Map of Guinea | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


Background: Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th 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 18th 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 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century.


top of page


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:

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

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 226 billion cubic meters (2020 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


top of page


Population
Distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this [link]: 13,607,249 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 2.75% (2023 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 as of 2022 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: 40.96% (male 2,809,865/female 2,763,294)
15-64 years: 55.05% (male 3,741,047/female 3,749,281)
65 years and over: 4% (2023 est.) (male 245,323/female 298,439)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 82.4
Youth dependency ratio: 76.3
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.1
Potential support ratio: 16.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.3 years (2023 est.)
Male: 19.1 years
Female: 19.6 years

Population growth rate: 2.75% (2023 est.)

Birth rate: 35.5 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this [link]

Urbanization
Urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)

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: 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio: 553 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 48.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 53 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 43.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 64.3 years (2023 est.)
Male: 62.4 years
Female: 66.2 years

Total fertility rate: 4.82 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 10.9% (2018)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.5% of population
Improved rural: 76.9% of population
Improved total: 85.2% of population
Unimproved urban: 0.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 23.1% of population
Unimproved total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)

Current health expenditure: 4% of GDP (2020)

Physicians density: 0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2023)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis
Animal contact diseases: rabies
Aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever
Note: on 20 September 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated a Travel Health Alert for a diphtheria outbreak in several states in Guinea; vaccination against diphtheria is essential to protect against disease; if you are traveling to an affected area, you should be up to date with your diphtheria vaccines; before travel, discuss the need for a booster dose with your healthcare professional; diphtheria is a serious infection caused by strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria that make a toxin from which people get very sick; diphtheria bacteria spread from person to person through respiratory droplets like from coughing or sneezing; people can also get sick from touching open sores or ulcers of people sick with diphtheria (see attached map)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

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

Education expenditures: 2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 45.3%
Male: 61.2%
Female: 31.3% (2021)

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

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 8.2% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 9.2%


top of page


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 (administrative regions) and 1 gouvenorat (governorate)*; 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; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d’etat; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated
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 descent only: 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 in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president
Head of government: Prime Minister Bernard GOMOU (since 20 August 2022); note - GOMOU had been acting prime minister since 16 July 2022 replacing Mohamed BEAVOGUI who stepped down due to health reasons
Cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - on 5 September 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature
Elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020; note - a new election time table has not been announced by the transitional government
Election results:

Legislative branch
Description: formerly the People's National Assembly; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 22 January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed
Elections: 81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022
Election results: 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president; the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties

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 - suspended on 5 September 2021
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 9-year terms until age 65
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, 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, 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 Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)  
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022)
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/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
Note: adopted 1958

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:


top of page


Economy overview: growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita:
Note: data are in 2017 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: 3.9% (2021 est.)

Labor force: 4.89 million (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 8.2% (2021 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 7%
Rate ages 15 24 female: 9.2%

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

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 29.6 (2018 est.)

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

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)
Surplus  or deficit: -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

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

Public debt:

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:

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:

Exports:
Partners: United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019)
Commodities: gold, aluminum ores and oxide, iron ores, cocoa beans, cashews, frozen fish (2021)

Imports:
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:

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access population without electricity: 7 million (2020)
Access electrification-total population: 46.8% (2021)
Access electrification-urban areas: 89.8% (2021)
Access electrification-rural areas: 21.2% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 992,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 1.781 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 280 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 22.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 77.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 19,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

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

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 2.981 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.981 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 4.133 million Btu/person (2019 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 13.795 million (2020 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105 (2020 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media: Government maintains 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: 4.9 million (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 35% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.)


top of page


Military expenditures:

Military and security forces: National (or Guinean) 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 (2023)
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: 18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X

Airports: 16 (2021)
With paved runways: 4
With paved runways note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
With unpaved runways: 12
With unpaved runways note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control

Heliports

Pipelines

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

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

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

Merchant marine
Total: 3 (2022)
By type: general cargo 1, other 2

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Conakry, Kamsar


top of page


Disputes international:

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: NA