The Guianas

The Guianas, sometimes called by the Spanish loan-word Guayanas (Las Guayanas), is a region in north-eastern South America which includes the following three territories:

• French Guiana, an overseas department and region of France
• Guyana, formerly known as British Guiana from 1831 until 1966, after the colonies of Berbice, Essequibo, and Demerara, taken from the Netherlands in 1814, were merged into a single colony
• Suriname, formerly Dutch Guiana, until 1814 together with Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara

In the wider context, the Guianas also includes the following two territories:

• Guayana Region in eastern Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar, and Delta Amacuro states), formerly the Guayana Province, alternatively known as Spanish Guayana (or Venezuelan Guiana)
• State of Amapá in northern Brazil, known as Portuguese Guiana (or Brazilian Guiana)

The combined population of the three core territories is 1,718,651; 804,567 in Guyana, 612,985 in Suriname and 301,099 in French Guiana. Due to their isolated terrain and geography, the Guianas are one of the most sparsely populated regions on Earth.