Men now outnumber women in Guyana for first time in decades – 2022 census report

For the first time in decades, Guyana’s population has shifted from being female-majority to male-majority, according to preliminary results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.

The census shows that while both male and female populations increased significantly between 2012 and 2022, the rate of growth among men was enough to reverse the long-standing gender balance.

In 2012, females slightly outnumbered males, accounting for 50.2 per cent of the population, compared with 49.7 per cent males. By 2022, that pattern had changed, with males now comprising 50.18 per cent of the population and females 49.82 per cent.

In absolute terms, the male population rose from 371,805 in 2012 to 440,882 in 2022, an increase of more than 69,000. Over the same period, the female population grew from 375,150 to 437,792, an increase of about 62,600. While female numbers remain high, the faster growth among men tipped the overall balance.

Deputy Chief Statistician and Deputy Census Officer Vanessa Profitt, who presented the preliminary findings, said regional patterns help explain the shift. Census data show that males now outnumber females in most hinterland regions, particularly Region Seven, a trend she linked to economic activity in those areas.

Mining, forestry and other resource-based industries, which have expanded alongside Guyana’s broader economic growth, continue to attract predominantly male workers, contributing to a higher concentration of men in interior regions. Similar male-majority patterns were observed across several hinterland regions.

In contrast, coastal and urbanised regions continue to display a different demographic profile. Regions Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Ten, for example, still record a higher proportion of females than males, reflecting longer-established settlement patterns, access to services, and employment structures that attract or retain more women.

The census also sheds light on the composition of Guyana’s population amid growing public discussion about migration. Despite increased movement into the country in recent years, the data show that Guyana remains overwhelmingly locally born.

In 2012, locally born residents accounted for 98.9 per cent of the population, while foreign-born residents made up about 1.0 per cent. By 2022, the proportion of foreign-born residents had increased to approximately 3.0 per cent, with the locally born share declining slightly in percentage terms.

Profitt cautioned that this change should be interpreted carefully. She emphasised that the shift reflects proportions rather than any decline in the local population, which has continued to grow in absolute numbers. She also noted that census information on place of birth is self-reported, as participation in the census is voluntary.