Guinea-Bissau

Republic of Guinea-BissauRepublica de Guine-Bissau

republic highly centralized multiparty since mid-1991Independence 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

Guinea-Bissau as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 73 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

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and

Populationas each edition published it

1.07 million July 1993 est. · 998,963 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.38% 1993 est. · 2.55% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

47.03 years 1993 est. · 64.5 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.6 children per woman 1993 est. · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

122.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 127 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$210 1991 est. · $2,700 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

2.3% 1991 est. · 4.8% in 2025

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and | Senegal

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Land useshare of 36,120 km2

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

Area

36,120km2

land area: 28,000 km2comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

350km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

724km

total · Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Guinea and Senegal

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

International 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;
monsoonal-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

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Population

1,072,439

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.38% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

41.26Death

17.45Net migration

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years47.03

45.38 · 48.73

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy36%

50% · 24%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Labor force

403,000

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

Infant mortality rate

122.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic divisions

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

Languages

Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Government

Republic highly centralized multiparty since mid-1991

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Names

conventional long form:: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form:: Guinea-Bissau
local long form:: Republica de Guine-Bissau
local short form:: Guine-Bissau
former:: Portuguese Guinea

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

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader;
Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader;
Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader;
Democratic Front, Aristides MENEZES, leader

note: PAIGC is still the major party (of 10 parties) and controls all aspects of the government

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 - Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly

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 Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984)

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, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL
chancery:: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:: (202) 872-4222

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Roger A. MAGUIRE
embassy:: 17 Avenida Domingos Ramos, Bissau
mailing address:: 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau
telephone:: [245] 20-1139, 20-1145, 20-1113
FAX:: [245] 20-1159

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 of roughly $200.

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GDP per capita, PPP

$210

(1991 est.)

Real growth rate

2.3%

(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 1.0% (1989 est.); accounts for 10% of GDP (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

55%

(1991 est.)

External debt

$462million

(December 1990 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$33.6 millionExpenditures

$44.8 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $.57 million (1991 est.)

Overview

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP of roughly $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) targeted agricultural development as the top priority.

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

Imports

$63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 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

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total:: 33
usable:: 15
with permanent-surface runways:: 4
with runways over 3,659 m:: 0
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 1
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 5

Telecommunications

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

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