Guinea

Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee

republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 133 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, UTC
Position11 00 N, 10 00 W
Area245,857 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
2008

Every edition of Guinea

Populationas each edition published it
9.81 million July 2008 est. · 7.27m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.492% 2008 est. · 2.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.4 years 2008 est. · 17.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
56.58 years 2008 est. · 43.68 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
5.25 children per woman 2008 est. · 6.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
67.41 deaths per 1,000 live births 2008 est. · 147 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$1,100 2007 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
1.5% 2007 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, though all the polls have been marred by irregularities.

Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.

Geography

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

20 fields

Land useshare of 245,857 sq km

arable land 4.47%permanent crops 2.64%other 92.89% (2005)irrigated 950 sq km (2003)
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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total:
1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%)
per capita:
161 cu m/yr (2000)

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, Ship Pollution, 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

22 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)

148,159
65 and over3.4%
189,176
2,628,675
15-6453.7%
2,633,876
2,126,575
0-1442.9%
2,080,048
MaleFemale
Population
9,806,509
(July 2008 est.)growth rate: 2.492% (2008 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)

Birth
37.84Death
11.29Net migration
-1.63

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2008 est.)56.58
55.12 · 58.08Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)67.41
71.02 · 63.69Literacy (2003 est.)29.5%
42.6% · 18.1%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age years (2008 est.)18.4
18.2 · 18.7School life expectancy years (2006)8
10 · 7
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%

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 (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.25 children born/woman (2008 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
water contact disease:
schistosomiasis
respiratory disease:
meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease:
Lassa fever (2008)

Nationality

noun:
Guinean(s)
adjective:
Guinean

Languages

French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language

Education expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2005)

Government

Republic; President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993); Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

95.3%
Lansana CONTE 95.3%Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010)

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

name:
Conakry
geographic coordinates:
9 33 N, 13 42 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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 Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:
  • president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits);
  • candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president;
  • election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010);
  • the prime minister is appointed by the president
election results:
Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%

Legislative branch

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists)

elections:
last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008)
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

note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed

Judicial branch

  • Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
  • Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
  • Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders

  • National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY];
  • Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana CONTE];
  • People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO];
  • Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE];
  • Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO];
  • Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE];
  • Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general];
  • Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]

Political pressure groups and leaders

  • National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]);
  • National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea or CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA];
  • Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA
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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elizabeth RASPOLIC
embassy:
Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
mailing address:
B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone:
[224] 65-10-40-00
FAX:
[224] 65-10-42-97

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.

48 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$10.96billion
(2007 est.)official exchange rate: $4.714 billion (2007 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$1,100
(2007 est.)
Real growth rate
1.5%
(2007 est.)industrial production growth: 7.6% (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)

agriculture 23.8%industry 38.6%services 37.6% (2007 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

10.8%
Russia
5%
China
10%
9.6%
Ukraine
8.8%
Spain
7.5%
US
7.4%
Germany
7.2%
South Korea
7%
France
7%
Netherlands
6.3%
5.5%
Ireland
Exports $1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)Imports $1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)(2007)

Budget

Revenues
$347.1 millionExpenditures
$742.7 million (2007 est.)

Electricity

Electricity production
800 millionElectricity consumption
744 million (2006 est.)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty.

Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program.

Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.

Labor force

3.7 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
76%
industry and services:
24% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
1.9%
highest 10%:
41% (2006)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

22.25% (31 December 2005)

Stock of money

$309.8 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of quasi money

NA (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit

$422.1 million (31 December 2005)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,559 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

8,811 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Current account balance

-$424 million (2007 est.)

Exports

$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Debt - external

$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Currency (code)

Guinean franc (GNF)

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
189,000
(2005)
Fixed lines
26,300
(2005) · country code .gn

Telephone system

general assessment:
inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system
domestic:
  • Conakry reasonably well served;
  • coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links;
  • combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)

Internet users

50,000 (2006)

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

Roadways
44,348Railways
837Waterways
1,300 (2005)
Roadways: paved: 4,342 km · unpaved: 40,006 km (2003) · Railways: standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006) · Waterways: (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)

Airports

16 (2007)

Railways

total:
837 km
standard gauge:
175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways

total:
44,348 km
paved:
4,342 km
unpaved:
40,006 km (2003)

Waterways

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)

Ports and terminals

Conakry, Kamsar

Military

Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Air Force, Presidential Guard (2008)

6 fields
Military expenditures
1.7%of GDP
(2006)

Military branches

Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Air Force, Presidential Guard (2008)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49:
2,230,049
females age 16-49:
2,193,236 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49:
1,268,193
females age 16-49:
1,259,913 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male:
106,967
female:
104,631 (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

  • conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability;
  • Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
  • 21,856 (Liberia);
  • 5,259 (Sierra Leone);
  • 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs:
19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation:
  • Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;
  • the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking;
  • within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond mines;
  • some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea;
  • transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation
tier rating:
  • Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking over 2006;
  • Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006;
  • the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007;
  • due to a lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims;
  • the government took no measures to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guinea.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guinea/2008.

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