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  Guinea  
Flag of Guinea
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of Guinea

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Guinea
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.
   Geography    Guinea
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 245,857 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
320 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 3.6%
permanent crops: 2.44%
other: 93.96% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
950 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
   People    Guinea
Population:
Definition Field Listing
7,775,065 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 42.8% (male 1,660,795; female 1,669,850)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 2,067,991; female 2,165,625)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 86,968; female 123,836) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.23% (2002 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing
39.49 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing
17.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2002 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing
127.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing
total population: 46.28 years
female: 48.82 years (2002 est.)
male: 43.81 years
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing
5.32 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.54% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing
55,000 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing
5,600 (1999 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
French (official), each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
Conakry
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)
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 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003); the prime minister is appointed by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST [Marcel CROS]; Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UNP [Paul Louis FABER]; Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP; 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; note - Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP and Union for the New Republic or UNR merged into UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for the New Republic or UNR [Mamadou Boye BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
   Economy    Guinea
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment. However, escalating fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders has caused major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Multilateral aid - including Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief - and single digit inflation should permit 5% growth in 2002.
GDP:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $15 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita:
Definition Field Listing
purchasing power parity - $1,970 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 24%
industry: 38%
services: 38% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
40% (1994 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 32% (1994) (1994)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
Definition Field Listing
40 (1994)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing
6% (2000 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing
3 million (1999) (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $395.7 million
expenditures: $472.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
3.2% (1994) (1994)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing
770 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source:
Definition Field Listing
fossil fuel: 46%
hydro: 54%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing
716.1 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Exports:
Definition Field Listing
$694.5 million f.o.b. (2000)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Belgium, US, Ireland, Russia
Imports:
Definition Field Listing
$555.2 million f.o.b. (2000)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
France, US, Belgium, Cote d'Ivoire
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing
$3.6 billion (1999 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$359.2 million (1998) (1998)
Currency:
Definition Field Listing
Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code:
Definition Field Listing
GNF
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Guinean francs per US dollar - 1,974.4 (December 2001), 1,950.6 (2001), 1,746.9 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing
37,000 (1998)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing
21,567 (1998)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001)
Radios:
Definition Field Listing
357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
6 lowpowered stations (2001)
Televisions:
Definition Field Listing
85,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Definition Field Listing
4 (2001)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing
15,000 (2002)
   Transportation    Guinea
Railways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1,086 km
standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry, of which 36 km are usable and the rest are deteriorating (2000 est.)
Highways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 30,500 km
paved: 5,033 km
unpaved: 25,467 km (1996)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
Boke, Conakry, Kamsar
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing
none (2002 est.)
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
15 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 10 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 1 (2002)
   Military    Guinea
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)
Military manpower - availability:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 1,812,131 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 15-49: 915,028 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
Definition Field Listing
$137.6 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing
3.3% (FY01)
   Transnational Issues    Guinea
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
major border incursions from Revolutionary United Front combatants from Sierra Leone, dissident Guinean forces, Liberian Army, and mercenaries between September 2000 and March 2001 killed over 1,500 Guinean civilians and military personnel; the borders remain mostly sealed

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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