2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,027,970; female 1,986,300) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,358,566; female 2,372,384) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 124,382; female 160,618) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Airports

15 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2002)

total

5

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m

1 (2002) Military Guinea

Area

land

245,857 sq km

total

245,857 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Background

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

Birth rate

42.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$472.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)

revenues

$395.7 million

Capital

Conakry

Climate

generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Coastline

320 km

Constitution

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea

conventional short form

Guinea

former

French Guinea

local long form

Republique de Guinee

local short form

Guinee

Currency

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code

GNF

Death rate

15.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$3.4 billion (2000 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY

embassy

Rue Ka 038, Conakry

mailing address

B. P. 603, Conakry

telephone

[224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY

Disputes - international

domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have created skirmishes, deaths, and refugees in border areas This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

40.3 (1994)

Economic aid - recipient

$359.2 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. 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, 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 permitted moderate 3.7% growth in 2002. Growth should strengthen in 2003 because of a slowly improving security situation and increased investor confidence.

Electricity - consumption

735.2 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

790.6 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

45.5%

hydro

54.5%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mont Nimba 1,752 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

Exchange rates

Guinean francs per US dollar - NA (2002), 1,950.56 (2001), 1,746.87 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.83 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)

election results

Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UPR) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,

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

head of government

Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999)

Exports

$835 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Exports - partners

South Korea 17.8%, Spain 10.1%, Cameroon 9.7%, Belgium 9.6%, US 9.2%, Ireland 8.6%, France 7.1%, Russia 6.8%, Germany 5% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 478-3010

[224] 41 15 22

chancery

2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone

[1] (202) 986-4300

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Guinea

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia Economy Guinea

GDP

purchasing power parity - $18.69 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

25%

industry

37%

services

38% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Geography - note

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands People Guinea

Government type

republic

Highways

paved

5,033 km

total

30,500 km

unpaved

25,467 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.54% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

55,000 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

32% (1994)

lowest 10%

2.6%

Imports

$670 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France 18.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11%, Italy 8.9%, US 8.2%, Belgium 7.6%, China 5.6%, UK 5.2% (2002)

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (1994)

Industries

bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Infant mortality rate

female

87.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

98.8 deaths/1,000 live births

total

93.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.gn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2001)

Internet users

15,000 (2002) Transportation Guinea

Irrigated land

950 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Labor force

3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

total

3,399 km

Land use

arable land

3.6%

other

93.96% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.44%

Languages

French (official), each ethnic group has its own language

Legal system

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)

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

elections

last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)

Life expectancy at birth

female

50.83 years (2003 est.)

male

48.28 years

total population

49.54 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

21.9% (1995 est.) Government Guinea

male

49.9%

total population

35.9%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

17.9 years (2002)

male

17.4 years

total

17.7 years

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$154 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

3.3% (FY02) Transnational Issues Guinea

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,056,520 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,038,428 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Nationality

adjective

Guinean

noun

Guinean(s)

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Natural resources

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish

Net migration rate

-3.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UNP [Paul Louis FABER]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

9,030,220 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.37% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Boke, Conakry, Kamsar

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios

357,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

804 km 1.000-m gauge (2002)

standard gauge

311 km 1.435-m gauge

total

1,115 km

Religions

Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication

general assessment

poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

37,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

21,567 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

6 low-power stations (2001)

Televisions

85,000 (1997)

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Total fertility rate

5.9 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)