Pray for Guyana
A tall single-drop waterfall in the rainforest of central Guyana.
Photo: Sorenriise at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Guyana
The capital is Georgetown. People speak English, Guyanese Creole and Indigenous languages. The largest faith is Christianity.
Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.
Prayer briefing for Guyana
Last updated October 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.
Current events
On 18 July 2026 the ferry MV Barima capsized off the coast on its way from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, and reports say dozens of people died. The President named an international commission of inquiry, which the opposition parties rejected. A ruling from the International Court of Justice on the border case with Venezuela is expected from late 2026.
We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.
Leadership and politics
Guyana is a republic with an executive president. President Irfaan Ali won a second and final term in September 2025, and Mark Phillips is Prime Minister. The new party We Invest in Nationhood became the largest opposition party with 16 of 65 seats.
We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.
Economic health
Oil has made Guyana one of the fastest growing economies in the world: growth was about 44% in 2024 and about 19% in 2025, and oil output averaged about 900,000 barrels a day in early 2026. Yet in 2017 about 41% of people lived below the poverty line, and the World Bank says deep poverty remains.
We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.
Social and cultural issues
Guyana is a nation of Indo-Guyanese (about 40%), Afro-Guyanese (about 29%), mixed (about 20%) and Indigenous peoples (about 10%, 2012 figures). Politics has often divided along ethnic lines, and elections have sometimes led to violence. Indigenous peoples, the majority in the southern interior, are among the most vulnerable.
We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.
Spiritual landscape
About 64% of Guyanese are Christian, about 25% Hindu and about 7% Muslim (2012 census). Pentecostals are the largest Christian group, and most faith groups include people of many ethnic backgrounds. Rastafarians, Baha'is and Indigenous faiths are also present.
We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.
Religious freedom
The constitution protects freedom of religion, including the right to change religion. An old blasphemy law is not enforced, and the Ethnic Relations Commission includes Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Rastafarian members. Religious leaders describe a high degree of respect between faiths, the US State Department reports.
We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.
Historical wounds
Enslaved Africans worked the Dutch and then British sugar plantations until emancipation in 1838, and Indian indentured workers were brought in until 1917. Guyana became independent in 1966. In 1978, 918 people died at Jonestown, and Venezuela claims land west of the Essequibo River, a long dispute now before the International Court of Justice.
We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.
Let us pray together
Our Father, we come to You together for Guyana. Comfort every family who lost loved ones in the ferry disaster, and keep travellers safe. Give President Ali, the opposition and all in authority wisdom, integrity and justice, and bring peace between neighbours. Let the new oil wealth reach the poor, and guide honest stewardship of every resource. Unite Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, Indigenous and all peoples, and protect the vulnerable. Let the truth and love of Jesus spread in every community, and keep all free to worship. Heal the old wounds of slavery, indenture and division, and lead Guyana in forgiveness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sources
More ways to pray
PrayerCast shares short prayer videos for the nations. Watch its video for Guyana and pray along.
Watch the PrayerCast video for Guyana
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