Africa :: Guinea-Bissau

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## Introduction ::Guinea-Bissau

Background:
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was overthrown in a bloodless military coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away in January 2012 from an existing illness. A military coup in April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place.

## Geography ::Guinea-Bissau

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 36,125 sq km country comparison to the world: 138 land: 28,120 sq km water: 8,005 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 724 km border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m
Natural resources:
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use:
arable land: 8.3% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 84.78% (2011)
Irrigated land:
225.6 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
31 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.18 cu km/yr (18%/6%/76%) per capita: 135.7 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

## People and Society ::Guinea-Bissau

Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Population:
1,660,870 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 152
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 331,406/female 332,662) 15-24 years: 20.2% (male 166,339/female 168,906) 25-54 years: 31.9% (male 263,190/female 266,963) 55-64 years: 4.7% (male 28,333/female 49,322) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 20,807/female 32,942) (2013 est.) population pyramid:
Median age:
total: 19.7 years male: 19.1 years female: 20.2 years (2013 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.95% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 56
Birth rate:
34.28 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
14.77 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 5
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89
Urbanization:
urban population: 43.9% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.59% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
BISSAU (capital) 302,000 (2009)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.58 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
790 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 6
Infant mortality rate:
total: 92.66 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 5 male: 102.42 deaths/1,000 live births female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.5 years country comparison to the world: 221 male: 47.53 years female: 51.52 years (2013 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.37 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
14% (2010)
Health expenditures:
8.5% of GDP (2010) country comparison to the world: 52
Physicians density:
0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
Hospital bed density:
0.96 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 53% of population total: 64% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 47% of population total: 36% of population (2010 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved: urban: 44% of population rural: 9% of population total: 20% of population unimproved: urban: 56% of population rural: 91% of population total: 80% of population (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
22,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 75
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,200 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 64
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
4.9% (2008) country comparison to the world: 159
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
17.2% (2008) country comparison to the world: 43
Education expenditures:
NA
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 54.2% male: 68.2% female: 40.6% (2010 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 9.5 years (2006)
Child labor - children ages 5-14:
total number: 226,316 percentage: 57 % (2010 est.)

## Government ::Guinea-Bissau

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Bissau geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama-Bijagos
Independence:
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution:
16 May 1984; amended several times
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil law (influenced by the early French Civil Code) and customary law
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: [Transitional] President Manuel Serifo NHAMADJO (since 11 May 2012) note: in the aftermath of the April 2012 coup that deposed the government, an agreement was reached between ECOWAS mediators and the military junta to name NHAMADJO as transitional president with a one-year term; the transitional government has scheduled a presidential election for 24 November 2013 head of government: [Transitional] Prime Minister Rui Duarte BARROS (since 16 May 2012) cabinet: NA (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18 March 2012 with a runoff between the two leading candidates scheduled for 22 April 2012; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature election results: with no candidate receiving a minimum 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff between the two leading candidates was scheduled for 22 April 2012; percent of vote (first round) - Carlos GOMES Junior 49.0%, Kumba YALA 23.4%, others 27.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 16 November 2008 (no legislative elections currently scheduled) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 49.8%, PRS 25.3%, PRID 7.5%, PND 2.4%, AD 1.4%, other parties 13.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 67, PRS 28, PRID 3, PND 1, AD 1
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers) note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and discipline of the judiciary; judges appointed by the president with tenure for life subordinate courts: Appeal Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Rui Dia de SOUSA] Democratic Alliance or AD [Victor MANDINGA] New Democracy Party or PND Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Sory DJALO] Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU (suspended), CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag
National anthem:
name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country) lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He note: adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRA, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence

## Economy ::Guinea-Bissau

Economy - overview:
One of the poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau's legal economy depends mainly on farming and fishing, but trafficking in narcotics is probably the most lucrative trade. The combination of limited economic prospects, a weak and faction-ridden government, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years; low rainfall hindered cereals and other crops in 2011. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. The government is successfully implementing a three-year $33 million extended credit arrangement with the IMF that runs through 2012. In December 2010 the World Bank and IMF announced support for $1.2 billion worth of debt relief. Guinea-Bissau made progress with debt relief in 2011 when members of the Paris Club opted to write-off much of the country''s obligations.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.963 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 193 $1.992 billion (2011 est.) $1.891 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$870 million (2012 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.5% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 5.3% (2011 est.) 3.5% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,200 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 211 $1,300 (2011 est.) $1,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 55.7% industry: 13.2% services: 31% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
632,700 (2007) country comparison to the world: 152
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 82% industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $129.1 million expenditures: $153.4 million (2012 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
14.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-2.8% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 107
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.4% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 58 5% (2011 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 79 4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 15% (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$266.1 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $308.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$414.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $364.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$170.2 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 183 $122.4 million (31 December 2011 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
0.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 131
Current account balance:
-$151.4 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 -$95.9 million (2011 est.)
Exports:
$139.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 186 $244.6 million (2011 est.)
Exports - commodities:
fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:
India 56%, Nigeria 28.4%, Togo 6.6% (2012)
Imports:
$237 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 203 $327.6 million (2011 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 27.8%, Senegal 16.8%, US 7.1%, China 4.8%, Cuba 4.2% (2012)
Debt - external:
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 $941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 510.53 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Guinea-Bissau

Electricity - production:
65 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - consumption:
60.45 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 122
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
21,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 191
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 113
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 189
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2,922 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,578 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 119
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
461,700 Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

## Communications ::Guinea-Bissau

Telephones - main lines in use:
5,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 210
Telephones - mobile cellular:
869,100 (2011) country comparison to the world: 157
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile-cellular communications domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons international: country code - 245 (2011)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
Internet country code:
.gw
Internet hosts:
90 (2012) country comparison to the world: 212
Internet users:
37,100 (2009) country comparison to the world: 177

## Transportation ::Guinea-Bissau

Airports:
8 (2012) country comparison to the world: 161
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2012)
Roadways:
total: 3,455 km country comparison to the world: 161 paved: 965 km unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
Waterways:
(rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)
Ports and terminals:
Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

## Military ::Guinea-Bissau

Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2013)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 370,790 females age 16-49: 372,171 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 205,460 females age 16-49: 212,277 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 17,639 female: 17,865 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.3% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 22

## Transnational Issues ::Guinea-Bissau

Disputes - international:
in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 7,700 (Senegal) (2012)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a country of origin and destination for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys reportedly were transported to southern Senegal for forced manual and agricultural labor; girls may be subjected to forced domestic service and child prostitution in Senegal and Guinea; both boys and girls are forced to work as street vendors in cities in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the government of Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government acknowledged human trafficking is a problem and enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in June 2011, followed by a national plan of action for implementing the law; the government facilitated the repatriation of 120 trafficking victims from Senegal and gave a small amount of funding to NGO shelters that provided victim care but did not pursue criminal action against trafficking offenders during the year (2012)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug smuggling

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