1996 Edition

Description

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Location

12 00 N, 15 00 W -- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

land area

28,000 sq km

total area

36,120 sq km

Climate

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

Coastline

350 km

Environment

current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

international agreements

party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands

natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires

Geographic coordinates

12 00 N, 15 00 W

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

total

724 km

Land use

arable land

11%

forest and woodland

38%

meadows and pastures

43%

other

7%

permanent crops

1%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

phosphates, bauxite, unexploited deposits of petroleum, fish, timber

Terrain

mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

highest point

unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 247,471; female 246,725) 15-64 years: 54% (male 295,132; female 329,681) 65 years and over: 3% (male 15,603; female 16,718) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

39.7 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

16.23 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Infant mortality rate

115.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

49.99 years (1996 est.)

male

46.63 years

total population

48.28 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

42.5%

male

68%

total population

54.9%

Nationality

adjective

Guinea-Bissauan

noun

Guinea-Bissauan(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

1,151,330 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.35% (1996 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Sex ratio

all ages

0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

5.34 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Capital

Bissau

Constitution

16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Data code

PU

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL

telephone

[1] (202) 872-4222

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

chief of state

President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%

head of government

Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO (since 5 November 1994) was appointed by the president

FAX

[1] (202) 872-4226

[245] 252282

Flag

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Independence

10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers

Legal system

NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea-Bissau

conventional short form

Guinea-Bissau

former

Portuguese Guinea

local long form

Republica de Guine-Bissau

local short form

Guine-Bissau

National holiday

Independence Day, 10 September (1974)

National People's Assembly

(Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB), Helder Jorge VAZ Gomes Lopes, leader; Democratic Front (FD); Social Renovation Party (PRS), Koumba YALLA, leader; Union for Change Coalition; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING); Democratic Social Front (FDS), Rafael BARBOSA, leader; Bafata Movement, Domingos Fernandes GARNER, leader; Guinea-Bissau Resistance (RGB); Union for Change Coalition

Suffrage

15 years of age; universal

Type of government

republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Peggy BLACKFORD

embassy

Bairro de Penha, Bissau

mailing address

C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau

telephone

[245] 252273, 252274, 252275, 252276

Agriculture

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; fishing and forest potential not fully exploited

Budget

expenditures

$NA, including capital expenditures of $NA

revenues

$NA

Currency

1 Guinea-Bissauan peso (PG) = 100 centavos

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development. With IMF support, the country is committed to an economic reform program emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden and internal constraints.

Electricity

capacity

22,000 kW

consumption per capita

37 kWh (1993)

production

40 million kWh

Exchange rates

Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 17,659 (December 1995), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990)

Exports

$32 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities

cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels

partners

Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire

External debt

$692 million (December 1993 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1 billion (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

44%

industry

8%

services

48% (1993 est.)

GDP per capita

$900 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$63 million (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities

foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment

partners

Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (1994 est.)

Labor force

403,000 (est.)

by occupation

agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%, government 5%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $9 million, 4.5% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

259,738

males fit for military service

148,291 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios

40,000 (1992 est.)

Telephone system

poor system

domestic

combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, and radiotelephone communications

international

NA

Telephones

3,000 (1988 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1

Televisions

NA Defense