1981 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1981 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
36,260 km2 (includes Bijagos archipelago)
Coastline
274 km
Land boundaries
740 km
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
about 99% African (Balanta 30%, Fulani 20%, Mandyako 14%, Malinke 13%, and 23% other tribes); less than 1% European and mulatto
Labor force
90% of economically active population engaged in subsistence agriculture
Language
Portuguese and numerous African languages
Literacy
3% to 5%
Nationality
noun — Guinean(s); adjective — Guinean
Population
823,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.9%
Religion
66% animist, 30% Muslim, 4% Christian
Government
Branches
Presidency and Cabinet overseen by Revolutionary Council
Capital
Bissau
Communists
a few Communists, some sympathizers
Elections
none held to date Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), led by Pres. Vieira, secretary general, only legal party; Guinea-Bissau recently decided to retain the binational party title despite its formal break with Cape Verde
Government leaders
President and Revolutionary Council Chairman Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA; Vice President of the Revolutionary Council and Foreign Affairs Minister Victor SAUDE MARIA
Legal system
to be determined
Member of
FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ISCON, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
National holiday
12 September
Official name
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Political subdivisions
9 municipalities, 3 circumscriptions (predominantly indigenous population)
Suffrage
universal over age 15
Type
republic; achieved independence .from Portugal in September 1974; constitution abolished after 14 November 1980 coup; new constitution pending
Economy
Agriculture
main crops — palm products, root crops, rice, coconuts, peanuts
Budget
(1979 est.) revenue $27.4 million, current expenditures $45.4 million, investment expenditures $107.7 million
Electric power
11,000 kW capacity (1980); 13 million kWh produced (1980), 16 kWh per capita
Exports
$9.6 million (1980); principally peanuts, palmkernals, shrimp, fish, lumber
Fiscal year
calendar year
Fishing
catch 3,724 metric tons (1979 est.)
GDP
$200 million (1980), $333 per capita, real growth rate 1.5% (1980)
Imports
$48.3 million (1980); foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, transport equipment
Major trade partners
mostly Portugal, and other European countries
Monetary conversion rate
37.6 Guinean pesos=US$l (1981)
Communications
Airfields
59 total, 56 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
3 major transport aircraft
Highways
approx. 3,218 km (418 km bituminous, remainder earth)
Inland waterways
scattered stretches
Military manpower
males 15-49, 190,000; 110,000 fit for military service
Ports
1 major (Bissau)
Railroads
none
Ships
no combat ships
Telecommunications
limited system of open-wire lines, radio-relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 3,000 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 1 AM station and 1 FM station; no TV stations