Background: Independent from France since 1958 Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president in disputed balloting. Security clampdowns continue although not as severe as in earlier decades.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 245,860 km²
Land: 245,860 km²

Land boundaries: total 3,399 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Cote d'Ivoire 610 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

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

Land use
Arable land: 6%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 12%
Forest and woodland: 42%
Other: 40%

Irrigated land: 240 km² (1989 est.)

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

Population: 6,391,536 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.45% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Guinean(s)

Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, indigenous tribes 10%

Languages: French (official; each tribe has its own language

Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Population growth rate: 2.45% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 44.08 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 19.6 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of safe drinking water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion

Infant mortality rate: 139.2 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 44.13 years
Male: 41.9 years
Female: 46.43 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.85 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 24%
Male: 35%
Female: 13%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
Conventional short form:
Former: French Guinea

Government type: republic

Capital: Conakry

Administrative divisions: 33 administrative regions (regions administratives, singular - region administrative; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, 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: Anniversary of the Second Republic, 3 April (1984)

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: none

Executive branch: chief of state and head of government:President Lansana CONTE, elected in the first multi-party election 19 December 1993 prior to the election he had ruled as head of military government since 5 April 1984

Legislative branch: Army, Navy (acts primarily as a coast guard), Air Force, Presidential Guard, Republican Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force
People's National Assembly Assemblee Nationale Populaire: the People's National Assembly was dissolved after the 3 April 1984 coup; framework established in December 1991 for a new National Assembly with 114 seats; legislative elections are scheduled for 1994

Judicial branch: Court of Appeal (Cour d'Appel)

International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEAO (observer), ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM
From the us chancery: 2,112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
From the us telephone: (224) 44-15-20 through 24
From the us fax: (224) 44-15-22
From the us embassy: 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry
From the us mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry

Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band

Economy overview: Although possessing major mineral and hydropower resources and considerable potential for agricultural development, Guinea remains one of the poorest countries in the world. The agricultural sector contributes about 40% to GDP and employs more than 80% of the work force, while industry accounts for 27% of GDP. Guinea possesses over 25% of the world's bauxite reserves. The mining sector accounted for 85% of exports in 1991. Long-run improvements in literacy, financial institutions, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Except in the bauxite industry, foreign investment remains minimal.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.2% (1992 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $500 (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 40% of GDP (includes fishing and forestry; mostly subsistence farming; principal products - rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava, bananas, sweet potatoes, timber; livestock - cattle, sheep and goats; not self-sufficient in food grains

Industries: bauxite mining, alumina, gold, diamond mining, light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Industrial production growth rate: NA%; accounts for 27% of GDP

Labor force: 2.4 million (1983)
By occupation agriculture: 82.0%
By occupation industry and commerce: 11.0%
By occupation services: 5.4%
By occupation note: 88,112 civil servants (1987); 52% of population of working age (1985)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$449 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodities: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples, bananas, palm kernels
Partners: US 23%, Belgium 12%, Ireland 12%, Spain 12%

Imports: $768 million (c.i.f., 1992 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, and other grain
Partners: France 26%, Cote d'Ivoire 12%, Hong Kong 6%, Germany 6%

Debt external: 2.5 billion (1992)

Exchange rates: Guinean francs (FG) per US$1 - 810.94 (1 July 1993), 922.9 (30 September 1992), 675 (1990), 618 (1989), 515 (1988), 440 (1987), 383 (1986)

Electricity
Capacity: 113,000 kW
Production: 300 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 40 kWh (1989)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $29 million, 1.2% of GDP (1988)

Airports: 15
Usable: 15
With permanentsurface runways: 4
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 3
With runways 1220-2439 m: 10

Waterways: 1,295 km navigable by shallow-draft native craft

Disputes international: none