2021 Edition

Background

Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea became independent from France, and Sekou TOURE established an authoritarian regime. TOURE ruled until his death in 1984. After TOURE’s death, General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. CONTE organized and won presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003. Upon CONTE's death in December 2008, Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. In March 2020, Guinea passed a constitutional referendum that extended presidential terms and reset CONDE’s term count, and later that year, Alpha CONDE won a controversial third presidential term. On 5 September 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup by a National Committee of Rally and Development that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government. DOUMBOUYA is declared President on 17 September 2021. A charter of transition, issued in late September, made DOUMBOUYA transitional president for an undefined period, and on 1 October 2021, he was formally sworn in.  

Area

land

245,717 sq km

total

245,857 sq km

water

140 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania

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

highest point

Mont Nimba 1,752 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

472 m

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

950 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Cote d'Ivoire 816 km, Guinea-Bissau 421 km, Liberia 590 km, Mali 1062 km, Senegal 363 km, Sierra Leone 794 km

total

4,046 km

Land use

agricultural land

58.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.)

forest

26.5% (2018 est.)

other

15.4% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major rivers (by length in km)

Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambia river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

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

Population distribution

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Age structure

0-14 years

41.2% (male 2,601,221/female 2,559,918)

15-24 years

19.32% (male 1,215,654/female 1,204,366)

25-54 years

30.85% (male 1,933,141/female 1,930,977)

55-64 years

4.73% (male 287,448/female 305,420)

65 years and over

3.91% (male 218,803/female 270,492) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

35.86 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.3% (2018)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

10.9% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

3.9% (2018)

Death rate

8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot’s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.5

potential support ratio

18.3 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

85.2

youth dependency ratio

79.7

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 69.8% of population

improved: total

total: 79.9% of population

improved: urban

urban: 97.9% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 27.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 20.1% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 2.1% of population

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2020)

Ethnic groups

Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,300 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

110,000 (2020 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

55.83 deaths/1,000 live births

total

50.99 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages

note

note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

Life expectancy at birth

female

65.42 years (2021 est.)

male

61.7 years

total population

63.53 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

27.7% (2018)

male

54.4%

total population

39.6%

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases

Lassa fever (2016)

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

note: on 14 February 2021, the Guinea government declared an outbreak of Ebola in N'Zerekore; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Travel Advisory recommending travelers avoid non-essential travel to Guinea; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

1.991 million CONAKRY (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

19.4 years (2020 est.)

male

18.9 years

total

19.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2018 est.)

note

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Nationality

adjective

Guinean

noun

Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.7% (2016)

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

12,877,894 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.76% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 34.8% of population

improved: total

total: 53% of population

improved: urban

urban: 85.6% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 65.2% of population

unimproved: total

total: 47% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 14.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

8 years (2014)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.81 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.89 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

7.9% (2019 est.)

male

6.1%

total

7.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

37.3% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

Capital

etymology

according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name "Cona," a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word "nakiri," which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry

geographic coordinates

9 30 N, 13 42 W

name

Conakry

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

na

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020

history

previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea

conventional short form

Guinea

etymology

the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel

former

French Guinea

local long form

Republique de Guinee

local short form

Guinee

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since September 2020)

email address and website

ConakryACS@state.govhttps://gn.usembassy.gov/

embassy

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

FAX

[224] 65-10-42-97

mailing address

2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC  20521-2110

telephone

[224] 65-10-40-00

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kerfalla YANSANE (since 24 January 2018)

email address and website

http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/

FAX

[1] (202) 986-3800

telephone

[1] (202) 986-4300

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature. On 1 October 2021, Doumbouya was sworn in as transitional president.

election results

Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Mohamed BEAVOGUI (since 6 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government of Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory FOFANA

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

note

note: 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

presidential 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, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms

subordinate courts

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

description

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; 76 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 38 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

In parliamentary elections, the Rally of the Guinean People-Rainbow wins 57.5% of the vote (79 of 114 seats), the Democratic Union of Guinea 5.3% (4), the Democratic Popular Movement of Guinea 4.1% (3), and the New Democratic Forces 2.8% (3). Turnout is 58.0%. The military junta dissolved the legislature in September 2021 after military officers overthrew President Alpha CONDE. Junta leaders intend to create a transitional legislature by appointment. New legislative elections will be held on an unspecified date in the future.

elections

last held on 21 March 2020 (next to be held 1 March 2027)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown/Fodeba KEITA

name

"Liberte" (Liberty)

note

note: adopted 1958

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

National symbol(s)

elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

Political parties and leaders

Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO]National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Vacant]Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPGUnion of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

note

Ruling party Former ruling party Rally of the Guinean People (Rassemblement du Peuple Guinéen, RPG) Opposition parties African Democratic Party of Guinea (Parti démocratique africain de Guinée) Party of Unity and Progress (Parti de l'Unité et du Progrès, PUP) Union for Progress and Renewal (Union pour le Progrès et le Renouveau, UPR) Union for Progress of Guinea (Union pour le Progrès de la Guinée, UPG) Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally (Parti Démocratique de Guinée-Rassemblement Démocratique Africain, PDG-RDA) National Alliance for Progress (Alliance Nationale pour le Progrès, ANP) Party of the Union for Development (Parti de l’Union pour le Développement, PUD) Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea ( Union des Forces Démocratiques de Guinée, UFDG ), led by Cellou Dalein Diallo Union of Republican Forces (Union des Forces Républicaines, UFR) the Party of Democrats for Hope (" PADES") Led by Dr Ousmane Kaba National Alliance for Change and Democracy (ANAD) led by Cellou Dalein Diallo

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables

Budget

expenditures

1.748 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

1.7 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$2.705 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$705 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth.Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy.Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea’s future growth. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability.Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued to play a prominent role in economic performance.Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development.

Exchange rates

currency

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

7,014.1 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

7,485.5 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

9,092 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

9,542.5 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

9,953 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$4.733 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$4.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$4.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

aluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

21.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

6.6% (2017 est.)

household consumption

80.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-36.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

9.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

18.5% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

19.8% (2017 est.)

industry

32.1% (2017 est.)

services

48.1% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.55 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 1994

40.3 (1994)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2012

33.7 (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.3% (2007)

lowest 10%

2.7%

Imports

Imports 2017

$7.317 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$4.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$4.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

China 39%, India 8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

11% (2017 est.)

Industries

bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

8.9% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

9.8% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

9.4% (2019 est.)

Labor force

5.558 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

76%

industry

24% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

43.7% (2018 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$31.03 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$32.78 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$35.08 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

3.8% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

10.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

8.2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$2,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$2,600 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$2,700 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

2.8% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

2.7% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

7.9% (2019 est.)

male

6.1%

total

7.1%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

556.1 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

550,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

598 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

24% (2019)

electrification - total population

46% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

84% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2019 est.)

total

1,250 (2019)

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 dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services  (2019)

Internet country code

.gn

Internet users

percent of population

18% (2019 est.)

total

2.91 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now 101 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

Guinea’s mobile subscribership growing through investment of South African telecom operators and Chinese Huawei management; m-transactions supported commerce; broadband still limited and expensive though submarine cable and IXP improved reliability of infrastructure; 4G Wi-Fi in the capital; National Backbone Network will connect regional administrative centers; ECOWAS countries to launch free roaming; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020)

international

country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

0 (2018)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100.8 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

12.873 million (2019)

Airports

total

16 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3 (2019)

over 3,047 m

1

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

7

914 to 1,523 m

3

total

12

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3X

Merchant marine

by type

other 2 (2021)

total

2

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Conakry, Kamsar

Railways

narrow gauge

807 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)

standard gauge

279 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)

total

1,086 km (2017)

Roadways

paved

3,346 km (2018)

total

44,301 km (2018)

unpaved

40,955 km (2018)

Waterways

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011)

Military - note

the Army is responsible for external defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities; piracy and natural resource protection in the Gulf of Guinea are key areas of concern for the small Navy, which possesses only a few patrol boats

Military and security forces

National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2021)

note

note - the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials

Military and security service personnel strengths

Guinean National Armed Forces are comprised of approximately 12,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 400 Navy; 800 Air Force; 300 BASP; 1,500 Gendarmerie) (2020)

Military deployments

660 Mali (MINUSMA) (Sep 2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of ageing and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from France, Russia, and South Africa (2020)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

2.5% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

2.5% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

2.3% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

2% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

no compulsory military service (2021)

Disputes - international

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

Trafficking in persons

current situation

Guinea is a source, transit, and, to a lesser extent, a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the majority of trafficking victims are Guinean children; Guinean girls are subjected to domestic servitude and commercial sexual exploitation, while boys are forced to beg, work as street vendors, shoe shiners, or miners; some Guinean children are forced to mine in Senegal, Mali, and possibly other West African countries; Guinean women and girls are subjected to domestic servitude and sex trafficking in Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Greece, and Spain, while Chinese and Vietnamese women are reportedly forced into prostitution in Guinea

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however it is making significant efforts to do so; the government  drafted a new anti-trafficking action plan, provided support to eight victims exploited in the Middle East, and incorporated anti-trafficking training into the law enforcement curriculum; however, the government did not overall increase efforts compared to the last rating period; investigations and prosecutions of trafficking crimes decreased, victim identification was inadequate, and NGO’s providing victim services did not receive government support; for the fourth year, resources for the anti-trafficking committee or the Office for the Protection of Gender, Children and Morals were inadequate; a Quranic teacher was not prosecuted for allegedly forcing child begging; Guinea was downgraded to Tier 2 Watch List (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

11.13 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, 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

Food insecurity

severe localized food insecurity

due to localized shortfalls of cereal production - despite overall favorable food security conditions, the most vulnerable households still need external food assistance; the aggregate number of severely food insecure people was estimated at 267,000 during the lean season between June and August 2020;  it is very likely that the number of food insecure population increased with the impact of COVID‑19 (2021)

Land use

agricultural land

58.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.)

forest

26.5% (2018 est.)

other

15.4% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases

Lassa fever (2016)

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

note

note: on 14 February 2021, the Guinea government declared an outbreak of Ebola in N'Zerekore; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Travel Advisory recommending travelers avoid non-essential travel to Guinea; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major rivers (by length in km)

Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambia river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 kmnote – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

37.3% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

596,911 tons (1996 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

29,846 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

5% (2005 est.)