Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Guyana instead of California, you would:

Health

live 7.1 years less

In California, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Guyana, that number is 72 years (70 years for men, 74 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

make 40.7% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Guyana, the GDP per capita is $49,800 as of 2023.

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be 2.4 times more likely to be unemployed

In California, 5.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Guyana, that number is 12.4% as of 2023.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, The World Factbook.

Compare further: California vs. Guyana

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Guyana is 23.3% cheaper than California
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Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 1.9 times bigger than Guyana.
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Guyana: At a glance

Guyana is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 196,849 sq km. Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to settlement of urban areas by former slaves and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. The resulting ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. After his death five years later, his wife, Janet JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006. Donald RAMOTAR was elected president in 2011.
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How big is Guyana compared to California? See an in-depth size comparison.

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