Guinea-Bissau

republicIndependence 10 September 1974 (from Portugal

Guinea-Bissau as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 69 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

1.05 million July 1992 · 998,963 in 1990

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

5.7 children per woman 1992 · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

124 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 127 in 1990

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

Total area

36,120km2

Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

350km

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

724km

Guinea 386, Senegal 338 km

Disputes

the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 12 November 1991 rendered its decision on the Guinea-Bissau/Senegal maritime boundary in favor of Senegal

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

Land use

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

Environment

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

People

14 fields

Population

1,047,137

(July 1992), growth rate 2.4% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

42Death

18Net migration

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Labor force

403,000

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

Literacy

36%

(male 50%, female 24%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

Portuguese (official); Criolo and numerous African languages

Organized labor

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

Government

Republic

18 fields

Type

republic;
highly centralized multiparty since mid-1991;
the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) held an extraordinary party congress in December 1990 and established a two-year transition program during which the constitution will be revised, allowing for multiple political parties and a presidential election in 1993

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

10 September 1974 (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)

Judicial branch

none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers

Leaders

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)

Political parties and leaders

3 parties - African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader;
PAIGC is still the major party and controls all aspects of the Government, but 2 opposition parties registered in late 1991;
Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader;
Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader;
Democratic Front, Aristides MENEZES, leader;
other parties forming

Elections

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
President of Council of State:: last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held NA 1993); results - Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly

Member of

ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL;
Chancery at 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006;
telephone (202) 872-4222,

US:: Ambassador William L. JACOBSEN, Jr.;
Embassy at 17 Avenida Domingos Ramos, Bissau (mailing address is 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau);
telephone [245] 20-1139, 20-1145, 20-1113

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

Inflation, consumer prices

25%

(1990 est.)

External debt

$462million

(December 1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$22.7 millionExpenditures

$30.8 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $18.0 million (1989 est.)

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. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are 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.

commodities:: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
partners:: Portugal, Senegal, France, The Gambia, Netherlands, Spain

Imports

$68.9 million (f.o.b., 1989 est.)

commodities:: capital equipment, consumer goods, semiprocessed goods, foods, petroleum
partners:: Portugal, Netherlands, Senegal, USSR, Germany

accounts for over 50% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% 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

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $49 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $615 million;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $41 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $68 million

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 34 total, 15 usable

permanent-surface runways

4runways | 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;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 1 TV

Defense Forces

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air Force), | paramilitary force

3 fields

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