Guinea-Bissau

Republic of Guinea-BissauRepublica da Guine-Bissau

republic, multiparty since mid-1991

Guinea-Bissau as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 112 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 Guinea and Senegal

Populationas each edition published it

1.42 million July 2005 est. · 998,963 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.96% 2005 est. · 2.38% in 1993

Median ageyears

18.97 years 2005 est. · 18.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

46.61 years 2005 est. · 47.03 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.93 children per woman 2005 est. · 5.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

107.17 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 127 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$700 2004 est. · $210 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.6% 2004 est. · 2.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable upheaval. The founding government consisted of a single party system and command economy. In 1980, a military coup established Joao VIEIRA as president and a path to a market economy and multiparty system was implemented. A number of coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him and in 1994 he was elected president in the country's first free elections.

A military coup attempt and civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in 1999. In February 2000, an interim government turned over power when opposition leader Kumba YALA took office following two rounds of transparent presidential elections. YALA was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2003, and Henrique ROSA was sworn in as President. Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated by its crippled economy, devastated in the civil war.

Geography

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

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Land useshare of 36,120 sq km

arable land 10.67%permanent crops 8.82%other 80.51% (2001)irrigated 170 sq km (1998 est.)

Area

36,120sq km

land: 28,000 sq kmwater: 8,120 sq kmslightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Coastline

350km

territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Land boundaries

724km

border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

12 00 N, 15 00 W

Map references

Africa

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, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying further inland

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

17,865

65 and over3%

24,278

376,719

15-6455.5%

409,402

293,280

0-1441.5%

294,483

MaleFemale

Population

1,416,027

(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 1.96% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2005 est.)

Birth

37.65Death

16.53Net migration

-1.54

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)46.61

44.77 · 48.52Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)107.17

117.78 · 96.25

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)42.4%

58.1% · 27.4%Median age years (2005 est.)18.97

18.37 · 19.57

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Religions

indigenous beliefs 50%Muslim 45%Christian 5%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

10%

(2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

17,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:: very high
food or waterborne diseases:: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease:: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality

noun:: Guinean(s)
adjective:: Guinean

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Government

Republic, multiparty since mid-1991; President Henrique ROSA (interim; Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 9 May 2004)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

72%

Kumba YALA (PRS) 72%Malan Bacai SANHA (PAIGC) 28%election last held 28 November 1999 and 16 January 2000 (next to be held May 2005)

National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular, 100 seats, elected 28 March 2004one dot, one seat

PAIGC 45PRS 35PUSD 17UE 2APU 1

Percent of vote

PAIGC 31.5%PRS 24.8%PUSD 16.1%UE 4.1%APU 1.3%13 other parties 22.2%

Country name

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

Government type

republic, multiparty since mid-1991

Capital

Bissau

Administrative divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali;
note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Independence

24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Constitution

16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996

Legal system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Henrique ROSA (interim; since 28 September 2003);
note - a September 2003 coup overthrew the elected government of Kumba YALA;
General Verissimo Correia SEABRA served as interim president from 14 to 28 September 2003
head of government:: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet:: NA
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 28 November 1999 and 16 January 2000 (next to be held May 2005);
prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results:: Kumba YALA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Kumba YALA (PRS) 72%, Malan Bacai SANHA (PAIGC) 28%

note: a bloodless coup led to the dissolution of the elected government of Kumba YALA in September 2003; General Verissimo Correia SEABRA served as interim president from 14 September 2003 until stepping aside on 28 September 2003 with the establishment of a caretaker government

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve a maximum of four years)

elections:: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results:: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%, PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%;
seats by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases);
Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000);
24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior];
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY];
Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES];
Guinean Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES];
International League for Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president];
National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE, secretary general];
Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA];
Social Renovation Party or PRS [Kumba YALA];
Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general];
United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB];
United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL]

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA
chancery:: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 519, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:: [1] (202) 347-3950
FAX:: [1] (202) 347-3954

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta;
US embassy Dakar is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296;
FAX - [221] 822-5903

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

One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing.

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GDP, purchasing power parity

$1.008billion

(2004 est.)

Real growth rate

2.6%

(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 2.6% (1997 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2002 est.)

Labor force

480,000

(1999)

GDP - composition by sector(1999 est.)

agriculture 62%industry 12%services 26% (1999 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

52.1%

India

Senegal

44.6%

22.2%

Portugal

13.8%

13.2%

Nigeria

China

4.2%

Exports $54 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $104 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)(2004)

Electricity

Electricity production

55 million (2002)Electricity consumption

51.15 million (2002)

Economy - overview

One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber.

Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002.

Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect.

However, unexploited offshore oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base.

In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, have resulted in continued low growth in 2004.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 82% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA (1998)

Population below poverty line

Budget

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

Agriculture - products

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton;
timber;
fish

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Exports

$54 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Imports

$104 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Debt - external

$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$115.4 million (1995)

Currency (code)

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF);
note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States;
previously the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP) was used

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000) note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

1,300

(2003)

Internet users

(2004)

Fixed lines

10,600

(2003) · country code .gw

Telephone system

general assessment:: small system
domestic:: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications
international:: country code - 245