Guinea

Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee

republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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.

CapitalConakry

Position11 00 N, 10 00 W

Area245,857 sq km

LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Populationas each edition published it

7.47 million July 2000 est. · 7.27m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.95% 2000 est. · 2.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

45.56 years 2000 est. · 43.68 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.46 children per woman 2000 est. · 6.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

130.98 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 147 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,200 1999 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3.7% 1999 est. · 4.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president in disputed balloting. Security clampdowns continue, although not as severe as in earlier decades. Reelected in 1998, the president faced growing criticism in 1999 for his jailing of a major opposition leader and widespread economic malaise. Unrest in Sierra Leone also continued to threaten Guinea's stability.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

17 fields

Land useshare of 245,857 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 22%forests and woodland 59%other 17% (1993 est.)irrigated 930 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

245,857sq km

land: 245,857 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Oregon

Coastline

320km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

1,752m

Mont Nimbalowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

3,399km

border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map references

Africa

Climate

generally hot and humid;
monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds;
dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Natural resources

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Environment - current issues

deforestation;
inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification;
soil contamination and erosion;
overfishing, overpopulation in forest region

Environment - international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

People

15 fields

Population

7,466,200

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 1.95% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

40.08Death

17.86Net migration

-2.68

Net migration: note: over the years Guinea has received several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; by the end of 1999 all Liberian refugees were assumed to have returned; refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2000 est.)45.56

43.16 · 48.02

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)35.9%

49.9% · 21.9%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Peuhl 40%Malinke 30%Soussou 20%smaller ethnic groups 10%

Religions

Muslim 85%Christian 8%indigenous beliefs 7%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 43.38% (male 1,614,789; female 1,623,691)
15-64 years:: 53.95% (male 1,966,929; female 2,060,877)
65 years and over:: 2.68% (male 82,376; female 117,538) (2000 est.)

Net migration rate

-2.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

note: over the years Guinea has received several hundred thousand refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; by the end of 1999 all Liberian refugees were assumed to have returned; refugees from Sierra Leone are assumed to be returning

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population:: 0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

130.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.46 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Guinean(s)
adjective:: Guinean

Languages

French (official), each ethnic group has its own language

Government

Republic; President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993); Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

56.1%

Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%Alpha CONDE (RPG) , 16.6%election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003)

People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire, 114 seats, elected 11 June 1995one dot, one seat

PUP 71RPG 19PRP 9UNR 9UPG 2PDG 1UNPG 1PDG-RDA 1other 1

Country name

conventional long form:: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form:: Guinea
local long form:: Republique de Guinee
local short form:: Guinee
former:: French Guinea

Data code

Government type

republic

Capital

Conakry

Administrative divisions

4 administrative regions (regions administrative, singular - region administrative) and 1 special zone (zone speciale)*;
Conakry*, Guinee, Guinee-Forestiere, Haute-Guinee, Moyen-Guinee

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday

Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)

Constitution

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Legal system

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree;
legal codes currently being revised;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government:: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president;
election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003);
the prime minister appointed by the president
election results:: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,

Legislative branch

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections:: last held 11 June 1995 (next to be held NA 2000)
election results:: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG 1, UNPG 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST [Marcel CROS];
Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN];
Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party;
Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP [Siradiou DIALLO];
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE];
Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general];
Union for the New Republic or UNR [Mamadou Boye BA]

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM
chancery:: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 483-9420
FAX:: [1] (202) 483-8688

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joyce E. LEADER
embassy:: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address:: B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone:: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
FAX:: [224] 41 15 22

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia;
similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band

Economy

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation.

31 fields

Real growth rate

3.7%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 3.2% (1994)

Inflation, consumer prices

4.5%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

2.4million

(1983)

Debt - external

$3.15billion

(1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 24%industry 31%services 45% (1996 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$553 millionExpenditures

$652 million (1995 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $317 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 63.55%hydro 36.45%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

535 million (1998)Electricity consumption

498 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1998.

Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99. Even with a recovery in prices for some of Guinea's main commodity exports, annual GDP is unlikely to increase by more than 5% in 2000-2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.2 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes;
cattle, sheep, goats;
timber

Exports

$695 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities

bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Exports - partners

Russia, US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain (1997)

Imports

$560 million (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs (1997)

Imports - partners

France, Cote d'Ivoire, US, Benelux, Hong Kong (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$433.6 million (1995)

Currency

1 Guinean franc (FG) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 1,292.5 (January 1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996), 991.4 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

950

(1995)

Fixed lines

11,000

(1995)

Telephone system

poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system

domestic:: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
international:: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

357,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1997)

Televisions

85,000 (1997)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 5Unpaved 10

Networkskm

Highways

30,500Railways

1,086

Highways: paved: 5,033 km · unpaved: 25,467 km (1996 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)

Railways

total:: 1,086 km
standard gauge:: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)