Guinea-Bissau

Republica de Guine-Bissau

republic, multiparty since mid-1991, formerly highlyIndependence 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

Guinea-Bissau as the 1997 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 94 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, between

Populationas each edition published it

1.18 million July 1997 est. · 998,963 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.33% 1997 est. · 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

48.71 years 1997 est. · 47.03 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.26 children per woman 1997 est. · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

113.7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1997 est. · 127 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$950 1996 est. · $210 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

4% 1996 est. · 2.3% in 1993

Geography

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

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Area

36,120sq km

land: 28,000 sq kmwater: 8,120 sq kmslightly 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

Irrigated land

17sq km

(1993 est.)

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

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land:: 11%
permanent crops:: 1%
permanent pastures :: 38%
forests and woodland:: 38%
other:: 12% (1993 est.)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
soil erosion;
overgrazing;
overfishing

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

1,178,584

(July 1997 est.)growth rate: 2.33% (1997 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1997 est.)

Birth

39.17Death

15.85Net migration

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%Muslim 30%Christian 5%

Literacy

54.9%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale : 68%female: 42.5% (1995 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43% (male 251,873; female 250,950)
15-64 years:: 54% (male 304,116; female 338,489) 65 years and over : 3% (male 15,771; female 17,385) (July 1997 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:: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.94 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate

113.7 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 48.71 years
male:: 47.05 years
female:: 50.42 years (1997 est.)

Nationality

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

Ethnic groups

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, multiparty since mid-1991, formerly highly; President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed power 14 November 1980); Prime Minister Manuel da Costa SATURNINO (since 5 November 1994)

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Presidential electionpercent of vote

52%

Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%Kumba YALLA 48%

Legislature, 100 seatsone dot, one seat

PAIGC 62RGB 19PRS 12UM 6FLING 1

Percent of vote

PAIGC 46.0%RGB-MB 19.2%PRS 10.3%UM 12.8%FLING 2.5%PCD 5.3%PUSD 2.9%FCG 0.2%others 0.8%

Country name

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

Government type

republic, multiparty since mid-1991, formerly highly centralized

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed power 14 November 1980)
head of government:: Prime Minister Manuel da Costa SATURNINO (since 5 November 1994)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections :: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held NA August 1994 (next to be held NA 1999);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of vote - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)

elections :: last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results:: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB 19.2%, PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG 0.2%, others 0.8%;
seats by party - PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 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 or PAIGC [President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader];
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois Kankoila MENDY];
Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Bah Fatah Movement or RGB-MB [Domingos FERNANDES Gomes];
Guinea Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES];
Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Vi'tor MANDINGA];
Social Renovation Party or PRS [Koumba YALLA, leader];
Union for Change Coalition or UM [Joao da COSTA, Pres.];
United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Vi'tor Sau'de MARIA]

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, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission :: Ambassador Rufino Jose MENDES
chancery:: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006
telephone:: [1] (202) 872-4222

FAX

[1] (202) 872-4226

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

FAX

[245] 252282

Flag description

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.

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Real growth rate

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

45.4%

(1995)

Debt - external

$816million

(1994 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1994 est.)

agriculture 44%industry 8%services 48% (1994 est.)

Economy - overview

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Farming and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and fish are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development.

Although Guinea-Bissau won an IMF Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility in 1996, recent political instability and overspending have undermined the progress of economic reform and delayed disbursements of donor aid.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.1 billion (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $950 (1996 est.)

Labor force

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

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

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Electricity - capacity

22,000 kW (1991)

Electricity - production

30 million kWh (1991)

Electricity - consumption per capita

29 kWh (1991 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

total value:: $33 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:: cashews 95%, fish, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber (1994)
partners:: Spain 35%, India 30%, Thailand 10%, Italy 10% (1995)

Imports

total value :: $52.4 million (f.o.b., 1994)
commodities:: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment (1994)
partners:: Thailand 27%, Portugal 23%, Japan 6%, Cote d'Ivoire 7% (1995)