2005 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 2,123,207/female 2,079,475) 15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,478,820/female 2,486,300) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 131,130/female 168,934) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

16 (2004 est.)

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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) Military Guinea

Area

land

245,857 sq km

total

245,857 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

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. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. Geography Guinea

Birth rate

42.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$711.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$382.7 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 (code)

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code

GNF

Current account balance

$-308.3 million (2004 est.)

Death rate

15.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$3.25 billion (2001 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Jackson MCDONALD

embassy

Rue Ka 038, Conakry

FAX

[224] 41 15 22

mailing address

B. P. 603, Conakry

telephone

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY

FAX

[1] (202) 478-3010

telephone

[1] (202) 986-4300

Disputes - international

conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states has spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

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. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2004, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets.

Electricity - consumption

795.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

855 million kWh (2002)

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 - 2,550 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001), 1,746.9 (2000)

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) 95.3%, Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6%

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 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2008); the prime minister is appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 4 December 2004)

Exports

$709.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

France 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, UK 14.7%, Switzerland 12.8%, Ukraine 4.2% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

25%

industry

38.2%

services

36.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.5 billion (2004 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

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

140,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 32% (1994)

Imports

$641.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Cote d'Ivoire 15.5%, France 9%, Belgium 6.1%, China 6%, South Africa 4.8% (2004)

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

84.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

95.82 deaths/1,000 live births

total

90.37 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

18% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Internet country code

.gn

Internet hosts

380 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

4 (2001)

Internet users

40,000 (2003) Transportation Guinea

Investment (gross fixed)

21% of GDP (2004 est.)

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

3.63%

other

93.79% (2001)

permanent crops

2.58%

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

50.57 years (2005 est.)

male

48.19 years

total population

49.36 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

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

Lassa fever (2004)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

respiratory disease

meningococcal meningitis

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,853,316 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 1,038,036 (2005 est.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

17.93 years (2005 est.)

male

17.42 years

total

17.67 years

Military branches

Army (includes Presidential Guard, Republican Guard), Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$56.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.7% (2004) Transnational Issues Guinea

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

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, salt

Net migration rate

-2.99 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 (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption

8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

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 UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; 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 of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Mamadou BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

9,467,866 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2.37% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

662 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

standard gauge

175 km 1.435-m gauge

total

837 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

100,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire) (2004) This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

refugees (country of origin)

133,175 (Liberia) 13,633 (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d'Ivoire)

Religions

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$201.7 million (2004 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 (2005 est.)

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

country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

26,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

111,500 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

6 low-power stations (2001)

Televisions

85,000 (1997)

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Total fertility rate

5.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA (2002 est.)

Waterways

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2003)