World Facts Index
 Guinea
has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958.
Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government
after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold
democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military
government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected
in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls have been marred by
irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover
effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have
rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has
increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with
corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third
nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities
and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest,
CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.
Geography of Guinea
|
Location:
|
Western Africa, bordering
the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone |
|
Coordinates:
|
11 00 N, 10 00 W |
|
Area:
|
total: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 245,857 sq km |
|
Area comparative:
|
slightly smaller than
Oregon |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 3,399 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km,
Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km |
|
Coastline:
|
320 km |
|
Maritime claims:
|
exclusive economic zone:
200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
|
generally hot and humid;
monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds;
dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds |
|
Terrain:
|
generally flat coastal
plain, hilly to mountainous interior |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
bauxite, iron ore,
diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish |
|
Natural hazards:
|
hot, dry, dusty harmattan
haze may reduce visibility during dry season |
|
Environment current issues:
|
deforestation; inadequate
supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and
erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining
practices have led to environmental damage |
|
Geography - note:
|
the Niger and its important
tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
|
Population of Guinea
|
Population:
|
9,806,509 (July 2008 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236) |
|
Median age:
|
17.7 years |
|
Growth rate:
|
2.63% |
|
Net migration rate:
|
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to
approximately 141,500 refugees from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone |
|
Infant mortality:
|
90 deaths/1,000 live births |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 49.5 years
male: 48.34 years
female: 50.7 years |
|
Fertility rate:
|
5.79 children born/woman |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%,
smaller ethnic groups 10% |
|
Religions:
|
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous
beliefs 7% |
|
Languages:
|
French (official), each ethnic group has
its own language |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9%
|
Government
|
Country name:
|
conventional long form: Republic of
Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee |
|
Government type:
|
republic |
|
Capital:
|
Conakry |
|
Administrative divisions:
|
33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone
special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka,
Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou,
Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana,
Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou |
|
Independence:
|
2 October 1958 (from France) |
|
National holiday:
|
Independence Day, 2 October (1958) |
|
Constitution:
|
23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale) |
|
Legal system:
|
based on French civil law system, customary
law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction |
|
Suffrage:
|
18 years of age; universal |
|
Executive branch:
|
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of
military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term
limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected
president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December
2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president. |
|
Legislative branch:
|
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
five-year terms) |
|
Judicial branch:
|
Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel |
Economy
Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet
remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's
bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector
accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal
arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is
to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant
corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled
workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President
Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which
cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical
advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to
return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily
due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but
the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the
prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most
Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes
in February and June 2006.
|
GDP:
|
$10.96 billion (2007 est.) |
|
GDP growth rate:
|
2% |
|
GDP per capita:
|
$2,000 |
|
GDP composition by sector:
|
agriculture: 23.7%
industry: 36.2%
services: 40.1% |
|
Inflation rate:
|
25% |
|
Labor force:
|
3 million |
|
Labor force - by occupation:
|
agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% |
|
Budget:
|
revenues: $395.7 million
expenditures: $472.4 million, including capital expenditures |
|
Electricity production by source:
|
fossil fuel: 45.5%
hydro: 54.5%
other: 0% |
|
Industries:
|
bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining;
light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries |
|
Agriculture:
|
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels,
cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber |
|
Exports:
|
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee,
fish, agricultural products |
|
Export partners:
|
Russia 18.5%, Spain 12.5%, US 7.5%, Switzerland 7.2%,
France 7.1%, Ireland 6.3%, Belgium 6%, Germany 5.4% |
|
Imports:
|
petroleum products, metals, machinery,
transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs |
|
Import partners:
|
China 8.8%, US 7.6%, France 7.5%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.4%,
Italy 4.8%, Belgium 4% |
|
Currency:
|
Guinean franc (GNF) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
Copyright 2004 - 2008 worldfacts.us |