National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)
Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; justice is administered by the Royal Court
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28 October 2005) head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008) cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for four years); note - Alderney and Sark have parliaments elections: last held 23 April 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - all independents
Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Stop Traffic Endangering Pedestrian Safety or STEPS; No More Masts[Colin FALLAIZE]
International organization participation:
Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (British crown dependency)
Flag description:
white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross
EconomyGuernsey
Economy - overview:
Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 23% of employment and about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have been growing. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.742 billion (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
3% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$44,600 (2005)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87% (2000)
Labor force:
31,470 (March 2006)
Unemployment rate:
0.9% (March 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $563.6 million expenditures: $530.9 million (2005)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.4% (June 2006)
Agriculture - products:
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle
Industries:
tourism, banking
Industrial production growth rate:
Electricity - production:
NA kWh
Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other: NA
Exports:
Exports - commodities:
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables
Exports - partners:
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Imports:
Imports - commodities:
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Imports - partners:
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Debt - external:
Currency (code):
Guernsey pound note: the British pound is also legal tender
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Guernsey pound 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound
CommunicationsGuernsey
Telephones - main lines in use:
45,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
43,800 (2004)
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA domestic: NA international: 1 submarine cable
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios:
Television broadcast stations:
1 (1997)
Televisions:
Internet country code:
.gg
Internet hosts:
156 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
Internet users:
36,000 (2005)
TransportationGuernsey
Airports:
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson
MilitaryGuernsey
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 379 female: 353 (2008 est.)
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational IssuesGuernsey
Disputes - international:
none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Guinea
IntroductionGuinea
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, though all the polls have been marred by irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.
GeographyGuinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, betweenGuinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries:
total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km
Coastline:
320 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain:
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Natural resources:
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Land use:
arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005)
Irrigated land:
950 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
226 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%) per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)
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, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
PeopleGuinea
Population:
9,806,509 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 2,126,575/female 2,080,048) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,628,675/female 2,633,876) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 148,159/female 189,176) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.492% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
37.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
11.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 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 (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 67.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 56.58 years male: 55.12 years female: 58.08 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.2% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
140,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
9,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)
Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
Religions:
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
Languages:
French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 29.5% male: 42.6% female: 18.1% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years male: 10 years female: 7 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
1.6% of GDP (2005)
GovernmentGuinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists) elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008) 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 note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed
Judicial branch:
Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court ofAppeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme
Political parties and leaders:
National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana CONTE]; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of GuineanWorkers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation ofGuinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union ofGuinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]); National Council ofCivil Society Organizations of Guinea or CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA];Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. LouisM'Bemba SOUMAH]
International organization participation:
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), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, 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 Mory Karamoko KABA chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elizabeth RASPOLIC 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] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97
Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
EconomyGuinea
Economy - overview:
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$10.96 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$4.714 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,100 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.8% industry: 38.6% services: 37.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
3.7 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 76% industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Population below poverty line:
47% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 41% (2006)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
38.1 (2006)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $347.1 million expenditures: $742.7 million (2007 est.)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
23.4% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
22.25% (31 December 2005)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$309.8 million (31 December 2005)
Stock of quasi money:
NA (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$422.1 million (31 December 2005)
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
7.6% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
800 million kWh note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
744 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 45.5% hydro: 54.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
8,559 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
8,811 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$424 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
Russia 10.8%, Ukraine 9.6%, Spain 8.8%, US 7.5%, Germany 7.4%, SouthKorea 7.2%, France 7%, Ireland 5.5%, China 5% (2007)
Imports:
$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
China 10%, France 7%, Netherlands 6.3% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$182.1 million (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Currency (code):
Guinean franc (GNF)
Currency code:
Exchange rates:
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)
CommunicationsGuinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
26,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
189,000 (2005)
Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)
Radios:
357,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
6 (2001)
Televisions:
85,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.gn
Internet hosts:
16 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
4 (2001)
Internet users:
50,000 (2006)
TransportationGuinea
Airports:
16 (2007)
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 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Railways:
total: 837 km standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
Waterways:
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Conakry, Kamsar
MilitaryGuinea
Military branches:
Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), AirForce, Presidential Guard (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 2,230,049 females age 16-49: 2,193,236 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,268,193 females age 16-49: 1,259,913 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 106,967 female: 104,631 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
1.7% of GDP (2006)
Transnational IssuesGuinea
Disputes - international:
conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (SierraLeone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,Sierra Leone) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea; transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims; the government took no measures to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008
======================================================================
@Guinea-Bissau
IntroductionGuinea-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 ousted by the military in a bloodless 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.
GeographyGuinea-Bissau
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 36,120 sq km land: 28,000 sq km water: 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 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 location in the northeast corner of the country 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)
Total renewable water resources:
31 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%) per capita: 113 cu m/yr (2000)
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, 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
PeopleGuinea-Bissau
Population:
1,503,182 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41% (male 307,353/female 308,726) 15-64 years: 55.9% (male 404,747/female 436,245) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 18,819/female 27,292) (2008 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.2 years male: 18.6 years female: 19.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.035% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
36.4 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
16.05 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 101.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 111.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 91.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.52 years male: 45.71 years female: 49.39 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.72 children born/woman (2008 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 high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2008)
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%
Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Languages:
Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.4% male: 58.1% female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 5 years male: 7 years female: 4 years (2001)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (1999)
GovernmentGuinea-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 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and in 1996
Legal system:
based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA (since 1 October 2005) head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 5 August 2008) cabinet: NA elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malam Bacai SANHA 47.6%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held 16 November 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 by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at more than $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less than $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verdeor PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Party for Social Renewal or PRS[Kumba YALA]; Democratic Social Front or FDS; Electoral Union or UE;Guinea-Bissau Civic Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta RosaGOMES]; Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-BissauSocialist Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor andSolidarity Party or PST [Iancuba INDJAI]; Party for DemocraticConvergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Party for Renewal and Progressor PRP; Progress Party or PP [Ibrahima SOW]; 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:
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional),WAEMU, WFTU, 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; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia
EconomyGuinea-Bissau
Economy - overview:
One of the five poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. 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. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. Offshore oil prospecting is underway in several sectors but has not yet led to commercially viable crude deposits. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. 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. Government drift and indecision, however, resulted in continued low growth in 2002-06. Higher raw material prices boosted growth to 3.7% in 2007.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$826.4 million (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$343 million (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$600 (2007 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:
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 0.5% highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)
Budget:
revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.8% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$142.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$12.04 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$46.44 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
4.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
60 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
55.8 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2,520 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
2,560 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:
-$6 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$133 million f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:
Brazil 56.2%, India 33.6%, Nigeria 8.3% (2007)
Imports:
$200 million f.o.b. (2006)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 21.7%, Senegal 16.8%, France 6%, Pakistan 4.7% (2007)
Economic aid - recipient:
$79.12 million (2005)
Debt - external:
$941.5 million (2000 est.)