Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 populationnote: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea ishost to approximately 141,500 refugees from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,and Sierra Leone (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 90 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 95.16 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 84.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 49.5 yearsmale: 48.34 yearsfemale: 50.7 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:5.79 children born/woman (2006 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 highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitisaerosolized 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 writetotal population: 35.9%male: 49.9%female: 21.9% (1995 est.)
Government Guinea
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Guineaconventional short form: Guinealocal long form: Republique de Guineelocal short form: Guineeformer: French Guinea
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Conakrygeographic coordinates: 9 31 N, 13 43 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
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; legalcodes currently being revised; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,with reservations
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of militarygovernment since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)head of government: vacant; note - Prime Minister Cellou DaleinDIALLO was dismissed on 5 April 2006cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the presidentelections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term(no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votescast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003(next to be held December 2010); the prime minister is appointed bythe presidentelection 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 NationalePopulaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote toserve 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 Appeal or Cour d'Appel
Political parties and leaders:Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [ElHadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; Dyama; National Union forProgress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progressor PUP [Lansana CONTE] (the governing party); People's Party ofGuinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean Peopleor 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 [OusmaneBAH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Labor Union of Guinean Workers - National Confederation of GuineanWorkers or USTG-NCTG Alliance [Ibrahima FOFANA]; Student and teacherunions
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF,OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 478-3800
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson C. MCDONALD embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry telephone: [224] 30-42-08-61 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 Guinea
Economy - overview:Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agriculturalresources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The countrypossesses almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is thesecond-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscalarrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if thecountry is to move out of poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leoneanand Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have causedmajor economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investorconfidence. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflationand caused riots in local markets. Guinea is trying to reengage withthe IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003.Growth rose slightly in 2006, primarily due to increases in globaldemand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard ofliving fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices forbasic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of mostGuineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions promptednationwide strikes in February and June 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$19.4 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$3.737 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.7% industry: 36.1% services: 40.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 3 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:NA%
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):27% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):17.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $288.2 millionexpenditures: $556.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA(2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas,sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Industries:bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing andagricultural processing industries
Industrial production growth rate:NA
Electricity - production:790 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 45.5% hydro: 54.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:734.7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:8,440 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-344 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$615.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agriculturalproducts
Exports - partners:Russia 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Spain 10.2%, Ukraine 7.9%, US6.1%, Ireland 6%, France 5.7%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)
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%, US 7.3%, France 7.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Italy 4.7%,Belgium 4.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$59.6 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$3.46 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$237.5 million (2003)
Currency (code):Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code:GNF
Exchange rates:Guinean francs per US dollar - 5,555 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225(2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guinea
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, smallradiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relaysystemdomestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communicationinternational: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave3 (2001)
Radios:357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:6 low-power stations (2001)
Televisions:85,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gn
Internet hosts:367 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):4 (2001)
Internet users:46,000 (2005)
Transportation Guinea
Airports: 16 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 5over 3,047 m: 12,438 to 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 111,524 to 2,437 m: 6914 to 1,523 m: 3under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Railways:total: 837 kmstandard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:total: 44,348 kmpaved: 4,342 kmunpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
Waterways:1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)
Ports and terminals:Kamsar
Military Guinea
Military branches:Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2006)
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript serviceobligation - 24 months (2004)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 1,852,534females age 18-49: 1,827,560 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 1,034,006females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$119.7 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:2.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Guinea
Disputes - international:conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs inneighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting indomestic instability; Sierra Leone has pressured Guinea to removeits forces from the town of Yenga, occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 54,810 (Liberia), 5,423 (SierraLeone), 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,Sierra Leone) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Guinea-Bissau
Introduction Guinea-Bissau
Background:Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau hasexperienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, amilitary coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a marketeconomy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized bythe suppression of political opposition and the purging of politicalrivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990sfailed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in thecountry's first free elections. A military mutiny and resultingcivil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. InFebruary 2000, a transitional government turned over power toopposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president intransparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years inoffice, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, andbusinessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging topursue economic development and national reconciliation.
Geography Guinea-Bissau
Location:Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guineaand Senegal
Geographic coordinates:12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references:Africa
Area:total: 36,120 sq kmland: 28,000 sq kmwater: 8,120 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 toMay) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 mhighest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of thecountry 300 m
Natural resources:fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone,unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use: arable land: 8.31% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 84.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:250 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dryseason; brush fires
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, EndangeredSpecies, Law of the Sea, Wetlandssigned, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lyingfurther inland
People Guinea-Bissau
Population:1,442,029 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 41.4% (male 297,623/female 298,942)15-64 years: 55.6% (male 384,559/female 417,811)65 years and over: 3% (male 18,048/female 25,046) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 19 yearsmale: 18.4 yearsfemale: 19.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.07% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:37.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1 male(s)/female15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/femaletotal population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 105.21 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 115.53 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 94.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 46.87 yearsmale: 45.05 yearsfemale: 48.75 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:4.86 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:10% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:17,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,200 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:degree of risk: very highfood or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,hepatitis A, and typhoid fevervectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks insome locationswater contact disease: schistosomiasisrespiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2007)
Nationality:noun: Guinean(s)adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions:indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
Languages:Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over can read and writetotal population: 42.4%male: 58.1%female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
Government Guinea-Bissau
Country name:conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissauconventional short form: Guinea-Bissaulocal long form: Republica da Guine-Bissaulocal short form: Guine-Bissauformer: Portuguese Guinea
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Bissaugeographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 Wtime difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau,Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may havebeen renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence:24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)
National holiday:Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution:16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993,9 June 1993, NA 1996
Legal system:accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA (since 1October 2005)head of government: Prime Minister Aristides GOMES (since 2 November2005)cabinet: NAelections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term(no term limits); election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be heldin 2010); prime minister appointed by the president afterconsultation with party leaders in the legislatureelection results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent ofvote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malam Bacai SANHA47.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia NacionalPopular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve amaximum of four years)elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held in 2008)election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%,PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%; seats byparty - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1
Judicial branch:Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of ninejustices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; finalcourt of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (onein each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Courtdecisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over$1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trainedlawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminalcases)
Political parties and leaders:African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verdeor PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Broad Republican Front or FRA(coalition formed by PAIGC, UM, PST, UPG, FCGSD, UE, PP, PDG, PDSG,PRP, and the International League for Ecological Protection);Democratic Social Front or FDS; Electoral Union or UE; Guinea-BissauCivic Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa GOMES];Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-Bissau SocialistDemocratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor and Solidarity Partyor PST [Iancuba INDJAI]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD;Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP; Party for Social Renewal orPRS [Kumba YALA]; Progress Party or PP; Union for Change or UM[Amine SAAD]; Union of Guinean Patriots or UPG [Francisca VAZ];United Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, andRGB-MB); United Popular Alliance or APU; United Social DemocraticParty or PUSD
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); 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 ofviolent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA andmilitary-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited toGuinea-Bissau
Flag description:two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with avertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointedstar centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colorsof Ethiopia
Economy Guinea-Bissau
Economy - overview:One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau dependsmainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increasedremarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth incashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along withsmall amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is themajor crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting betweenSenegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyedmuch of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage tothe economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP thatyear, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, tradereform and price liberalization were the most successful part of thecountry's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. Thetightening of monetary policy and the development of the privatesector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of highcosts, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineralresources is not a near-term prospect. However, offshore oilprospecting has begun and could lead to much-needed revenue in thelong run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the mostextreme in the world. The government and international donorscontinue to work out plans to forward economic development from alamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDPwere forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in theamount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the totalnational budget. Government drift and indecision, however, haveresulted in continued low growth in 2002-06.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.244 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$295.1 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$900 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 62% industry: 12% services: 26% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 480,000 (1999)
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%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4% (2002 est.)
Budget:revenues: $NAexpenditures: $NA
Agriculture - products:rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palmkernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:4.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:58.02 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:53.96 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:$116 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:India 71.9%, Nigeria 17.1%, Ecuador 4% (2005)
Imports:$176 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:Italy 24.8%, Senegal 18.2%, Portugal 15.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2%(2005)
Debt - external:$941.5 million (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:$115.4 million (1995)
Currency (code):Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsibleauthority is the Central Bank of the West African States
Currency code:XOF; GWP
Exchange rates:Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), note, since 1January 1999, the XOF franc has been pegged to the euro at a rate of655.957 XOF francs per euro
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guinea-Bissau
Telephones - main lines in use:10,600 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:67,000 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: small systemdomestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines,radiotelephone, and cellular communicationsinternational: country code - 245
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2002)
Radios:49,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:NA (2005)
Televisions:NA
Internet country code:.gw
Internet hosts:5 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):2 (2002)
Internet users:26,000 (2005)
Transportation Guinea-Bissau
Airports: 28 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 3over 3,047 m: 11,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 251,524 to 2,437 m: 1914 to 1,523 m: 4under 914 m: 20 (2006)
Roadways:total: 3,455 kmpaved: 965 kmunpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
Waterways:four largest rivers are navigable for some distance; many inletsand creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2006)
Ports and terminals:Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Military Guinea-Bissau
Military branches:People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, andAir Force), paramilitary force
Military service age and obligation:18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 287,542females age 18-49: 297,295 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 152,681females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$9.46 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:3.1% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Guinea-Bissau
Disputes - international:attempts to stem refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling,and political instability from a separatist movement in Senegal'sCasamance region
Refugees and internally displaced persons:refugees (country of origin): 7,320 (Senegal) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Guyana
Introduction Guyana
Background:Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana hadbecome a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to blacksettlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servantsfrom India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural dividehas persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achievedindependence from the UK in 1966, and since then it has been ruledmostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN waselected president in what is considered the country's first free andfair election since independence. After his death five years later,his wife, Jane JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due topoor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001and again in 2006.
Geography Guyana
Location:Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenSuriname and Venezuela
Geographic coordinates:5 00 N, 59 00 W
Map references:South America
Area:total: 214,970 sq kmland: 196,850 sq kmwater: 18,120 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Idaho
Land boundaries: total: 2,949 km border countries: Brazil 1,606 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km
Coastline:459 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continentalmargin
Climate:tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainyseasons (May to August, November to January)
Terrain:mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m
Natural resources: bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish
Land use: arable land: 2.23% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 97.63% (2005)
Irrigated land:1,500 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons
Environment - current issues:water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrialchemicals; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-KyotoProtocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Lawof the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber83, Tropical Timber 94signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname andUruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territoriesare claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively
People Guyana
Population:767,245note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 26.2% (male 102,551/female 98,772)15-64 years: 68.6% (male 265,193/female 260,892)65 years and over: 5.2% (male 17,043/female 22,794) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 27.4 yearsmale: 26.9 yearsfemale: 27.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:0.25% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:18.28 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:-7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.05 male(s)/femaleunder 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/femaletotal population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 32.19 deaths/1,000 live birthsmale: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live birthsfemale: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 65.86 yearsmale: 63.21 yearsfemale: 68.65 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.04 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:2.5% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:11,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)adjective: Guyanese
Ethnic groups:East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, andmixed 7%
Religions:Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%
Languages:English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended schooltotal population: 98.8%male: 99.1%female: 98.5% (2003 est.)
Government Guyana
Country name:conventional long form: Cooperative Republic of Guyanaconventional short form: Guyanaformer: British Guiana
Government type:republic
Capital:name: Georgetowngeographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC duringStandard Time)
Administrative divisions:10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, EastBerbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice,Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, UpperTakutu-Upper Essequibo
Independence:26 May 1966 (from UK)
National holiday:Republic Day, 23 February (1970)
Constitution:6 October 1980
Legal system:based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutchlaw; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999);note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGANand reelected in 2001, and again in 2006head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,except for a period as chief of state after the death of PresidentCheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,responsible to the legislatureelections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a partylist in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least everyfive years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by thepresidentelection results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent ofvote 54.6%
Legislative branch:unicameral National Assembly (65 members elected by popular vote,also not more than four non-elected non-voting ministers and twonon-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by thepresident; members serve five-year terms)elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011)election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%,AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5,other 2
Judicial branch:Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and theJudicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to theCaribbean Court of Justice
Political parties and leaders:Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj RAMJATTAN];Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N.SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert HermanOrlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [BharratJAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The UnitedForce or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; VisionGuyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [RupertROOPNARAINE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Citizens Initiative; GuyanaBar Association; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana PublicService Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades UnionCongress
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL,OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRANchancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David M. ROBINSON embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170 Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170 telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909 FAX: [592] 225-8497
Flag description:green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side)superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, blackborder between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white borderbetween the yellow and the green
Economy Guyana
Economy - overview:The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02,based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a morefavorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realisticexchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support ofinternational organizations. Chronic problems include a shortage ofskilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government isjuggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need forexpanded public investment. The InterAmerican Development Bank inNovember 2006 canceled Guyana's nearly $400 million debt with theBank. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term fromrestructuring and partial privatization. Export earnings fromagriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the import billhas risen, driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance intothe Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 willbroaden the country's export market, primarily in the raw materialssector.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$3.62 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$826.6 million (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:3.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$4,700 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.5% industry: 19.3% services: 45.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 418,000 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
Unemployment rate:9.1% (understated) (2000)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):31.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:revenues: $359.9 millionexpenditures: $430.3 million; including capital expenditures of$93.4 million (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products: sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp
Industries:bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining
Industrial production growth rate:NA%
Electricity - production:818.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:761.5 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:11,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:$-84.3 million (2006 est.)
Exports:$621.6 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber
Exports - partners:Canada 18.9%, US 18.9%, UK 11.8%, Portugal 8.1%, Jamaica 5.3%,Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2005)
Imports:$706.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners:US 26.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 23.9%, Cuba 6.6%, UK 5%, China 4.1%(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:$294.9 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:$1.2 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:$84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC)$253 million (1997)
Currency (code):Guyanese dollar (GYD)
Currency code:GYD
Exchange rates:Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 200.281 (2006), 200.79 (2005),198.31 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Communications Guyana
Telephones - main lines in use:110,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:281,400 (2005)
Telephone system:general assessment: fair system for long-distance servicedomestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk linesinternational: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad;satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios:420,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)
Televisions:46,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.gy
Internet hosts:1,046 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):3 (2000)
Internet users:160,000 (2005)
Transportation Guyana
Airports:90 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 91,524 to 2,437 m: 3under 914 m: 6 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 811,524 to 2,437 m: 2914 to 1,523 m: 14under 914 m: 65 (2006)
Railways:total: 187 kmstandard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gaugenarrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gaugenote: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)
Roadways:total: 7,970 kmpaved: 590 kmunpaved: 7,380 km (1999)
Waterways:Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoingvessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2005)
Merchant marine:total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,461 GRT/15,155 DWTby type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1)registered in other countries: 4 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines3, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:Georgetown
Military Guyana
Military branches:Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps (2006)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 206,098 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:$6.48 million (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:0.9% (2003 est.)
Transnational Issues Guyana
Disputes - international:all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is claimed byVenezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyanahas expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claimsbefore UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary withVenezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle ofland between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic disputeover the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks arbitrationunder provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis ofthe territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarilyVenezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis; rising moneylaundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007
======================================================================
@Haiti
Introduction Haiti
Background:The native Taino Amerindians - who inhabited the island ofHispaniola when it was discovered by COLUMBUS in 1492 - werevirtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In theearly 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola,and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of theisland, which later became Haiti. The French colony, based onforestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiestin the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of Africanslaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18thcentury, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under ToussaintL'OUVERTURE. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the firstblack republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorestcountry in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued bypolitical violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellionled to the departure of President Jean-Betrand ARISTIDE in February2004, an interim government took office to organize new electionsunder the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission inHaiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays promptedrepeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate ademocratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006.
Geography Haiti
Location:Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, betweenthe Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of theDominican Republic
Geographic coordinates:19 00 N, 72 25 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 27,750 sq kmland: 27,560 sq kmwater: 190 sq km
Area - comparative:slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 360 km border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km
Coastline: 1,771 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: to depth of exploitation
Climate:tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds
Terrain:mostly rough and mountainous
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m
Natural resources:bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower
Land use:arable land: 28.11%permanent crops: 11.53%other: 60.36% (2005)
Irrigated land:920 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severestorms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;periodic droughts
Environment - current issues:extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land isbeing cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;inadequate supplies of potable water
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of theSea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protectionsigned, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes
Geography - note:shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (westernone-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)
People Haiti
Population:8,308,504note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account theeffects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lowerlife expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lowerpopulation and growth rates, and changes in the distribution ofpopulation by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July2006 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 42.4% (male 1,770,523/female 1,749,853)15-64 years: 54.2% (male 2,201,957/female 2,301,886)65 years and over: 3.4% (male 125,298/female 158,987) (2006 est.)
Median age:total: 18.2 yearsmale: 17.8 yearsfemale: 18.6 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:2.3% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:36.44 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:12.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)