Guyana

Guyana is the only English-speaking country in South America, sitting on the northeastern Atlantic coast between Venezuela, Brazil, and Suriname. Once one of the region's poorest nations, it has been the fastest-growing economy in the world for several consecutive years following major offshore oil discoveries in 2015; ExxonMobil-led production began in 2019 and has since transformed government revenues and GDP per capita. The country remains relatively underdeveloped outside the capital Georgetown, with infrastructure investment lagging behind the oil windfall. More than half a million Guyanese live abroad, forming large diaspora communities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The population is ethnically diverse — predominantly Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese — and the legal system follows the English common-law tradition. Dual citizenship is permitted, and naturalisation is available after five years of lawful residence.