Background: In 1994 20 years after independence from Portugal the country's first multiparty legislative and presidential elections were held.

Map reference: Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total area total: 36,120 km²
Land: 28,000 km²

Land boundaries: total 724 km, Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Coastline: 350 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Natural resources: unexploited deposits of petroleum, bauxite, phosphates, fish, timber

Land use
Arable land: 11%
Permanent crops: 1%
Meadows and pastures: 43%
Forest and woodland: 38%
Other: 7%

Irrigated land: NA km²

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

Population: 1,098,231 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 2.37% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Guinea-Bissauan(s)

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Population growth rate: 2.37% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 40.75 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 17.03 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

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

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing

Infant mortality rate: 120 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.44 years
Male: 45.79 years
Female: 49.15 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.51 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 36%
Male: 50%
Female: 24%

Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Conventional short form:
Former: Portuguese Guinea

Government type: republic formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991

Capital: Bissau

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao; Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974)

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state and head of government: President of the Council of State Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980 and was elected President of Council of State on 16 May 1984); election last held 19 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results - Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA was reelected without opposition by the National People's Assembly
Council of State: this body is elected by the National People's Assembly from among its own members to legislate between sessions of the National People's Assembly

Legislative branch: People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; including Army, Navy, Air Force), paramilitary force
National Peoples Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 15 June 1989 (next to be held 3 July 1994); results - PAIGC was the only party; seats - (150 total) PAIGC 150

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council of Ministers

International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE
From the us chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20,006
From the us telephone: [245] 25-2,273, 25-2,274, 25-2,275, 25-2,276
From the us fax: (202) 872-4,226
From the us embassy: Barrio de Penha, Bissau
From the us mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
From the us FAX: [245] 25-2,282

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; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Cape Verde, which has the black star raised above the center of the red band and is framed by two corn stalks and a yellow clam shell

Economy overview: Guinea-Bissau ranks among the poorest countries in the world, with a per capita GDP of roughly $800. Agriculture and fishing are the main economic activities. Cashew nuts, peanuts, and palm kernels are the primary exports. Exploitation of known mineral deposits is unlikely at present because of a weak infrastructure and the high cost of development.

Real gdp growth rate: NA

Real gdp per capita: $800 (1993 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for over 45% of GDP, nearly 100% of exports, and 90% of employment; rice is the staple food; other crops include corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, and cotton; not self-sufficient in food; fishing and forestry potential not fully exploited

Industries: agricultural processing, beer, soft drinks

Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (1991 est.), accounts for 5% of GDP

Labor force: 403,000 (est.)
By occupation agriculture: 90%
By occupation industry services and commerce: 5%
By occupation government: 5%
By occupation note: population of working age 53% (1983)

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues:$33.6 million

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $20.4 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodities: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
Partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria

Imports: $63.5 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
Commodities: foodstuffs, transport equipment, petroleum products, machinery and equipment
Partners: Portugal, Netherlands, China, Germany, Senegal

Debt external: $462 million (December 1990 est.)

Exchange rates: Guinea-Bissauan pesos (PG) per US$1 - 11,850 (December 1993), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990), 1,810 (1989)

Electricity
Capacity: 22,000 kW
Production: 30 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 30 kWh (1991)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: exchange rate conversion - $9.3 million, 5%-6% of GDP (1987)

Airports: 32
Usable: 16
With permanentsurface runways: 4
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 1
With runways 1220-2439 m: 5

Waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce

Disputes international: Guinea-Bissau and Senegal signed an agreement resolving their maritime boundary in 1993