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| Guinea |

Introduction | Guinea

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 | Guinea

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 water: 0 sq km land: 245,857 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
Land use: | arable land: 3.63% permanent crops: 2.58% other: 93.79% (2001)
Irrigated land: | 950 sq km (1998 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; 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 | Guinea

Population: | 9,246,462 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,075,652; female 2,032,936) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,417,440; female 2,428,085) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 127,654; female 164,695) (2004 est.)
Median age: | total: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 17.9 years (2004 est.)
Population growth rate: | 2.37% (2004 est.)
Birth rate: | 42.26 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate: | 15.53 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration rate: | -3.06 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 (2004 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 (2004 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 91.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 86.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 97.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 49.7 years male: 48.45 years female: 50.99 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 5.87 children born/woman (2004 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: | typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, schistosomiasis overall degree of risk: very high (2004)
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), 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 | Guinea

Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee
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 Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 9 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 NA 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 for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
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 FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY 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

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, including a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth should strengthen in 2004, however, because of a slowly improving security situation and increased investor confidence.
GDP: | purchasing power parity - $19.02 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 3% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: | purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 24.9% industry: 38.2% services: 36.9% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 21.2% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line: | 40% (2003 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 32% (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 40.3 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 14.8% (2003 est.)
Labor force: | 3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate: | NA (2002 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $410.7 million expenditures: $708.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2003 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
Industrial production growth rate: | 3.2% (1994)
Electricity - production: | 790.6 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 735.2 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: | NA (2001)
Oil - imports: | NA (2001)
Current account balance: | $-252 million (2003)
Exports: | $726 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities: | bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners: | South Korea 14.8%, Spain 10.7%, US 10.1%, France 9.2%, Russia 9%, Ireland 7.9%, Belgium 6.4%, Germany 5.6%, Ukraine 5.3% (2003)
Imports: | $646 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners: | France 16.8%, China 9.3%, Belgium 7.1%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, UK 5.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.8%, US 4.5% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: | $191 million (2003)
Debt - external: | $3.25 billion (2001 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: | $359.2 million (1998)
Currency: | Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code: | GNF
Exchange rates: | Guinean francs per US dollar - NA (2003), 1,975.84 (2002), 1,950.56 (2001), 1,746.87 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use: | 26,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 111,500 (2003)
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)
Radios: | 357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 6 low-power stations (2001)
Televisions: | 85,000 (1997)
Internet country code: | .gn
Internet hosts: | 380 (2004)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 4 (2001)
Internet users: | 40,000 (2003)

Transportation | Guinea

Railways: | total: 837 km standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2003)
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)
Ports and harbors: | Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine: | total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,344 GRT/5,003 DWT by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: Iraq 1 (2003 est.)
Airports: | 16 (2003 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 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military | Guinea

Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police
Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)
Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 2,108,948 (2004 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 1,064,965 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $58.5 million (2003)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.7% (2003)

Transnational Issues | Guinea

Disputes - international: | domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups in Guinea, domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have created insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts skirmishes, deaths, and refugees in border areas; in 2003, Guinea and Sierra Leone established a boundary commission to resolve a dispute over the town of Yenga
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)

This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005