Guyana - Public finance

The budget follows the calendar year. Taxes finance the current account budget, with net surpluses or deficits being added to or subtracted from a general revenue balance. Nearly half of government revenue is derived from customs and excise receipts. Divestment of state enterprises, elimination of price controls and subsidies, and a reform of fiscal and monetary policy have led to debt restructuring and forgiveness. Nevertheless, in 1998, government expenditures were about 40% of GDP, and Guyana's debt reached 44% of GDP in 2000.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimates that in 2000 Guyana's central government took in revenues of approximately $227 million and had expenditures of $235.2 million including capital expenditures of $93.4 million. Overall, the government registered a deficit of approximately $8.2 million. External debt totaled $1.1 billion.