Guinea-Bissau

Republic of Guinea-BissauRepublica de Guine-Bissau

republic, formerly highly centralized,Independence 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

Guinea-Bissau as the 1996 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

Position12 00 N, 15 00 W

Area36,120 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

1.15 million July 1996 est. · 998,963 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.35% 1996 est. · 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

48.28 years 1996 est. · 47.03 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.34 children per woman 1996 est. · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

115.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 127 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$900 1995 est. · $210 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.3% in 1993

Geography

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

14 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

border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Location

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

lowest point:: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m

Natural resources

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

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 - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands

People

15 fields

Population

1,151,330

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.35% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

39.7Death

16.23Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years48.28

46.63 · 49.99

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy54.9%

68% · 42.5%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 247,471; female 246,725)
15-64 years:: 54% (male 295,132; female 329,681)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 15,603; female 16,718) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.93 male(s)/female
all ages:: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

115.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 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,; President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO (since 5 November 1994) was appointed by the president

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%

Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%Kumba YALLA 48%

Name of country

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

Data code

Type of government

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) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage;
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) was appointed by the president
cabinet:: Council of Ministers was 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), Helder Jorge VAZ Gomes Lopes, leader;
Democratic Front (FD);
Social Renovation Party (PRS), Koumba YALLA, leader;
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

International organization participation

ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

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 Peggy BLACKFORD
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

Economy

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries | in the world.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$900

(1995 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

15%

(1994 est.)

Labor force

403,000

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

External debt

$692million

(December 1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector(1993 est.)

agriculture 44%industry 8%services 48% (1993 est.)

Installed generating capacity, 22,000 kW

Electricity production

40 millionElectricity consumption per capita

37 (1993)

Economic overview

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world. 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.

With IMF support, the country is committed to an economic reform program emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden and internal constraints.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues:: $NA
expenditures:: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Agriculture

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; fishing and forest potential not fully exploited

Exports

$32 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
partners:: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire

Imports

$63 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment
partners:: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal