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. 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. In 2006, declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.
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
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
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
Coastline
320 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea
12 nm
exclusive economic zone
200 nm
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, salt
Land use
arable land
4.47%
permanent crops
2.64%
other
92.89% (2005)
Irrigated land
950 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Environment - current issues
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
Population
9,947,814 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
44.3% (male 2,226,414/female 2,183,153)
15-64 years
52.5% (male 2,611,833/female 2,610,773)
65 years and over
3.2% (male 138,392/female 177,249) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
17.7 years
male
17.5 years
female
17.9 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.62% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
41.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
15.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 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
0.781 male(s)/female
total population
1.001 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
88.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male
93.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female
83.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
49.65 years
male
48.5 years
female
50.84 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
3.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
140,000 (2003 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 (2007)
Nationality
noun
Guinean(s)
adjective
Guinean
Ethnic groups
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Religions
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
29.5%
male
42.6%
female
18.1% (2003 est.)
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
name
Conakry
geographic coordinates
9 31 N, 13 43 W
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
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 Lansana KOUYATE (since 26 February 2007)
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 direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 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 First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders
Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; Dyama; 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 [Mamadou BAH]; 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: National Confederation of Guinean Workers [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of Guinean Workers [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]; Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]; National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA]
B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone
[224] 30-42-08-61 through 68
FAX
[224] 30-42-08-73
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
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, 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$20.16 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.798 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
3.7% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$2,100 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
23.7%
industry
36.1%
services
40.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force
3.7 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
76%
industry and services
24% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
NA%
Population below poverty line
47% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
1.9%
highest 10%
41% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
38.1 (2006)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
29% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
17.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$342.3 million
expenditures
$556.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
South Korea 13.1%, Russia 11.1%, Ukraine 9.2%, Spain 7.7%, France 7.4%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, Ireland 4.9% (2006)
Imports
$730 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners
China 8.5%, France 7.9%, Netherlands 4.7%, Belgium 4.3% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$60.2 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external
$3.02 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient
$212.2 million (2006)
Currency (code)
Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code
GNF
Exchange rates
Guinean francs per US dollar - 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
26,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular
189,000 (2005)
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 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)
Radios
357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
6 (2001)
Televisions
85,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.gn
Internet hosts
367 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
4 (2001)
Internet users
46,000 (2005)
Airports
16 (2006)
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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
11
1,524 to 2,437 m
6
914 to 1,523 m
3
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Railways
total
837 km
standard gauge
175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge
662 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
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
Kamsar
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
1,852,534
females age 18-49
1,827,560 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
1,034,006
females age 18-49
1,032,885 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.7% (2006)
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
