Guyana Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 158th
MPR SCORE: 166
MPR Index: 0.0277 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.9214 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.747 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Guyana ranks 158th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is a small, multipurpose military focused on homeland defense, border protection, anti-narcotics efforts, and disaster response. Though historically modest in scale, the GDF's strategic relevance has surged in recent years due to territorial tensions with Venezuela and the discovery of massive offshore oil reserves, which have elevated Guyana’s geopolitical profile across South America and the Caribbean.

With assistance from the United States, Brazil, and France (via French Guiana), the GDF is investing in joint readiness, maritime domain awareness, and airspace surveillance. While it still lacks conventional offensive capacity, Guyana is becoming a critical partner in regional defense and energy infrastructure protection.

Military Strengths

Guyana’s military strength lies in its strategic partnerships, geopolitical positioning, and growing focus on sovereignty protection tied to its energy sector.

1. Heightened Strategic Relevance due to Oil and Border Tensions

Guyana’s offshore oil boom in the Stabroek Block has made the country a major energy player, necessitating new defense postures around critical maritime infrastructure.
Tensions with Venezuela over the Essequibo region have prompted force readiness improvements and increased military diplomacy.

2. Strong U.S. and Regional Security Partnerships

The GDF conducts joint training and defense cooperation with U.S. Southern Command, including airspace monitoring, maritime surveillance, and crisis response.
Brazilian and French military teams have expanded collaboration in jungle warfare and border patrol capacity.

3. Focused Border and Riverine Security Operations

Guyana’s terrain necessitates light infantry, riverine patrols, and air mobility. The GDF is optimized for jungle operations, counter-trafficking, and rapid deployment to remote border posts.

4. Disaster Response and National Stability Force

The military supports flood relief, logistics missions, and evacuation efforts during seasonal crises, reinforcing civil-military trust in rural and coastal areas.

Why Guyana Is Still Ranked 158th

Very Small Force Size and Limited Equipment
The GDF consists of fewer than 3,500 active personnel, with light weapons, aging transport vehicles, and no heavy armor or modern artillery.
No Air Combat or Missile Systems
Guyana has no air force, relying on helicopters and light aircraft for transport and reconnaissance. There are no radar-based air defenses or anti-ship capabilities.
No Naval Warfare Assets
The Guyana Coast Guard operates patrol craft and interceptors, but lacks offshore combat vessels, submarine detection, or long-range surveillance systems.
Dependence on Foreign Support for Defense Capacity
Most of Guyana’s upgrades in maritime and aerial surveillance, as well as intelligence sharing, are supported externally—primarily by the U.S., France, and Brazil.

Conclusion

Guyana’s military is modest in scale but increasingly significant in strategic terms, driven by its oil-rich maritime zones, border tensions with Venezuela, and emerging role in South Atlantic security. The Guyana Defence Force is focused on sovereignty protection, joint operations, and civil resilience, with growing alignment to U.S.-led regional security frameworks. Its low MPR ranking reflects limited autonomous combat power, but its strategic value continues to rise sharply.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Active Military Personnel: 3,700
Reserve Personnel: 2,000
Paramilitary Forces: 1,200 (Police Special Service Units and Border Guards)
Army Personnel: 2,800
Navy Personnel: 500
Air Force Personnel: 400

Ground Forces

Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 0
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 40+
Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 20+
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0

Air Force

Combat Aircraft: 0
Attack Helicopters: 0
Transport Aircraft: 4+
Training Aircraft: 3+

Aircraft Breakdown:

Short SC.7 Skyvan and Bell 412 Helicopters: Used for patrol and logistics
Cessna and BN-2 aircraft for training and coastal surveillance

Naval Forces

Warships: 4+
Submarines: 0
Frigates/Corvettes: 0
Patrol Boats: 4+

Naval Vessel Breakdown:

Small fast patrol craft used to monitor Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ)
Vessels donated by the U.S., China, and Brazil for riverine and maritime patrol

Missile Capabilities

Guyana does not possess missile systems. Its defense relies on light arms, patrol platforms, and foreign support for deterrence. Surveillance and intelligence are enhanced through joint drills and strategic partnerships.

Strategic Partnerships

Guyana has growing military ties with the United States, with recent Joint U.S.–Guyana military exercises and agreements on defense cooperation. Brazil, France (via French Guiana), and India also assist with training and security infrastructure. The border dispute with Venezuela over the Essequibo region remains a central strategic focus.

Military History & Combat Experience

Guyana’s military history centers on border defense, counterinsurgency readiness, and disaster relief, with no record of conventional warfare but a long-standing posture of territorial vigilance, especially in relation to Venezuela.

Post-Independence Military Formation (1966–1980s):
After independence from Britain in 1966, the Guyana Defence Force was formed as a light infantry and engineering-focused force, designed to secure borders, maintain internal stability, and support rural infrastructure development. Initial training assistance came from the U.K., Cuba, and India.
Essequibo Territorial Dispute with Venezuela:
Tensions over the Essequibo region, which comprises two-thirds of Guyana's territory, have persisted since the 1960s. In 1969, Venezuela allegedly supported a short-lived secessionist movement in the Rupununi region. The GDF responded with internal security operations, reinforcing remote garrisons and conducting border patrols in contested areas.
Suriname Border Tensions (1990s–2000s):
Naval and diplomatic clashes occurred with Suriname over the New River Triangle and offshore oil exploration. The GDF conducted riverine patrols, while Guyana strengthened legal and diplomatic defenses, leading to international arbitration in 2007.
U.S. and Regional Training Integration (2010s–Present):
Guyana has increased its participation in U.S. SOUTHCOM-led exercises, such as Tradewinds, enhancing interoperability, maritime interdiction, and disaster response coordination with Caribbean and Latin American forces.
Military Posturing and Readiness Enhancements (2020–Present):
In response to escalating rhetoric and overflights by Venezuelan forces, the GDF has conducted joint border drills, enhanced coastal radar coverage (with U.S. assistance), and improved military communications infrastructure, particularly around the Essequibo and Stabroek oil basin.

Though Guyana has no history of high-intensity combat, its military has grown increasingly experienced in border readiness, civil-military crisis response, and joint operations, with its future combat capacity tied closely to external security partnerships and strategic deterrence against encroachment.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

Population: ~810,000 (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~350,000
Geographic Area: 214,969 km²
Land Boundaries: 2,933 km
Bordering Countries: Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela
Coastline: 459 km (Atlantic Ocean)
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds
Terrain: Coastal plain, hilly sand and clay region, and interior highland with dense forests
Natural Resources: Bauxite, gold, diamonds, oil, timber, shrimp
Proven Oil Reserves: ~11 billion barrels (offshore)
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~20 trillion cubic feet (offshore, estimated)

Economic Indicators

Defense Budget (2025): ~$120 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~1.3%
GDP (PPP): ~$24 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$29,500
External Debt: ~$3.5 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Sharp increase tied to oil boom and territorial tensions with Venezuela

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

Military Service Obligation: Voluntary
Primary Defense Focus: Territorial integrity, border defense, and maritime security
Military Industry Base: None; reliant on foreign suppliers
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Limited
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Guyana Defence Force (GDF) organized under land, air, and coast guard components
Missile Inventory Highlights: Short-range air defense systems and ATGMs
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–60 days
Reservist Force Size: ~5,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

Space or Satellite Programs: None
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: Military Intelligence Unit under GDF, National Intelligence Centre
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: United States, Brazil, CARICOM, UK
Airports (Total): ~45 (including airstrips)
Major Military Airports: Cheddi Jagan International Airport (dual-use), Timehri Base

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

Merchant Marine Fleet: Small
Major Ports: Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Linden
Naval Infrastructure: Coastal patrol fleet operated by GDF Coast Guard
Naval Replenishment Capability: Moderate coastal support capability

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

Railway Network: None (decommissioned)
Roadways: ~7,900 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

Oil Production: ~400,000 barrels/day (2024 est.)
Energy Imports: Transitioning toward energy self-sufficiency
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Developing as part of national oil policy

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

Domestic Defense Production: None
Military Installations (Domestic): Georgetown, Timehri, Lethem
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. and UK training advisors
Defense Alliances: Bilateral defense ties with the U.S., Brazil, and CARICOM cooperation
Strategic Airlift Capability: Limited; light transport aircraft in GDF Air Corps
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low