2011 Edition

Background

Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule 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 were marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008 when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence.

Area

245,857 sq km 245,717 sq km 140 sq km

total

245,857 sq km

water

140 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

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

Elevation extremes

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Mont Nimba 1,752 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling none of the selected 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%) 161 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

161 cu m/yr (2000)

total

1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%)

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

Irrigated land

950 sq km (2008)

Land boundaries

3,399 km Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 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

total

3,399 km

Land use

4.47% 2.64% 92.89% (2005)

arable land

4.47%

other

92.89% (2005)

permanent crops

2.64%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Total renewable water resources

226 cu km (1987)

Age structure

42.5% (male 2,278,048/female 2,229,602) 54% (male 2,860,845/female 2,860,004) 3.5% (male 164,051/female 208,459) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

42.5% (male 2,278,048/female 2,229,602)

15-64 years

54% (male 2,860,845/female 2,860,004)

65 years and over

3.5% (male 164,051/female 208,459) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

36.9 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.8% (2008)

Death rate

10.45 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 89% of population rural: 61% of population total: 71% of population urban: 11% of population rural: 39% of population total: 29% of population (2008)

rural

39% of population

total

29% of population (2008)

urban

11% of population

Education expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,700 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

79,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.31 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

61.03 deaths/1,000 live births 64.29 deaths/1,000 live births 57.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

57.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

61.03 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French (official) each ethnic group has its own language

Life expectancy at birth

58.11 years 56.63 years 59.64 years (2011 est.)

female

59.64 years (2011 est.)

total population

58.11 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 29.5% 42.6% 18.1% (2003 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

18.1% (2003 est.)

male

42.6%

total population

29.5%

Major cities - population

CONAKRY (capital) 1.597 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever schistosomiasis Lassa fever rabies (2009)

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

Lassa fever

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

680 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

18.6 years 18.3 years 18.8 years (2011 est.)

female

18.8 years (2011 est.)

male

18.3 years

total

18.6 years

Nationality

Guinean(s) Guinean

adjective

Guinean

noun

Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

10,601,009 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.645% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 34% of population rural: 11% of population total: 19% of population urban: 66% of population rural: 89% of population total: 81% of population (2008)

rural

89% of population

total

81% of population (2008)

urban

66% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years 10 years 7 years (2009)

female

7 years (2009)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.02 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

1 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.1 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

35% of total population (2010) 4.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

4.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

35% of total population (2010)

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

Capital

Conakry 9 33 N, 13 42 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

9 33 N, 13 42 W

name

Conakry

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 May 2010 (Loi Fundamentale)

Country name

Republic of Guinea Guinea Republique de Guinee Guinee French Guinea

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea

conventional short form

Guinea

former

French Guinea

local long form

Republique de Guinee

local short form

Guinee

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry [224] 65-10-40-00 [224] 65-10-42-97

chief of mission

Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER

embassy

Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle

FAX

[224] 65-10-42-97

mailing address

B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry

telephone

[224] 65-10-40-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Blaise CHERIF 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 986-4300 [1] (202) 483-8688

chancery

2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Blaise CHERIF

FAX

[1] (202) 483-8688

telephone

[1] (202) 986-4300

Executive branch

President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010) Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held on 27 June 2010 with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010 Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO 47.5%

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010)

election results

Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO 47.5%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held on 27 June 2010 with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010

head of government

Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010)

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

Government type

republic

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

the legislature was dissolved by junta leader Moussa Dadis CAMARA in December 2008 and in February 2010, the Transition Government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislature's place last held on 30 June 2002

elections

last held on 30 June 2002

National anthem

"Liberte" (Liberty) unknown/Fodeba KEITA adopted 1958

lyrics/music

unknown/Fodeba KEITA

name

"Liberte" (Liberty)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Political parties and leaders

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] Listed are the three most popular parties in first round voting for president in 2010; overall, there are more than 130 registered parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG); Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$750.6 million $1.411 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$1.411 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$750.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-14.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA% 22.25% (31 December 2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

24% (31 December 2010 est.) 23.8% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$370.6 million (2010 est.) -$426.7 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.843 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.926 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.4 (2007) 40.3 (1994)

Economy - overview

Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and significant iron ore, gold, and diamond reserves. However, Guinea has been unable to profit from this potential, as rampant corruption, dilapidated electricity and other degraded infrastructure, and political uncertainty have drained investor confidence. In the time since a 2008 coup following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, have significantly curtailed their development programs. Throughout 2009, policies of the ruling military junta severely weakened the economy. The junta leaders spent and printed money at an accelerated rate, driving inflation and debt to perilously high levels. In early 2010, the junta collapsed and was replaced by a Transition Government, which ceded power in December 2010 to the country's first-ever democratically elected president, Alpha CONDE. International assistance and investment are expected to return to Guinea, but the levels will depend upon the ability of the new government to combat corruption and reform its banking system. IMF and World Bank programs will be especially critical as Guinea attempts to gain debt relief. Since the 2009 global economic downturn, the price and value of bauxite and alumina exports has steadily risen. Export levels will likely continue to grow as investor confidence returns. International investors have expressed keen interest in Guinea's vast iron ore reserves, which could further propel the country's growth.

Electricity - consumption

855.6 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

920 million kWh excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 6,100 (2010) 5,500 (2009) 5,500 (2008) 4,122.8 (2007) 5,350 (2006)

Exports

$1.471 billion (2010 est.) $1.05 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 15.5%, Spain 8%, Chile 7.7%, Russia 6.8%, Ireland 6.1%, Ukraine 5.7%, US 5.2%, Denmark 4.2%, Germany 4.1% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

17% 53% 30% (2010 est.)

agriculture

17%

industry

53%

services

30% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,000 (2010 est.) $1,100 (2009 est.) $1,100 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.9% (2010 est.) -0.3% (2009 est.) 4.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.633 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$10.81 billion (2010 est.) $10.6 billion (2009 est.) $10.63 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.7% 30.3% (2007)

highest 10%

30.3% (2007)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

$1.405 billion (2010 est.) $1.06 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 11.5%, Netherlands 6.3%, France 4.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

20% (2010 est.) 9% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

21.3% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

4.392 million (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

76% 24% (2006 est.)

agriculture

76%

industry and services

24% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

9,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

8,559 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

47% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$179.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $53.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$855.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $792.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$757.4 million (31 December 2010 est.) $701.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$478.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) $482.4 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Broadcast media

government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a steadily increasing number of privately-owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign television programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)

Internet country code

.gn

Internet hosts

14 (2010)

Internet users

95,000 (2009)

Telephone system

inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2009 country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

domestic

Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeded 50 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

inadequate 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

18,000 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4 million (2010)

Airports

16 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

3 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

3 (2010)

over 3,047 m

1

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

2 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

12

under 914 m

2 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Conakry, Kamsar

Railways

1,185 km 238 km 1.435-m gauge 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2009)

narrow gauge

947 km 1.000-m gauge (2009)

total

1,185 km

Roadways

44,348 km 4,342 km 40,006 km (2003)

total

44,348 km

unpaved

40,006 km (2003)

Waterways

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger system) (2009)

Manpower available for military service

2,359,203 2,329,784 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

2,329,784 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

2,359,203

Manpower fit for military service

1,493,991 1,535,418 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

1,535,418 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,493,991

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

118,443 115,901 (2010 est.)

female

115,901 (2010 est.)

male

118,443

Military branches

National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)

National Armed Forces

Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2009)

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

21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire) 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)

IDPs

19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)

Trafficking in persons

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, forced labor, and likely also for sexual exploitation Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increased efforts to eliminate trafficking; although the government acknowledges that trafficking in persons is a problem in Guinea, it is unclear if the new government, which took power in December 2010, will demonstrate an increase over the previous regime's minimal efforts to combat trafficking; the government failed to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses; no new prosecutions or convictions were reported, 12 cases from the previous reporting period remain pending in the courts, and 18 additional cases have disappeared from the court system; no protection to trafficking victims was provided, and although the government conducted an anti-trafficking awareness campaign on radio and television, overall prevention efforts remain weak (2011)

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, forced labor, 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 increased efforts to eliminate trafficking; although the government acknowledges that trafficking in persons is a problem in Guinea, it is unclear if the new government, which took power in December 2010, will demonstrate an increase over the previous regime's minimal efforts to combat trafficking; the government failed to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses; no new prosecutions or convictions were reported, 12 cases from the previous reporting period remain pending in the courts, and 18 additional cases have disappeared from the court system; no protection to trafficking victims was provided, and although the government conducted an anti-trafficking awareness campaign on radio and television, overall prevention efforts remain weak (2011)