2012 Edition

Background

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away abruptly died in January 2012 from an existing illness. A military coup on 12 April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place.

Area

36,125 sq km 28,120 sq km 8,005 sq km

total

36,125 sq km

water

8,005 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

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

Elevation extremes

Atlantic Ocean 0 m unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m

highest point

unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Environment - international agreements

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands 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, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%) 113 cu m/yr (2000)

per capita

113 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%)

Geographic coordinates

12 00 N, 15 00 W

Geography - note

this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

Irrigated land

250 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

724 km Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

border countries

Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

total

724 km

Land use

8.31% 6.92% 84.77% (2005)

arable land

8.31%

other

84.77% (2005)

permanent crops

6.92%

Location

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

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; brush fires

Natural resources

fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Terrain

mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Total renewable water resources

31 cu km (2003)

Age structure

40.2% (male 326,670/ female 327,958) 56.6% (male 446,820/ female 475,107) 3.2% (male 20,386/ female 31,662) (2012 est.)

0-14 years

40.2% (male 326,670/ female 327,958)

15-64 years

56.6% (male 446,820/ female 475,107)

65 years and over

3.2% (male 20,386/ female 31,662) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

34.72 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

17.2% (2008)

Death rate

15.01 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

8.1% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

2.5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,200 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

22,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.96 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

94.4 deaths/1,000 live births 104.25 deaths/1,000 live births 84.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

female

84.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

total

94.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Life expectancy at birth

49.11 years 47.16 years 51.11 years (2012 est.)

female

51.11 years (2012 est.)

total population

49.11 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 54.2% 68.2% 40.6% (2010 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

40.6% (2010 est.)

male

68.2%

total population

54.2%

Major cities - population

BISSAU (capital) 302,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

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

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

790 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

Median age

19.6 years 19.1 years 20.1 years (2012 est.)

female

20.1 years (2012 est.)

male

19.1 years

total

19.6 years

Nationality

Guinean(s) Guinean

adjective

Guinean

noun

Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Physicians density

0.045 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

1,628,603 (July 2012 est.)

Population growth rate

1.971% (2012 est.)

Religions

Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%

Sanitation facility access

urban: 49% of population rural: 9% of population total: 21% of population urban: 51% of population rural: 91% of population total: 79% of population

rural

91% of population

total

79% of population

urban

51% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

9 years (2006)

total

9 years (2006)

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 0.64 male(s)/female 0.95 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.64 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.44 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

30% of total population (2010) 3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

30% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Capital

Bissau 11 51 N, 15 35 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

11 51 N, 15 35 W

name

Bissau

time difference

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

Constitution

16 May 1984; amended several times

Country name

Republic of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau Republica da Guine-Bissau Guine-Bissau Portuguese Guinea

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea-Bissau

conventional short form

Guinea-Bissau

former

Portuguese Guinea

local long form

Republica da Guine-Bissau

local short form

Guine-Bissau

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC

chief of mission

none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC

Executive branch

[Transitional] President Manuel Serifo NHAMADJO (since 11 May 2012) in the aftermath of the April 2012 coup that deposed the government, an agreement was reached between ECOWAS mediators and the military junta to name NHAMADJO as transitional president with a one year term [Transitional] Prime Minister Rui Duarte BARROS (since 16 May 2012) NA president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18 March 2012 with a runoff between the two leading candidates scheduled for 22 April 2012; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature with no candidate receiving a minimum 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff between the two leading candidates was scheduled for 22 April 2012; percent of vote (first round) - Carlos GOMES Junior 49.0%, Kumba YALA 23.4%, others 27.6%

cabinet

NA

chief of state

[Transitional] President Manuel Serifo NHAMADJO (since 11 May 2012)

election results

with no candidate receiving a minimum 50% of the vote in the first round, a runoff between the two leading candidates was scheduled for 22 April 2012; percent of vote (first round) - Carlos GOMES Junior 49.0%, Kumba YALA 23.4%, others 27.6%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18 March 2012 with a runoff between the two leading candidates scheduled for 22 April 2012; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature

head of government

[Transitional] Prime Minister Rui Duarte BARROS (since 16 May 2012)

Flag 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; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag

Government type

republic

Independence

24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU (suspended), CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at more than $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less than $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law (influenced by the early French Civil Code) and customary law

Legislative branch

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) last held on 16 November 2008 (no legislative elections currently scheduled) percent of vote by party - PAIGC 49.8%, PRS 25.3%, PRID 7.5%, PND 2.4%, AD 1.4%, other parties 13.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 67, PRS 28, PRID 3, PND 1, AD 1

election results

percent of vote by party - PAIGC 49.8%, PRS 25.3%, PRID 7.5%, PND 2.4%, AD 1.4%, other parties 13.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 67, PRS 28, PRID 3, PND 1, AD 1

elections

last held on 16 November 2008 (no legislative elections currently scheduled)

National anthem

"Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country) Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRA, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence

lyrics/music

Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He

name

"Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Rui Dia de SOUSA]; Democratic Alliance or AD [Victor MANDINGA]; New Democracy Party or PND; Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Sory DJALO]; Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Budget

$134.6 million $169.4 million (2012 est.)

expenditures

$169.4 million (2012 est.)

revenues

$134.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2012 est.) 15% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$151.4 million (2012 est.) -$95.9 million (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)

Economy - overview

One of the poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau's legal economy depends mainly on farming and fishing, but trafficking in narcotics is probably the most lucrative trade. The combination of limited economic prospects, a weak and faction-ridden government, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years; low rainfall hindered cereals and other crops in 2011. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. The government is successfully implementing a three-year $33 million extended credit arrangement with the IMF that runs through 2012. In December 2010 the World Bank and IMF announced support for $1.2 billion worth of debt relief. Guinea-Bissau made progress with debt relief in 2011 when members of the Paris Club opted to write-off much of the country's obligations.

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 514.1 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008)

Exports

$125 million (2012 est.) $244.6 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Exports - partners

India 75.9%, Nigeria 14% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

56.3% 13.1% 30.7% (2012 est.)

agriculture

56.3%

industry

13.1%

services

30.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,100 (2012 est.) $1,200 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.8% (2012 est.) 5.3% (2011 est.) 3.5% (2010 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$884 million (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.902 billion (2012 est.) $1.956 billion (2011 est.) $1.858 billion (2010 est.) data are in 2012 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

2.9% 28% (2002)

highest 10%

28% (2002)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

$254.1 million (2012 est.) $327.6 million (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners

Portugal 27.8%, Senegal 15.4%, China 4.6% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2003 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6.4% (2012 est.) 5% (2011 est.)

Labor force

632,700 (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

82% 18% (2000 est.)

agriculture

82%

industry and services

18% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$414.3 million (31 December 2012 est.) $364.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$150.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) $122.5 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$323.8 million (31 December 2012 est.) $308.7 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

15.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

461,700 Mt (2010 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

Electricity - consumption

60.45 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

21,000 kW (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

65 million kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

2,922 bbl/day (2011 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,578 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.gw

Internet hosts

90 (2012)

Internet users

37,100 (2009)

Telephone system

small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile-cellular communications fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons country code - 245

domestic

fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons

general assessment

small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile-cellular communications

international

country code - 245

Telephones - main lines in use

5,000 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

869,100 (2011)

Airports

8 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2012)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

3 (2012)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

6

under 914 m

3 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Roadways

3,455 km 965 km 2,490 km (2002)

total

3,455 km

unpaved

2,490 km (2002)

Waterways

(rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

370,790 372,171 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

372,171 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

370,790

Manpower fit for military service

205,460 212,277 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

212,277 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

205,460

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

17,639 17,865 (2010 est.)

female

17,865 (2010 est.)

male

17,639

Military branches

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP)

Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)

Military expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2012)

Disputes - international

in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau

Illicit drugs

increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug smuggling

Refugees and internally displaced persons

7,658 (Senegal) (2011)

refugees (country of origin)

7,658 (Senegal) (2011)

Trafficking in persons

Guinea-Bissau is a country of origin and destination for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys reportedly were transported to southern Senegal for forced manual and agricultural labor; girls may be subjected to forced domestic service and child prostitution in Senegal and Guinea; both boys and girls are forced to work as street vendors in cities in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal Tier 2 Watch List - the government of Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government acknowledged human trafficking is a problem and enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in June 2011, followed by a national plan of action for implementing the law; the government facilitated the repatriation of 120 trafficking victims from Senegal and gave a small amount of funding to NGO shelters that provided victim care but did not pursue criminal action against trafficking offenders during the year (2012)

current situation

Guinea-Bissau is a country of origin and destination for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys reportedly were transported to southern Senegal for forced manual and agricultural labor; girls may be subjected to forced domestic service and child prostitution in Senegal and Guinea; both boys and girls are forced to work as street vendors in cities in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government of Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government acknowledged human trafficking is a problem and enacted a comprehensive anti-trafficking law in June 2011, followed by a national plan of action for implementing the law; the government facilitated the repatriation of 120 trafficking victims from Senegal and gave a small amount of funding to NGO shelters that provided victim care but did not pursue criminal action against trafficking offenders during the year (2012)