Updated
Overview
Venezuela has 34 times the population of Guyana: 28.52 million people against 835,986 (2025).
Venezuela's economy is 3.7 times the size of Guyana's, at $99.66B versus $27.10B.
Per person, Guyana is the wealthier of the two: $32,414 against $3,495 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Venezuela | Guyana | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $99.66B | $27.10B | 2025 | $139.40B / $24.84B |
| GDP per capita | $3,495 | Higher: $32,414 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 1.6% | Higher: 19.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 254.9% | Lower: 3.3% | 2016 / 2025 | — / 2.9% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 5.3% | 12.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | — | 33 | — / 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | — | $424 | — / 2021 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | — | $288 | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $4.51 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 28.52 million | 835,986 | 2025 | 31.76 million / 794,099 |
| Population growth | 0.4% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 29.4 yrs | 26.2 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 2.06 | 2.37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 72.7 yrs | 70.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 89% | 26% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | 77% | Higher: 83% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 916,445 km² | 214,969 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 31.1/km² | 3.9/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 116 Mt | Lower: 4.51 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 4.1 t | 5.4 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | — | $201.84M | — / 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.5% | 0.9% | 2023 / 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 343,000 | 3,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Guyana is growing much faster: 19.3% annual GDP growth versus 1.6%.
Inflation is a serious concern in Venezuela at 254.9%, while the other economy sits at 3.3%.
People and society
Guyana is the younger society: median age 26.2 versus 29.4 years.
Life expectancy is 2.4 years longer in Venezuela (72.7 vs 70.3).
Venezuela is considerably more urbanized: 89% of people live in cities, against 26%.
Geography
By land area, Venezuela is 4.3 times the size of Guyana: 916,445 km² versus 214,969 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Venezuela is far more densely settled: 31 people per km² against 4.
Military
Venezuela fields the larger armed forces: 343,000 personnel against 3,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Venezuela bigger than Guyana?
- Venezuela is larger by land area. Venezuela covers 916,445 km² while Guyana covers 214,969 km², so Venezuela is 4.3 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Venezuela or Guyana?
- Venezuela has the larger population: 28.52 million versus 835,986 (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Venezuela richer than Guyana?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Guyana is richer: $32,414 against $3,495. Total GDP tells a different story: $99.66B for Venezuela versus $27.10B for Guyana.