2021 Edition

Background

For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trade was lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire.Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals.  Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In May 1999, a military mutiny and civil war led to VIEIRA's ouster. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In September 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. In June 2009, Malam Bacai SANHA was elected, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. In April 2012, a military coup prevented the second-round of the presidential election from taking place. Following mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ won a free and fair election. In June 2019, VAZ became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full presidential term. After winning the 2019 presidential elections, Umaro SISSOCO EMBALO was sworn in as president.

Area

land

28,120 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

highest point

unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

70 m

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 (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guinea 421 km, Senegal 341 km

total

762 km

Land use

agricultural land

44.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.)

forest

55.2% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Location

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

Major aquifers

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

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; brush fires

Natural resources

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

Population distribution

approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets

Age structure

0-14 years

43.17% (male 417,810/female 414,105)

15-24 years

20.38% (male 192,451/female 200,370)

25-54 years

30.24% (male 275,416/female 307,387)

55-64 years

3.12% (male 29,549/female 30,661)

65 years and over

3.08% (male 25,291/female 34,064) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

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

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18.8% (2019)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

20.6% (2018)

Current Health Expenditure

7% (2018)

Death rate

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

Demographic profile

Guinea-Bissau’s young and growing population is sustained by high fertility; approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Its large reproductive-age population and total fertility rate of more than 4 children per woman offsets the country’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. The latter is among the world’s highest because of the prevalence of early childbearing, a lack of birth spacing, the high percentage of births outside of health care facilities, and a shortage of medicines and supplies.Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability, a civil war, and several coups (the latest in 2012) have resulted in a fragile state with a weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, and thriving drug and child trafficking. With the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers, and with the cultural emphasis placed on religious education, parents frequently send boys to study in residential Koranic schools (daaras) in Senegal and The Gambia. They often are extremely deprived and are forced into street begging or agricultural work by marabouts (Muslim religious teachers), who enrich themselves at the expense of the children. Boys who leave their marabouts often end up on the streets of Dakar or other large Senegalese towns and are vulnerable to even worse abuse.Some young men lacking in education and job prospects become involved in the flourishing international drug trade. Local drug use and associated violent crime are growing.

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.2

potential support ratio

19.1 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

81.2

youth dependency ratio

76

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 60.3% of population

improved: total

total: 73.5% of population

improved: urban

urban: 91.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 39.7% of population

unimproved: total

total: 26.5% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8.5% of population

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2019)

Ethnic groups

Fulani 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,500 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

37,000 (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

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

male

56.33 deaths/1,000 live births

total

50.44 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo

Life expectancy at birth

female

65.55 years (2021 est.)

male

61.04 years

total population

63.26 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

48.3% (2015)

male

71.8%

total population

59.9%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

621,000 BISSAU (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Median age

female

18.6 years (2020 est.)

male

17.4 years

total

18 years

Nationality

adjective

Bissau-Guinean

noun

Bissau-Guinean(s)

Net migration rate

-3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.5% (2016)

Physicians density

0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

1,976,187 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.52% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 13.4% of population

improved: total

total: 36.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 66.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 86.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 63.8% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 33.5% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.96 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.9 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.74 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

Total fertility rate

4.72 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.6% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

the meaning of Bissau is uncertain, it might be an alternative name for the Papel people who live in the area of the city of Bissau

geographic coordinates

11 51 N, 15 35 W

name

Bissau

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

yes

citizenship by descent only

yes

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

amendments

proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 1991, 1993, 1996

history

promulgated 16 May 1984; note - constitution suspended following military coup April 2012, restored 2014; note - in May 2020, President EMBALO established a commission to draft a revised constitution

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Guinea-Bissau

conventional short form

Guinea-Bissau

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; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea

former

Portuguese Guinea

local long form

Republica da Guine-Bissau

local short form

Guine-Bissau

Diplomatic representation from the US

email address and website

dakarACS@state.govhttps://gw.usmission.gov/

embassy

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau

mailing address

2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC  20521-2080

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

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

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president

chief of state

President Umaro Sissoko EMBALO (since 27 February 2020); note - President EMBALO was declared winner of the 29 December 2019 runoff presidential election by the electoral commission. In late February 2020, Embalo seized power with the help of the military without being officially inaugurated, even though the Supreme Court of Justice had yet to rule on an electoral litigation appeal lodged by his political rival Domingos Simoes PEREIRA.

election results

Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 24 November 2019 with a runoff on 29 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly; note - the president cannot apply for a third consecutive term, nor during the 5 years following the end of the second term

head of government

Prime Minister Nuno NABIAM (since 27 February 2020)

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

note

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag

Government type

semi-presidential 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, 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, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life

subordinate courts

Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law

Legislative branch

description

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; 100 members directly elected in 27 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 2 elected in single-seat constituencies for citizens living abroad (1 for Africa, 1 for Europe); all members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PAIGC 35.2%, Madem G-15 21.1%, PRS 21.1%, other 22.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 47, Madem G-15 27, PRS 21, other 7; composition - men 88, women 14, percent of women 13.7%

elections

last held on 10 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2023)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He

name

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

note

note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence

National holiday

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

National symbol(s)

black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black

Political parties and leaders

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos SIMOES PEREIRA]Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES]Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 [Braima CAMARA]National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB [Nuno Gomes NABIAM]New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO]Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA]Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

rice, cashew nuts, roots/tubers nes, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, vegetables, coconuts, fruit

Budget

expenditures

263.5 million (2017 est.)

revenues

246.2 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

$16 million (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$27 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2000

$941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2010

$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Economic overview

Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe.Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. Offshore oil and gas exploration has begun. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% of export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities.The government was deposed in August 2015, and since then, a political stalemate has resulted in weak governance and reduced donor support.The country is participating in a three-year, IMF extended credit facility program that was suspended because of a planned bank bailout. The program was renewed in 2017, but the major donors of direct budget support (the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank) have halted their programs indefinitely. Diversification of the economy remains a key policy goal, but Guinea-Bissau’s poor infrastructure and business climate will constrain this effort.

Exchange rates

currency

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

494.42 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

591.45 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

593.01 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

593.01 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

605.3 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2018

$380 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$290 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

cashews, gold, fish, lumber, aluminum ores (2019)

Exports - partners

India 50%, Belgium 28%, Cote d'Ivoire 8% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

26.4% (2017 est.)

government consumption

12% (2017 est.)

household consumption

83.9% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-26.5% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

4.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

50% (2017 est.)

industry

13.1% (2017 est.)

services

36.9% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.339 billion (2019 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2010

50.7 (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

28% (2002)

lowest 10%

2.9%

Imports

Imports 2018

$460 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$500 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, rice, wheat products, soups/broths, malt extract (2019)

Imports - partners

Portugal 31%, Senegal 20%, China 10%, Netherlands 7%, Pakistan 7% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

2.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.6% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

0.3% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

0.2% (2019 est.)

Labor force

731,300 (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

82%

industry and services

18% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

67% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

57.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

53.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$3.56 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$3.73 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$3.64 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

6.1% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

6.3% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

5.9% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$1,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$1,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$1,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$349.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$356.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

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

36.27 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

28,300 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

39 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

7% (2019)

electrification - total population

28% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

56% (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

2,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,625 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2020 est.)

total

2,383 (2020)

Broadcast media

1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) 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 (2019)

Internet country code

.gw

Internet users

percent of population

3.93% (2019 est.)

total

250,000 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 83 per 100 persons (2019)

general assessment

small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the countries telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020)

international

country code - 245; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea-Bissau with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe (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

97.25 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

1,913,858 (2020)

Airports

total

8 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2019)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

2

total

6

under 914 m

3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

J5

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 5, other 3 (2021)

total

8

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Roadways

paved

453 km (2018)

total

4,400 km (2018)

unpaved

3,947 km (2018)

Waterways

(rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)

Military - note

from 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegal

Military and security forces

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Administration: Guard Nacional (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2021)

note

note - the Public Order Police is responsible for maintaining law and order, while the Judicial Police, under the Ministry of Justice, has primary responsibility for investigating drug trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes

Military and security service personnel strengths

the People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP) has approximately 4,000 total active troops, including about 300 Navy and 100 Air Force (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FARP is poorly armed with an inventory consisting of Soviet-era equipment, much of which is reportedly unserviceable; the only reported deliveries of military equipment to  since 2015 were patrol boats from Spain in 2017 and non-lethal equipment from China in 2015; Guinea-Bissau has also discussed acquiring military equipment with Indonesia (2020)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

1.3% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

1.4% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.4% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.7% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.7% of GDP (2020 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 (2019)

Disputes - international

a longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe haven

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

7,757 (Senegal) (2021)

Trafficking in persons

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 — Guinea-Bissau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include identifying forced child begging victims, cooperating with Moroccan authorities on international crime investigations, and approving a new action plan; yet, the government has not convicted a trafficker, identified fewer trafficking victims, and lacked resources or the political will to fight trafficking or to enact its action plan, which would meet minimum standards; Guinea-Bissau was granted a waiver under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from downgrade to Tier 3 (2020)

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.29 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.46 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

27.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation (rampant felling of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Land use

agricultural land

44.8% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.)

forest

55.2% (2018 est.)

other

0% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases

schistosomiasis

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

9.24% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

31.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

144 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

11.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

34.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.6% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

289,514 tons (2015 est.)