Guinea-Bissau

Republic of Guinea-BissauRepublica de Guine-Bissau

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

Guinea-Bissau as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 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 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between

Populationas each edition published it

1.12 million July 1995 est. · 998,963 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.36% 1995 est. · 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

47.87 years 1995 est. · 47.03 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.43 children per woman 1995 est. · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

117.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 127 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$980 1994 est. · $210 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.8% 1994 est. · 2.3% in 1993

Economy

Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources | and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea | remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$980

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

0.8%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

16.6%

(1992 est.)

External debt

2.5billion

(1992)

Budget

Revenues

$449 millionExpenditures

$708 million (1990 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $361 million

Installed generating capacity, 180,000 kW

Electricity production

520 millionElectricity consumption per capita

77 (1993)

Overview

Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves.

The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign investment remains minimal.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $6.3 billion (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm kernels
partners:: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%

Imports

$768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)

commodities:: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain
partners:: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%

Industries

mining - bauxite, gold, diamonds;
alumina refining;
light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Agriculture

accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry);
mostly subsistence farming;
principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber;
livestock - cattle, sheep and goats;
not self-sufficient in food grains

Economic aid

recipient:: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $227 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $1.465 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $120 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $446 million

Currency

1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993), 922.9 (30 September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383 (1986)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Geography

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

13 fields

Land useshare of 36,120 sq km

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

Area

36,120sq km

land area: 28,000 sq kmcomparative 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

International disputes

none

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

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Environment

current issues:: deforestation;
soil erosion;
overgrazing;
overfishing
natural hazards:: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

People

15 fields

Population

1,124,537

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

40.24Death

16.62Net migration

Male · female(1995 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years47.87

46.21 · 49.57

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy36%

50% · 24%

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

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Labor force

403,000

(est.)by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (female 242,518; male 243,093)
15-64 years:: 54% (female 320,987; male 286,308)
65 years and over:: 3% (female 16,129; male 15,502) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

117.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.43 children born/woman (1995 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, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991; President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980); Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November 1994

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%

Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%Kumba YALLA 48%

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

Digraph

Type

republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991

Capital

Bissau

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 September (1974)

Constitution

16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Legal system

Suffrage

15 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980);
election last held August 1994 (next to be held 1999);
results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%
head of government:: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November 1994
cabinet:: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch

unicameral

National People's Assembly:: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader;
Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB);
Democratic Front (FD), Aristides MENEZES, leader;
Social Renovation Party (PRS);
Union for Change Coalition;
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING);
Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader;
Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader;
Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB);
Union for Change Coalition;
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING)

Member of

ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, 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:: [1] (202) 872-4222

FAX

[1] (202) 872-4226

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE
embassy:: Bairro de Penha, Bissau
mailing address:: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
telephone:: [245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276

FAX

[245] 252282

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

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 32 in all

over 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

3,218Railroads

Highways: paved: bituminous 2,698 km · unpaved: earth 520 km

Highways

total:: 3,218 km
paved:: bituminous 2,698 km
unpaved:: earth 520 km

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

3,000 telephones;
poor system;
telephone density - 2.7 telephones/1,000 persons

local:: NA
intercity:: combination of microwave radio relay, open wire lines and radiocommunications
international:: NA

Radio

broadcast stations:: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
radios:: NA

Television

broadcast stations:: 1
televisions:: NA

Defense Forces

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