The World Bank has projected that Guyana's economy will grow by about 23.7% this year — a figure that builds upon significant economic expansion over the last few years and makes Guyana the fastest-growing economy in Latin America and the Caribbean.
In its October 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Update, the Bank said: "Guyana stands out within the region, having recorded exceptionally rapid and sustained GDP growth since 2020, driven by the scaling up of offshore oil production."
GDP reflects the value of all goods and services produced by an economy. Guyana's Ministry of Finance, in its 2026 mid-year report, said the economy grew by an estimated 33.3% in the first half of 2026, with non-oil growth pegged at 10.1%, driven principally by construction, services and mining.
Guyana is the only country in the Latin American and Caribbean region with a double-digit growth forecast — growing at a rate more than ten times the regional average of 2.2%.
The World Bank noted a "dual-track reality" emerging in the Caribbean: Guyana and Suriname, both driven by oil expansions, on one side; and the more tempered post-pandemic recovery of tourism-dependent islands on the other.
The Bank said Guyana's economic expansion has been accompanied by rising fiscal revenues, improved external balances, and a declining public-debt-to-GDP ratio. However, it added that the pace of growth also underscores the importance of strengthening public investment management, building institutional capacity, and ensuring that oil wealth translates into broad-based and inclusive development.
For the region as a whole, the World Bank said energy price volatility due to ongoing conflicts and El Niño conditions could further push up food and energy prices — an occurrence countries should remain on alert for.
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