Guinea

Republic of GuineaRepublique de Guinee

presidential republicIndependence 2 October 1958 (from France)

Guinea as the 2023 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 162 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
Populationas each edition published it
13.61 million 2023 est. · 7.27m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.75% 2023 est. · 2.46% in 1993
Median ageyears
19.3 years 2023 est. · 17.7 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
64.3 years 2023 est. · 43.68 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
4.82 children per woman 2023 est. · 6.1 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
48.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 2023 est. · 147 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$2,600 2021 est. · $410 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3.9% 2021 est. · 4.3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century.

In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in December 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution.

In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people in Conakry, the capital. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history.

In March 2020, Guinea passed a new constitution in a national referendum that changed presidential term limit rules. CONDE argued that, given this change, he was allowed to run for a third term, which he then won in October 2020. On 5 September 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led special forces troops in a successful military coup, ousting and detaining CONDE and establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD). DOUMBOUYA and the CNRD suspended the constitution and dissolved the government and the legislature.

DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president on 1 October 2021, and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister a week later. BEAVOGUI subsequently formed a largely technocratic cabinet. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed on 22 January 2022. The 81-member CNT is led by Dr. Dansa KOUROUMA and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.

Geography

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

19 fields

Land useshare of 245,857 sq km

arable land 11.8% (2018 est.)permanent crops 2.8% (2018 est.)permanent pasture 43.5% (2018 est.)forest 26.5% (2018 est.)other 15.4% (2018 est.)agricultural land 58.1% (2018 est.) in all · irrigated 950 sq km (2012)
Area
245,857sq km
land: 245,717 sq kmwater: 140 sq kmslightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
Coastline
320km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Highest point
1,752m
Mont Nimbalowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mmean elevation: 472 m
Land boundaries
4,046km
border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 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

Major rivers (by length in km)

Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Population distribution

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

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

People and Society

38 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2023 est.)

245,323
65 and over4%
298,439
3,741,047
15-6455.05%
3,749,281
2,809,865
0-1440.96%
2,763,294
MaleFemaleDependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 82.4 · youth dependency ratio: 76.3 · elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 · potential support ratio: 16.3 (2021 est.)
Population
13,607,249
(2023 est.)growth rate: 2.75% (2023 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2023 est.)

Birth
35.5Death
8Net migration
0

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy64.3
62.4 · 66.2Infant mortality48.3
53 · 43.5Literacy (2021)45.3%
61.2% · 31.3%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age19.3
19.1 · 19.6School life expectancy years (2014)9
10 · 8
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups(2018 est.)

Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%Malinke 29.4%Susu 21.2%Guerze 7.8%Kissi 6.2%Toma 1.6%other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

Religions(2014 est.)

Muslim 89.1%Christian 6.8%animist 1.6%other 0.1%none 2.4% (2014 est.)
Urban population
38.1%of total population
(2023)rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)Major urban areas - population: 2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)
Improved drinking water
85.2%of population
improved: urban: 99.5% of populationrural: 76.9% of populationunimproved: urban: 0.5% of populationrural: 23.1% of populationtotal: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)
Improved sanitation
58%of population
improved: urban: 90.9% of populationrural: 38.7% of populationunimproved: urban: 9.1% of populationrural: 61.3% of populationtotal: 42% of population (2020 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
553deaths/100,000 live births
(2020 est.)Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2018 est.)note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Nationality

noun:
Guinean(s)
adjective:
Guinean

Languages

French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

Demographic profile

Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates.

Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman as of 2022 because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.

Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot’s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border.

Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.

Median age

total:
19.3 years (2023 est.)
male:
19.1 years
female:
19.6 years

Population distribution

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.82 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:
48.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
male:
53 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
43.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
64.3 years (2023 est.)
male:
62.4 years
female:
66.2 years

Total fertility rate

4.82 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.37 (2023 est.)

Physicians density

0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and dengue fever
water contact diseases:
schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases:
rabies
aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases:
Lassa fever

note: on 20 September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated a Travel Health Alert for a diphtheria outbreak in several states in Guinea; vaccination against diphtheria is essential to protect against disease; if you are traveling to an affected area, you should be up to date with your diphtheria vaccines;

before travel, discuss the need for a booster dose with your healthcare professional; diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria that make a toxin from which people get very sick; diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person through respiratory droplets like from coughing or sneezing; people can also get sick from touching open sores or ulcers of people sick with diphtheria (see attached map)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total:
0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer:
0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine:
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits:
0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols:
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15:
17%
women married by age 18:
46.5%
men married by age 18:
1.9% (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Environment

14 fields

Land use(2018 est.)

arable land 11.8% (2018 est.)permanent crops 2.8% (2018 est.)permanent pasture 43.5% (2018 est.)forest 26.5% (2018 est.)other 15.4% (2018 est.)agricultural land 58.1% (2018 est.) in all

Environment - current issues

  • deforestation;
  • inadequate potable water;
  • desertification;
  • soil contamination and erosion;
  • overfishing, overpopulation in forest region;
  • poor mining practices lead to environmental damage;
  • water pollution;
  • improper waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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

Climate

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

Urbanization

urban population:
38.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization:
3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity:
  • due to reduced incomes - levels of acute food insecurity are expected to increase in 2023;
  • food prices are likely to remain at high levels, supported by the unfolding effects of the war in Ukraine on international trade;
  • nearly 710,000 people are projected to be acutely food insecure during the June to August 2023 lean season, an improvement compared to 2022 when about 1.22 million people were estimated to face acute food insecurity;
  • acute food insecurity is mainly driven by high food prices (2023)

Revenue from forest resources

4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions:
37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions:
3 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions:
11.13 megatons (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually:
596,911 tons (1996 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually:
29,846 tons (2005 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled:
5% (2005 est.)

Major rivers (by length in km)

Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km; note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Total water withdrawal

municipal:
230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial:
60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural:
600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources

226 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Government

Presidential republic; President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); Prime Minister Bernard GOMOU (since 20 August 2022)

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

59.5%
Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%other 7%election last held on 18 October 2020

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
etymology:
the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name:
Conakry
geographic coordinates:
9 30 N, 13 42 W
time difference:
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology:
  • according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name Cona , a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word nakiri , which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side";
  • supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank ( Cona-nakiri )," which over time became Conakry

Administrative divisions

7 regions administrative (administrative regions) and 1 gouvenorat (governorate)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution

history:
  • previous 1958, 1990;
  • latest 2010, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d’etat;
  • on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated
amendments:
  • proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic;
  • consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly;
  • passage requires approval in referendum;
  • the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote;
  • revised in 2020

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
na

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president
head of government:
  • Prime Minister Bernard GOMOU (since 20 August 2022);
  • note - GOMOU had been acting prime minister since 16 July 2022 replacing Mohamed BEAVOGUI who stepped down due to health reasons
cabinet:
  • formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president;
  • note - on 5 September 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature
elections/appointments:
  • formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president;
  • election last held on 18 October 2020;
  • note - a new election time table has not been announced by the transitional government
election results:

note: following a military coup on 5 September 2021, coup leader Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president on 1 October 2021

2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%

Legislative branch

description:
formerly the People's National Assembly; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 22 January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed
elections:
81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022
election results:
  • 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president;
  • the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties

Judicial branch

highest court(s):
  • Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies);
  • Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021
judge selection and term of office:
  • Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly;
  • other members appointed by presidential decree;
  • members serve 9-year terms until age 65
subordinate courts:
  • Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel;
  • High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises;
  • Court of Account (Court of Auditors);
  • Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance);
  • labor court;
  • military tribunal;
  • justices of the peace;
  • specialized courts

Political parties and leaders

  • African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE [Daniel KOLIE]
  • Alliance for National Renewal or ARN [Pepe Koulemou KOULEMOU]
  • Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA [Sekou Koureissy CONDE]
  • Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO]
  • Citizen Generation or GECI [Mohamed SOUMAH]
  • Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC [Hamidou BARRY]
  • Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR [Alpha Oumar Taran DIALLO]
  • Democratic National Movement or MND [Ousmane DORE]
  • Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP [Edouard Zoutomou KPOGHOMOU]
  • Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG [Mamadou SYLLA]
  • Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG [Siaka BARRY]
  • Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG [Talibi Dos CAMARA]
  • Front for the National Alliance or FAN [Makale CAMARA]
  • Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP [Papa Koly KOUROUMA]
  • Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE [Aboubacar SOUMAH]
  • Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD [Nene Moussa Maleya CAMARA]
  • Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD [Elie KAMANO]
  • Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Francis HABA]
  • Guinean Rally for Development or RGD [Abdoul Kabele CAMARA]
  • Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD [Abraham BOURE]
  • Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR [Ibrahima Sory CONDE]
  • Modern Guinea [Thierno Yaya DIALLO]
  • Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD [Abdoulaye DIALLO]
  • National Committee for Reconciliation and Development [Colonel Mamady DOUMBOUYA]
  • National Front for Development or FND [Alhousseine Makanera KAKE]
  • National Union for Prosperity or UNP [Alpha Mady SOUMAH]
  • National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
  • New Democratic Forces or NFD [Mouctar DIALLO]
  • New Generation for the Republic or NGR [Abbe SYLLA]
  • New Guinea or NG [Mohamed CISSE]
  • New Political Generation or NGP [Badra KONE]
  • Party for Progress and Change or PPC [Aboubacar Biro SOUMAH]
  • Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT [Makale TRAORE]
  • Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES [Ousmane KABA]
  • Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP [Laye Souleymane DIALLO]
  • Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
  • Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD [Abdoulaye KOUROUMA]
  • Rally for the Guinean People or RPG (vacant)
  • Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG [Jean Marc TELIANO]
  • Rally for the Republic or RPR [Diabaty DORE]
  • Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]
  • Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR [Bouya KONATE]
  • Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jacques GBONIMY]
  • Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Mamadou Baadiko BAH]
  • Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]
  • Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG [Amadou Oury BAH]
  • Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
  • Unity and Progress Party or PUP [Fode BANGOURA]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)
chancery:
2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 986-4300
FAX:
[1] (202) 986-3800
email address and website:
http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022)
embassy:
Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
mailing address:
2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110
telephone:
[224] 65-10-40-00
FAX:
[224] 65-10-42-97
email address and website:
[email protected]; https://gn.usembassy.gov/

Flag description

  • three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green;
  • red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work;
  • yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice;
  • green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

National symbol(s)

elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

National anthem

name:
"Liberte" (Liberty)
lyrics/music:
unknown/Fodeba KEITA

note: adopted 1958

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites:
1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales:
Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

Economy

32 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$35.729billion
(2021 est.) · $34.388 billion (2020 est.) · $32.775 billion (2019 est.)note: data are in 2017 dollarsofficial exchange rate: $13.55 billion (2019 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$2,600
(2021 est.) · $2,600 (2020 est.) · $2,500 (2019 est.)note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real growth rate
3.9%
(2021 est.) · 4.92% (2020 est.) · 5.62% (2019 est.)industrial production growth: 3.9% (2021 est.)
Inflation, consumer prices
12.6%
(2021 est.) · 10.6% (2020 est.) · 9.47% (2019 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)

agriculture 19.8% (2017 est.)industry 32.1% (2017 est.)services 48.1% (2017 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

39%
United Arab Emirates
5%
36%
China
39%
6%
India
8%
Netherlands
6%
Belgium
5%
Exports $10.266 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollarsImports $5.353 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars(2019)

By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)

Household consumption
80.8%Government consumption
6.6%Fixed capital
9.1%Inventories
18.5%Exports
21.9%Imports
-36.9%

Budget(2019 est.)

Revenues
$1.949 billionExpenditures
$2.014 billion

Economic overview

  • growing but primarily agrarian West African economy;
  • major mining sector;
  • improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19;
  • economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change;
  • slow infrastructure improvements;
  • gender wealth and human capital gaps

Agricultural products

rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables

Industries

bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Labor force

4.89 million (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.34% (2021 est.) · 6.1% (2020 est.) · 5.02% (2019 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total:
8.2% (2021 est.)
male:
7%
female:
9.2%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
2.7%
highest 10%:
30.3% (2007)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt

37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) · 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Current account balance

$4.639 billion (2021 est.) · $2.685 billion (2020 est.) · -$314.62 million (2019 est.)

Exports

$10.266 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $8.996 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $4.041 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

gold, aluminum ores and oxide, iron ores, cocoa beans, cashews, frozen fish (2021)

Imports

$5.353 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $6.314 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $4.32 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.499 billion (31 December 2020 est.) · $1.379 billion (31 December 2019 est.) · $1.242 billion (31 December 2018 est.)

Debt - external

$1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 9,565.082 (2020 est.) · 9,183.876 (2019 est.) · 9,011.134 (2018 est.) · 9,088.319 (2017 est.) · 8,967.927 (2016 est.)

Energy

11 fields

Electrification% of population · (2021)

89.8%Urban
21.2%Rural
46.8%Total
population without electricity: 7 million (2020)

Installed generating capacity, 992,000 kW(2020 est.)

fossil fuels 22.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)solar 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)hydroelectricity 77.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)nuclear 0% · wind 0% · tide and wave 0% · geothermal 0% · biomass and waste 0%
Electricity consumption
1.781 billion (2019 est.)Electricity transmission/distribution losses
280 million (2019 est.)Refined petroleum imports
18,460 (2015 est.)

Coal

production:
0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption:
0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports:
0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports:
0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves:
0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production:
0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption:
19,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports:
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports:
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves:
0 barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production:
0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
consumption:
0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
exports:
0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
imports:
0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves:
0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

2.981 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke:
0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids:
2.981 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas:
0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

4.133 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Communications

7 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2018–21 est.)

105Mobile cellular
35%Internet users, % of population
0Fixed lines
0.01Fixed broadband
Mobile cellular
13.795 million
(2020 est.)
Internet users
4.9 million
(2021 est.)
Fixed lines
0
(2018 est.)
Fixed broadband
1,000
(2020 est.) · country code .gn

Telecommunication systems

general assessment:
  • the number of mobile subscribers grew strongly while revenue also increased steadily;
  • fixed broadband services are still very limited and expensive, though there have been some positive developments in recent years;
  • the landing of the first international submarine cable in 2012, and the setting up of an IXP in mid-2013, increased the bandwidth available to the ISPs, and helped reduce the cost of internet services for end-users;
  • a National Backbone Network was completed in mid-2020, connecting administrative centers across the country;
  • almost all internet connections are made via mobile networks;
  • GSM services account for a dwindling proportion of connections, in line with the greater reach of services based on 3G and LTE (2022)
domestic:
fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is just over 105 per 100 persons (2020)
international:
  • country code - 224;
  • ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe;
  • satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019)

Broadcast media

  • Government maintains marginal control over broadcast media;
  • single state-run TV station;
  • state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas;
  • a dozen private television stations;
  • a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations;
  • foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2022)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 3 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2022)

general cargo 1other 2

Networkskm

Roadways
44,301 (2018)Railways
1,086 (2017)Waterways
1,300
Roadways: paved: 3,346 km (2018) · unpaved: 40,955 km (2018) · Railways: standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge · Waterways: (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system)

Airports

16 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

4

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature;

paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

12

note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length;

airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Railways

total:
1,086 km (2017)
standard gauge:
279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Roadways

total:
44,301 km (2018)
paved:
3,346 km (2018)
unpaved:
40,955 km (2018)

Waterways

1,300 km (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar

Military and Security

7 fields

Personnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2023)

active personnel, including about 1,500 Gendarmerie 12,000approximately 12,000 active personnel, including about 1,500 Gendarmerie (2023)
Military expenditures
1.8%of GDP
(2022 est.) · 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) · 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) · 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.) · 1.8% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military and security forces

National (or Guinean) Armed Forces:
Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2023)

note: the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

  • the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of aging and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment;
  • in recent years, it has received small amounts of equipment from China, France, and South Africa (2023)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)

Military deployments

670 Mali (MINUSMA) (2023)

Military - note

  • the Guinean military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for external defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests;
  • the military has undergone some attempts at reform since 2010, but in 2021 the Army’s special forces led a successful coup;
  • the Army has a mix of approximately 10 infantry, light armor, commando, and special forces battalions, as well as a presidential guard force;
  • piracy and natural resource protection in the Gulf of Guinea are key areas of concern for the small Navy, which possesses only a few patrol boats;
  • the Air Force has a handful of serviceable aircraft, including helicopter gunships (2023)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

Guinea-Liberia:
the border is not disputed and there is joint border management, although the border is porous and there have been occasional disputes relating to military encroachments and use of the boundary rivers
Guinea-Mali:
the border is not disputed, although there have been periodic clashes between border communities over land rights and access to natural resources

Cite this entry

Central Intelligence Agency. “Guinea.” The World Factbook 2023. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/guinea/2023.