Guyanese Dollar
Guyanese Dollar
Currency Code
GYD
ISO 328
Symbol
GYD
Native: $
Decimal Digits
2
Rounding: 0
Countries
GY
Using this currency
Currency Units
Major Unit
Name: dollar
Symbol: $
Minor Unit
Name: cent
Symbol:
Value: 0.01
Banknotes
Frequently Used
$20$50$100$500$1000$5000
Coins
Frequently Used
$1$5$10
Plural Forms
English Plural
Guyanese dollars
Native Plural
Guyanese Dollars
Overview
The Guyanese Dollar is the currency of Guyana, managed by the Bank of Guyana. The economy has been transformed by recent oil discoveries, leading to rapid GDP growth and currency appreciation pressures.
Economy
- Guyana is a member of CARICOM, OAS, Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement.
- Main industries include: Bauxite, Sugar, Rice milling, Timber, Textiles, Gold mining, Oil extraction.
- Guyana is part of the World Trade Organization.
- Imports are manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food.
- Major exports include sugar, gold, bauxite, alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber, crude oil.
- GDP: $16.3 billion (2023 est.).
- GDP per capita: $20,540 (2023 est.).
- Unemployment rate: 11.1% (2013 est.).
- Inflation rate: 8.2% (2023 est.).
- Main trading partners: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Trinidad and Tobago, China.
- Trade agreements: CARICOM Single Market, Various bilateral agreements.
History
- Previous currencies used: British Guiana dollar, British West Indian dollar.
- The Guyanese dollar was introduced in 1966, replacing the British Guiana dollar at par. It has experienced significant depreciation historically but recent oil discoveries have strengthened the economy.
- 1966: GYD introduced, replacing British Guiana dollar
- 1970: Bank of Guyana established
- 1989: Economic recovery program launched
- 2015: Major offshore oil discoveries
- 2019: Oil production begins
- 2020-present: Oil boom economic transformation
- Exchange rate peg: Managed float.
General Information
- ISO 4217 Code: GYD
- Symbols: GYD/$
- Currency Subunits: 100 cents
- Central Bank: Bank of Guyana
- Monetary Policy: Managed floating exchange rate with focus on price stability. Adapting policies to manage oil revenue inflows.
- Bills: 20 GYD, 100 GYD, 500 GYD, 1000 GYD, 2000 GYD, 5000 GYD, 10000 GYD
- Coins: 1 dollar, 5 dollars, 10 dollars
- USD Exchange Rate: Variable (approximately 209 GYD per USD)
- Pegged To: None (Floating)
- Capital: Georgetown
- Population: 794,099 (2023 est.)
- Area: 214,969 km²
- Languages: English (official), Guyanese Creole, Amerindian languages, Indian languages, Chinese
- Time Zones: UTC-4 (Guyana Time)
- Government Type: Presidential republic
- Head of Government: President (head of state), Prime Minister (head of government)
- Independence: May 26, 1966 (from United Kingdom)
- Ethnic Groups: East Indian 39.8%, African 30%, Mixed 19.9%, Amerindian 10.5%, Other 1.5%
- Religions: Protestant 34.8%, Hindu 24.8%, Roman Catholic 7.1%, Muslim 6.8%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, Rastafarian 0.5%, Other Christian 20.8%, Other 0.9%, None 3.1%
- Literacy Rate: 88.5% (2012 est.)
- Transport: Cheddi Jagan International Airport, limited road network, river transport, Georgetown port
- Communications: Basic telecommunications, 77% internet penetration, mobile network coverage
- Energy: Hydroelectric 85%, Fossil fuels 15%, developing oil and gas sector
- Countries Using This Currency: Guyana
- Data Sources: Central Bank: Bank of Guyana (bankofguyana.org.gy), Economic Data: Bureau of Statistics Guyana, World Bank, IMF, Trade Data: Guyana Revenue Authority, Demographic Data: Bureau of Statistics Guyana, Geographic Data: Hydrometeorological Department, Historical Data: Bank of Guyana archives
- Last Updated: 2025