 71.6

Number of UNESCO sites: As of October 2025, there are no UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Guyana; there are 5 sites on the Tentative List: St. George's Anglican Cathedral, Fort Zeelandia, Georgetown City Hall, Shell Beach, and an ensemble of plantations and historic buildings in Georgetown.

The total contribution to world culture: The culture of Guyana is a unique synthesis of African, Indian, mixed Creole, and indigenous Amazonian traditions, expressed in a wealth of folklore, religious rituals, music (calypso, sokka, Indian music), architecture, dance, and world—famous works of literature (Edgar Mittelholzer, Wilson Harris), fine arts and crafts.

National Awards in Art and culture: There are annual Guyana Cultural Association Awards (GCA Awards), National Cultural Centre and Demo Music & Entertainment Awards, and a special State Award for contributions to crafts, literature, music and performing arts has been awarded since 2002.

Traditions and identity: The basis is formed by a combination of Afro-Guyanese, Indo-Guyanese, Creole, Portuguese, Chinese, European and indigenous Amazonian cultures with religious and linguistic diversity, which is manifested in a variety of holidays, cuisine, national costume, language.

Government support for small nations is provided through the official recognition and development of languages, funding of programs for Amazonian and interethnic groups, a special department of Indian affairs, scholarships and support for ethnic holidays (Mashramani, Phagwah, Diwali, Chinese New Year). Number of cultural sites: The State Register includes 9 national monuments (e.g. Anglican Cathedral, Fort Zeelandia, City Hall, memorials), many museums, cultural and religious centers along ethnic lines – dozens of key sites and hundreds of monuments of local importance.

International cultural projects: Guyana participates in cross-Caribbean and British Caribbean festivals, projects through CARICOM and the Commonwealth, exports folklore, crafts, music making, literary tours and educational exchanges (embassies, Kew Gardens, London; African Days, Diaspora).

Recognition and protection of cultural brands: There is a state strategy for the promotion of Guyanese crafts, rum, spices, wood products and textiles; registration of geographical and craft brands (Demerara Sugar, El Dorado Rum) has been implemented, the state allows international registration and protection.

The diversity of culinary culture: Guyanese cuisine is one of the main signs of national diversity: there are dishes of African, Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, Amazonian and British cuisine: chicken curry, roti, dhal, Portuguese garlic pork, Chinese noodles, alligator soups, fish, sweet potatoes and yams.

The proportion of the population involved in cultural life: Participation in national holidays and community festivals is extremely high (it is estimated that 50-70% of adults attend key holidays), mass involvement in musical, religious, handicraft, theatrical and street culture.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 90%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 54.7

Human Development Index (HDI): As of 2023, Guyana's HDI is 0.776, which is a high level (approximately 82-95 places in the world), with significant growth compared to previous years due to economic and social reforms.

Government spending on education: In 2024, $135.2 billion Guyanese dollars were allocated for education (a historically record budget), which is equivalent to about 6.2% of GDP (according to global estimates — from 5.5 to 7.2%), funds go to universities, the GOAL online academy, school meals, infrastructure and grants, funding increases annually.

Adult literacy: In 2024 — 85.6% (according to various estimates: World Bank, IMF, PAHO); among young people (15-24), the literacy rate exceeds 94%, considered high for the region. International Test Results (PISA): Guyana does not participate in the PISA program, there are no officially published results; domestic math and reading tests show average scores — below the world, but above the average for the Anglo-Caribbean region.

The share of STEM graduates: The share of students in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) is estimated at 19-22% in universities, specialized programs operate at the University of Guyana and GOAL grant programs. The share of foreign educational programs: According to data for 2023, 16% of students are involved in joint or GOAL-based foreign programs, including courses from the UK, USA and the Caribbean region.

Languages and cultures of small nations: 9 indigenous languages are officially recognized in Guyana, a special policy is in place to support Amazonian cultures, quotas are allocated for education, educational programs in local languages are being introduced in the regions, and some schools are working with multilingual teaching.

Number of state research centers (fundamental sciences): There are 3-4 government centers (at the University of Guyana, the Medical Research Institute, the Center for Agricultural Innovation); most of the research is applied.

The share of the national Educational platforms: About 35% of school and university online programs are provided by government platforms (GOAL, e-education.gy, University of Guyana), the rest is through foreign EdTech solutions.

The volume of state talent/personnel support programs: The state annually finances more than 10,000 grants (GOAL, "Because We Care"), scholarships, uniform and food benefits, quotas for gifted and ethnic minorities, as well as regional programs for young professionals and STEM personnel.

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 89%.

Military sovereignty — 36.2

Defense spending (% of GDP): In 2024— it will be 0.9% of GDP (about $201.8 million), which is the highest historical figure for the country. The number of armed forces: By the end of 2024, the number of regular troops is 3,400, the military reserve is 670, plus 1,200 military police and border guards; in total, about 5,300 people.

Modern weapons: Mostly light weapons, not upgraded; a small number of armored vehicles (40+ vehicles), several new patrol boats, mortars, support from the United States, China and Brazil — but the main systems are outdated, there are no combat aircraft, heavy armored vehicles and modern complexes.

The share of own weapons: Officially, there are no own weapons — the entire fleet of equipment and small arms is imported (the main donors are the USA, China, Brazil); production is limited to workshops for maintenance and minor repairs, there is no local military-industrial complex. Border control: The Guyanese army, police and special services monitor land and sea borders, aircraft, boats, UAVs are used, as well as joint operations with Brazil and French Guiana; problems persist due to geography and illegal traffic.

The military reserve consists of 670 people, there are few formal reserve training camps and trainings, the reserve structure is small, the role is support in mobilization and emergency situations.

The autonomy of military decisions: Guyana is not a member of military blocs and alliances, decisions on the use of armed forces are made only at the national level, there are bilateral agreements with the United States, Brazil and France, but there are no bases and permanent participation. National military industry: There is no production or design of equipment, all weapons are imported, and maintenance is local.

The presence of nuclear weapons: It does not have, the country is completely nuclear-weapon-free, there are no warheads or strategic reserves, and it is a party to the NPT and international anti-nuclear regimes.

Military space, national Intelligence system: There are no military satellites or space programs; intelligence includes electronic and technical intelligence departments in the police and army, operations are limited by infrastructure and support from foreign partners.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense, the official portals of state-owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO – 92% coverage

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. Economic growth and resources: Guyana's economy is experiencing one of the fastest growth rates in the world (a record +38-43% of GDP for 2023-2024) due to the discovery and active exploitation of major oil fields, a sharp increase in oil revenues and export potential.

The best indicators of food and resource autonomy: The country is a rare example of complete self-sufficiency in providing basic foodstuffs without the need for critical imports. Unique freshwater and natural resources: Abundance of rivers, lakes, untouched forests, high water availability; the country is an ecological and tourist treasure of the region, develops ecotourism.

Multiculturalism and cultural potential: A combination of African, Indian, Amazonian and European traditions, a high degree of institutional support for ethnic and religious minorities, a developed system of grants and cultural programs.

Increased investment in education and social programs: Record spending on education (up to 6% of GDP), the launch of national platforms and massive grant programs, the development of online learning and support for talented youth.

Absence of major debt and inflation problems: One of the lowest levels of public debt to GDP (<25%), lower inflation, stable currency and fiscal regime.

Weaknesses. Technological dependence: Complete lack of own production of high-tech, IT, chips, electronics; high import dependence in all technological sectors — from medicine to communications and education.

Weakness of R&D, fundamental research, and innovation: The share of R&D costs is practically zero; there is no systematic scientific and engineering development. Limited industrial and defense potential: There is no military industry, own weapons, even service production, all equipment is imported, and the army is very small and poorly technically equipped.

Dependence on foreign corporations: Key resource export industries (oil, gold) are controlled by international companies (ExxonMobil, CNOOC, Chevron), which limits strategic sovereignty in revenue management.

Risks of the “Dutch disease,” corruption and political vulnerability: The rapid influx of petrodollars threatens to lose the competitiveness of other sectors (the “Dutch disease”), problems with corruption, organized crime and institutional weakness persist, and ethnic and social tensions exist.

Institutional immaturity and technological gap: Low digital and technological autonomy, dependence on BigTech platforms in communications and media, modest progress in digitalization of public services and legislation on personal data.

Overall assessment. Guyana's cumulative sovereignty Index is 362.2 out of 700 points (an average of 51.7%), which places the country in the top 150 in the global top. Guyana is an example of a country that has quickly risen to the top of the world's economic rankings due to its unique raw material breakthrough, natural and agricultural wealth, and sound social policy.

However, the fundamental vulnerabilities remain absolute technological dependence, export-commodity mono-orientation, a small population with a low level of fundamental knowledge, the vulnerability of managerial and political-legal institutions and the dominance of foreign companies in strategic sectors.

The realized economic leap requires consistent diversification, reliance on internal competencies and infrastructural reforms in order to turn a short-term recovery into long-term sustainable development.

The sovereignty profile indicates that Guyana is a country with record economic, agrarian, and resource autonomy, shared food independence unique to South America and the world, and favorable starting conditions for long-term and sustainable development.

Sovereignty is real in the basic areas, but it is strategically limited by strong technological, industrial and managerial dependence on external donors and investors, as well as extremely weak scientific and innovation infrastructure.

The main tasks for strengthening sovereignty remain the creation of own industries and technologies, the institutional modernization of the state apparatus and the management of growth based on internal competencies.