Map of Guinea | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11^th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms all competing for regional dominance. In the 13^th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18^th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16^th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19^th century.


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Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 245,857 km²
Land: 245,717 km²
Water: 140 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania

Land boundaries
Total: 4,046 km
Border countries: (6) Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; , Guinea-Bissau 421 km; , Liberia 590 km; , Mali 1062 km; , Senegal 363 km; , Sierra Leone 794 km

Coastline: 320 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 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
Highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 472 m

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Land use
Agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.)
Forest: 26.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 15.4% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 950 km² (2012)

Major rivers
By length in km: Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambia river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km


Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 km²), Senegal (456,397 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Industrial: 56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Agricultural: 292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Geography
Note: the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands


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Population
Distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated : 12,877,894 (July 2021 est.)
Growth rate: 2.76% (2021 est.)
Below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guinean(s)
Adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups: Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

Languages: French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages
Note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

Religions: Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.)

Demographic profile: Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.

Age structure
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 2,601,221/female 2,559,918)
15-24 years: 19.32% (male 1,215,654/female 1,204,366)
25-54 years: 30.85% (male 1,933,141/female 1,930,977)
55-64 years: 4.73% (male 287,448/female 305,420)
65 years and over: 3.91% (male 218,803/female 270,492) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 85.2
Youth dependency ratio: 79.7
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5
Potential support ratio: 18.3 (2020 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.1 years
Male: 18.9 years
Female: 19.4 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.76% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 35.86 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 8.28 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 est.)

Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated

Urbanization
Urban population: 37.3% of total population (2021)
Rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.991 million CONAKRY (capital) (2021)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.9 years (2018 est.)
Note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 50.99 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 55.83 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 46 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 63.53 years
Male: 61.7 years
Female: 65.42 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.89 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 10.9% (2018)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 97.9% of population
Improved rural: 69.8% of population
Improved total: 79.9% of population
Unimproved urban: 2.1% of population
Unimproved rural: 27.6% of population
Unimproved total: 20.1% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: 3.9% (2018)

Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 85.6% of population
Improved rural: 34.8% of population
Improved total: 53% of population
Unimproved urban: 14.4% of population
Unimproved rural: 65.2% of population
Unimproved total: 47% of population (2017 est.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.4% (2020 est.)
People living with hivaids: 110,000 (2020 est.)
Deaths: 3,300 (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2020)
Food or water borne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vector borne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
Watercontactdiseases: schistosomiasis
Animalcontactdiseases: rabies
Aerosolizeddustorsoilcontactdiseases: Lassa fever (2016)
Note: on 14 February 2021, the Guinea government declared an outbreak of Ebola in N'Zerekore; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Travel Advisory recommending travelers avoid non-essential travel to Guinea; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 16.3% (2018)

Education expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2020)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 39.6%
Male: 54.4%
Female: 27.7% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years
Male: 10 years
Female: 8 years (2014)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 7.1%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 6.1%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 7.9% (2019 est.)


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
Conventional short form: Guinea
Local long form: Republique de Guinee
Local short form: Guinee
Former: French Guinea
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

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Conakry
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name 'Cona,' a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word 'nakiri,' which in Susu means 'the other bank' or 'the other side'; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: 'I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri),' which over time became Conakry

Administrative divisions: 7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

Dependent areas

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution
History: previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020

Legal system: civil law system based on the French model

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descentonly: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: na

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature. On 1 October 2021, Doumbouya was sworn in as transitional president.
Head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed BEAVOGUI (since 6 October 2021); note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government of Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory FOFANA
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections and appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; 76 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 38 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 21 March 2020 (next to be held 1 March 2,027)
Election results: In parliamentary elections, the Rally of the Guinean People-Rainbow wins 57.5% of the vote (79 of 114 seats), the Democratic Union of Guinea 5.3% (4), the Democratic Popular Movement of Guinea 4.1% (3), and the New Democratic Forces 2.8% (3). Turnout is 58.0%. The military junta dissolved the legislature in September 2021 after military officers overthrew President Alpha CONDE. Junta leaders intend to create a transitional legislature by appointment. New legislative elections will be held on an unspecified date in the future.

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kerfalla YANSANE (since 24 January 2018)
In the us chancery: 2,112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 986-4,300
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 986-3,800
In the us email address and website: [link]
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since September 2020)
From the us embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
From the us mailing address: 2,110 Conakry Place, Washington DC  20,521-2,110
From the us telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
From the us FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97
From the us email address and website:

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity
Note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

National symbols: elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

National anthem
Name: 'Liberte' (Liberty)
Lyrics and music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
Note: adopted 1958

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 8.2% (2017 est.)

10.5% (2016 est.)

3.8% (2015 est.)

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2010 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 32.1% (2017 est.)
Services: 48.1% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables

Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2017 est.)

Labor force: 5.558 million (2017 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 76%
By occupation industry: 24% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate: 2.7% (2017 est.)

2.8% (2016 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15-24 total: 7.1%
Rate ages 15-24 male: 6.1%
Rate ages 15-24 female: 7.9% (2019 est.)

Population below poverty line: 43.7% (2018 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 33.7 (2012 est.)

40.3 (1994)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 2.7%
Highest 10: 30.3% (2007)

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.7 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: $1.748 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources forest revenues: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 9.4% (2019 est.)

9.8% (2018 est.)

8.9% (2017 est.)

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$705 million (2017 est.)

-$2.705 billion (2016 est.)

Exports: $4.04 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$4.08 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$4.733 billion (2017 est.)
Partners: United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019)
Commodities: aluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019)

Imports: $4.32 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.)

$4.18 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

$7.317 billion (2017 est.)
Partners: China 39%, India 8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Commodities: rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)

$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt external: $1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 46% (2019)
Access electrification urban areas: 84% (2019)
Access electrification rural areas: 24% (2019)
Production: 598 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption: 556.1 million kWh (2016 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 550,000 kW (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 0 (2018)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 12.873 million (2019)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100.8 (2019 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services 

Internet
Country code: .gn
Users total: 2.91 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 18% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,250 (2019)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)


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Military expenditures: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

2% of GDP (2019)

2.3% of GDP (2018)

2.5% of GDP (2017)

2.5% of GDP (2016)

Military and security forces: National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2021)

note - the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials

Military service age and obligation: no compulsory military service (2021)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X

Airports
Total: 16 (2013)
With paved runways total: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2019)
With unpaved runways total: 12
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 1,086 km (2017)
Standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge (2017)
Narrowgauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (2017)

Roadways
Total: 44,301 km (2018)
Paved: 3,346 km (2018)
Unpaved: 40,955 km (2018)

Waterways: 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011)

Merchant marine
Total: 2
By type: other 2 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Conakry, Kamsar


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Disputes international: Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs