Guinea-Bissau

republicIndependence 24 September 1973 (from Portugal

Guinea-Bissau as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 68 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBissau

Area36,120 km2

Populationas each edition published it

998,963 people July 1990 · 2.13m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 47.03 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.9 children per woman 1990 · 4.59 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

127 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 45.1 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $210 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.3% in 1993

Geography

12 fields

Land useshare of 36,120 km2

arable land 11%permanent crops 1%meadows and pastures 43%forest and woodland 38%other 7%

Total area

36,120km2

land area: 28,000 km2Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

350km

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

724km total

Guinea 386, Senegal 338 km

Disputes

the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rendered its decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary (in favor of Senegal)--that decision has been rejected by Guinea-Bissau

Climate

tropical;
generally hot and humid;
monsoon-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds;
dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain

mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Natural resources

unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates; fish, timber

Environment

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

People

14 fields

Population

998,963

(July 1990), growth rate 2.5% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

43Death

19Net migration

Religion

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Labor force

403,000

(est.); 90% agriculture, 5% industry, services, and commerce, 5% government; 53% of population of working age (1983)

Literacy

34%

(1986)

Nationality

noun--Guinea-Bissauan(s); adjective--Guinea-Bissauan

Ethnic divisions

about 99% African (30% Balanta, 20% Fula, 14% Manjaca, 13% Mandinga, 7% Papel); less than 1% European and mulatto

Language

Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African languages

Organized labor

only one trade union--the National Union of Workers of Guinea-Bissau (UNTG)

Government

Republic

17 fields

Type

republic; highly centralized one-party regime since September 1974

Administrative divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular--regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence

24 September 1973 (from Portugal; formerly Portuguese Guinea)

Executive branch

president of the Council of State, vice presidents of the Council of State, Council of State, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)

none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers Chief of State and Head of Government--President of the Council of State Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984); First Vice President Col. Iafai CAMARA (since 7 November 1985); Second Vice President Vasco CABRAL (since 21 June 1989)

Political parties and leaders

only party--African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo Vieira, leader;
the party decided to retain the binational title despite its formal break with Cape Verde

Suffrage

universal at age 15 President of Council of State--last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held 19 June 1994); results--Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo Vieira was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly; National People's Assembly--last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 15 June 1994);

results--PAIGC is the only party; seats--(150 total) PAIGC 150, appointed by Regional Councils; Regional Councils--last held 1 June 1989 (next to be held 1 June 1994); results--PAIGC is the only party; seats--(473 total) PAIGC 473, by public plebiscite

Communists

a few Communists, some sympathizers

Member of

ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB--Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IRC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL;
Chancery (temporary) at the Guinea-Bissauan Permanent Mission to the UN, Suite 604, 211 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017;
telephone (212) 661-3977;
US--Ambassador William L. JACOBSEN;
Embassy at 17 Avenida Domingos Ramos, Bissau (mailing address is C. P. 297, Bissau);
telephone [245] 212816, 21817, 213674

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side;
there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Cape Verde which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell

Economy

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP below $200.

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$152million

per capita $160 (1988); real growth rate 5.6% (1987)

External debt

$465million

(December 1989 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$20 millionExpenditures

$25 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1987)

Overview

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP below $200. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities, with cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. The government's four-year plan (1988-91) has targeted agricultural development as the top priority.

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$15 million (f.o.b., 1987);
commodities--cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels;
partners--Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Cape Verde, China

Imports

$49 million (f.o.b., 1987);
commodities--capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed goods, foods, petroleum;
partners--Portugal, USSR, EC countries, other Europe, Senegal, US

Industrial production

growth rate - 1.7% (1986 est.)

Electricity

22,000 kW capacity; 28 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks

Agriculture

accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 80% of employment;
rice is the staple food;
other crops include corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton;
not self-sufficient in food;
fishing and forestry potential not fully exploited

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $46 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $519 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $68 million

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 37 total, 18 usable

permanent-surface runways

5runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

poor system of radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiocommunications;
3,000 telephones;
stations--1 AM, 2 FM, 1 TV;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP); Army, Navy, and Air Force are separate components

3 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49

215,552fit for military service

122,824

Defense expenditures

3.2%of GDP

(1987)

Branches