Guinea

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

republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea as the 2001 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.

CapitalConakry

Position11 00 N, 10 00 W

Area245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

7.61 million July 2001 est. · 7.27m in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.96% 2001 est. · 2.46% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 17.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

45.91 years 2001 est. · 43.68 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.39 children per woman 2001 est. · 6.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

129.03 deaths per 1,000 live births 2001 est. · 147 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,300 2000 est. · $410 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5% 2000 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 of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.

Geography

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

17 fields

Coastline

320km

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Irrigated land

930sq km

(1993 est.)

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

Area

total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries

total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

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

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

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

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

People

18 fields

Population

7,613,870

(July 2001 est.)growth rate: 1.96% (2001 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth

39.78 (2001 est.)Death

17.53 (2001 est.)Net migration

-2.63

Net migration: (2001 est.) note: as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to almost half a million Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees

Ethnic groups

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

Religions

Muslim 85%Christian 8%indigenous beliefs 7%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.54%

(1999 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.12% (male 1,637,000; female 1,645,786) 15-64 years: 54.19% (male 2,015,199; female 2,110,745) 65 years and over: 2.69% (male 84,586; female 120,554) (2001 est.)

Net migration rate

-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note: as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to almost half a million Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 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 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

129.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 45.91 years male: 43.49 years female: 48.42 years (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

55,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,600 (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Languages

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

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.)

Government

Republic

20 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

56.1%

Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%Alpha CONDE (RPG) , 16.6%

People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire, 114 seatsone dot, one seat

PUP 71RPG 19PRP 9UNR 9UPG 2PDG-AST 1UNP 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

Government type

republic

Capital

Conakry

Administrative divisions

33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*;
Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

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 is 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 scheduled for 26 November 2000 postponed indefinitely due to border fighting with rebels from Sierra Leone and Liberia) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG-AST 1, UNP 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];
National Union for Progress or UNP [Paul Louis FABER];
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];
Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

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, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, 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: Charge d'Affaires Timberlake FOSTER 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.

32 fields

Real growth rate

(2000 est.)industrial production growth: 3.2% (1994)

Inflation, consumer prices

(2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

40%

(1994 est.)

Labor force

3million

(1999)

Electricity

Electricity production

750 million (1999)Electricity consumption

697.5 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999.

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, and reform progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment.

However, escalating fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders will cause major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Real GDP growth is expected to fall to 2% in 2001.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 22.3% industry: 35.3% services: 42.4% (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $417.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$820 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland (1999)

Imports

$634 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

France, Belgium, US, Cote d'Ivoire (1999)

Debt - external

$3.6 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$359.2 million (1998)

Currency

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code

GNF

Exchange rates

Guinean francs per US dollar - 1,855.0 (October 2000), 1,572.0 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

10 fields

Mobile cellular

2,868

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

20,000

(1997) · country code .gn

Telephone system

general assessment: 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 users

5,000 (2000)

Transportation

8 fields

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)

Highways

total: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km (1996)

Waterways

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)

Ports and harbors

Boke, Conakry, Kamsar

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Airports

15 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Military

Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)

5 fields

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4%

(FY96)

Transnational Issues