…a marginal reduction of 3,339 in 2002

THE population of Guyana, counted on September 15, 2012, Census Day, was recorded at 747,884, according to a preliminary report of the Guyana Population and Housing Census, 2012, released yesterday morning at the Guyana Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. This data shows that there has been a marginal reduction of 3,339 persons from the population count of 751,223 that was recorded in 2002.
According to census 2012, Guyana’s coastland population stands at 666,261 persons. This count reflects the reality of the greatest concentration of Guyana’s population living within the coastland regions.
Although, the Coastal Plain represents the smallest physical geographic area of Guyana, it includes six of the ten administrative regions. The heavily populated zone boasts the majority of commercial activities being conducted in the country.
Both previous and current censuses have revealed that Demerara-Mahaica (Region 4), among the six administrative regions of the coastal bloc, holds the largest proportion of the population. This was closely followed by Region 6 (East Berbice- Corentyne) and Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara). Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) was recorded as the least populated area of the regions within the coastal bloc.

Hinterland Population
The population in the hinterland regions at present stands at 81,623 persons, which represent 10.9 percent of the total population.
In absolute terms, the population of the hinterland bloc has increased significantly. This increase was recorded possibly because of the increase in mining activities, to which migrant workers from other regions in Guyana have relocated for economic gains.
The hinterland regions of Guyana are recorded as comprising approximately two-thirds (approximately 145,353km2) of the land area of Guyana. They include Region 1 (Barima-Waini), Region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), and Region 9 (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).
Urban-Rural Distribution
Generally, the population has declined in the urban areas and continues to do so. Urban distribution refers to segments of the population that are found within the urban centres and settlements. The difference in the figures reflects a decrease in the urban population to 26.4 percent, when compared to the 2002 census of 28.4 percent.
According to reports, 202,992 urban dwellers were recorded in 2002, compared to 191,810 in 2012. Of the total number of rural settlers in 2002 and 2012, there was a record of 528,323 rural dwellers in 2002 and 535,193 in 2012.
On the whole, the report indicated a recorded decline in the urban population. This decline seems to be the main reason behind the overall population decline. The urban population comprised 28.4 percent of the total population in 2002, which has reduced to 26.4 percent of the total population in 2012.
Urban townships/city
The urban townships including the capital City of Georgetown recorded a population reduction of 18,182, with a total population of 191,810 at Census 2012, down from 209,992 in the 2002 census.
This number implies that 191,810 of the total enumerated household population, reported in 2012, live in urban areas as compared to 535,193 rural resident dwellers.
The overall reduction has obviously been influenced by the outward shift of the population of Georgetown, which comprises about two-thirds of the urban population to new housing schemes established, outside the city limits during the census period.
Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Upper Berbice) was recorded with a size of 27,277 currently, down from 29,232 in 2002. The township of Rose Hall accounted for the least, with a population of 5,662.

Household Size
For the 2012 census, the number of households recorded was 210,124 – this figure included 732 households which were not available for interview. With the exception of Region 6, the other regions had recorded significant increases in the number of households.
The subsequent increase in the number of the households along with the decline in the population had resulted in the decrease of the average household size.
Household is a basic residential unit in which economic production and consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organised and carried out.

Dwelling Units
The number of dwellings was reported as 221,741 in the 2012 census. This figure has increased by 16,624, when compared to the 2002 census figure of 205,117 dwelling units. Of the total dwelling units, 214,999 were occupied, while the combination of vacant and closed dwellings totalled 6,742.
Gender/Sex Ratio
Females slightly outnumbered males in the 2012 census. There were 372,547 males and 375,337 females, thus giving an estimated sex ratio of 99 males per every 100 females in the 2012 census as compared to almost equal number of males and females (100.2) recorded in the 2002 results.
At the regional level, hinterland regions (Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9) showed high sex ratios, that is, more males than females when compared to the coastland regions. Particularly, Regions 7 and 8 reported extremely high sex ratios throughout the census periods.
Region 4 demonstrated the lowest gender ratio, ranging from as low as 93 males in 1991 and gradually increasing to 96 males per 100 females in 2012. The report noted that the disparities could be due to male migration or other associated population factors, but an independent study would be need to conclude this.

National Building Stocks
The national building stocks, measured as the total number of buildings regardless of the use, stands at present at 219,509. This reflects an increase from 187,696 in 2002. These figures represent an increase of 16.9 percent or by an absolute of 31,813 buildings, when compared to the number of buildings in the country ten years ago.
Government policy of making land available for home construction as well as increase in the development of both government and private housing schemes was seen as the main reason for the growth. The impact of this policy has been observed in the last five to six years prior to the census.
One of the key indicators often used in the assessment of the national economy performance is the Construction Sector. The primary focus of this sector is the construction of buildings for both private and commercial uses in the local economy.
The least number of buildings are reported in the hinterland regions (Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9). However, temporary camp dwellings were recorded as buildings since census surveys were also administered in logging and mining camps.
The Preliminary Results of the 2012 Guyana Population & Housing Census provide both a summary and profile of the population by regions.
Information contained in the report is further broken down and classified by coastland and hinterland regions, as well as urban and rural areas.
The report provides comprehensive information on population size (coastland and hinterland), urban and rural population distributions, the size of the capital city and urban townships, the size of dwelling units, gender/sex ratio, and national building stocks.
The “total population size” includes the number of persons who were contacted at their places of residence. According to the report, 727,003 persons were counted as being part of the “enumerated household population” as those persons directly accounted for by the enumerators.
The remaining 6,872 persons were counted as forming the institutional population. These include those who were stationed in retirement homes, school dormitories, as well as the homeless and incarcerated. A figure of 14,009 was estimated to be the number of persons who were not contacted.

(Derwayne Wills)