Guinea

Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee

republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 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
2005

Every edition of Guinea

Populationas each edition published it
9.47 million July 2005 est. · 7.27m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.37% 2005 est. · 2.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
17.67 years 2005 est. · 17.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
49.36 years 2005 est. · 43.68 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.83 children per woman 2005 est. · 6.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
90.37 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 147 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,100 2004 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1% 2004 est. · 4.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 245,857 sq km

arable land 3.63%permanent crops 2.58%other 93.79% (2001)irrigated 950 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
245,857sq km
land: 245,857 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly smaller than Oregon
Coastline
320km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 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

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, salt

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;
  • poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

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

Geography - note

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands

People

20 fields

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

131,130
65 and over3.2%
168,934
2,478,820
15-6452.4%
2,486,300
2,123,207
0-1444.4%
2,079,475
MaleFemale
Population
9,467,866
(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 2.37% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
42.03 (2005 est.)Death
15.38 (2005 est.)Net migration
-2.99
Net migration: note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2005 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)49.36
48.19 · 50.57Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)90.37
95.82 · 84.76
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)35.9%
49.9% · 21.9%Median age years (2005 est.)17.67
17.42 · 17.93
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%

Net migration rate

-2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2005 est.)

Sex ratio

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

Total fertility rate

5.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,000 (2003 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
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
Lassa fever (2004)

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 Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 4 December 2004)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

95.3%
Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6%election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2008)

People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire, 114 seats, elected 30 June 2002one dot, one seat

PUP 85UPR 20other 9

Percent of vote

PUP 61.6%UPR 26.6%other 11.8%

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

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)

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 Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 4 December 2004)
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 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2008);
  • the prime minister is appointed by the president
election results:
Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%, Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6%

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 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results:
percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders

  • Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN];
  • National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY];
  • Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party;
  • People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO];
  • Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE];
  • Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Mamadou BA];
  • Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE];
  • Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO];
  • Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY
chancery:
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-4300
FAX:
[1] (202) 478-3010

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Jackson MCDONALD
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

Economy

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

38 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$19.5billion
(2004 est.)
Real growth rate
1%
(2004 est.)industrial production growth: 3.2% (1994)

GDP - composition by sector(2004 est.)

agriculture 25%industry 38.2%services 36.8% (2004 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

17.7%
France
9%
Cote d'Ivoire
15.5%
14.7%
Belgium
6.1%
14.7%
UK
12.8%
Switzerland
China
6%
South Africa
4.8%
4.2%
Ukraine
Exports $709.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)Imports $641.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues
$382.7 millionExpenditures
$711.4 million (2004 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production
855 million (2002)Electricity consumption
795.2 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an 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.

Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets.

Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2004, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2004 est.)

Labor force

3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.6%
highest 10%:
32% (1994)

Investment (gross fixed)

21% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Current account balance

$-308.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports

$709.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$641.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$201.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$3.25 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$359.2 million (1998)

Currency (code)

Guinean franc (GNF)

Exchange rates

Guinean francs per US dollar - 2,550 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001), 1,746.9 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
111,500
(2003)
Fixed lines
26,200
(2003) · 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:
country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

6 low-power stations (2001)

Internet users

40,000 (2003)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
1
2,438 to 3,047 m
3
1,524 to 2,437 m
6
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
2
Paved 5Unpaved 11

Networkskm

Highways
30,500Railways
837Waterways
1,295 (2003)
Highways: paved: 5,033 km · unpaved: 25,467 km (1999 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2004) · Waterways: (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)

Railways

total:
837 km
standard gauge:
175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
662 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways

total:
30,500 km
paved:
5,033 km
unpaved:
25,467 km (1999 est.)

Waterways

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2003)

Airports

16 (2004 est.)

Military

Army (includes Presidential Guard, Republican Guard), Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police

6 fields

Military branches

Army (includes Presidential Guard, Republican Guard), Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,853,316 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,038,036 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states has spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability;
  • Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
133,175 (Liberia) 13,633 (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs:
100,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire) (2004)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guinea.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guinea/2005.

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