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

Area
Total area total: 245,860 km²
Land: 245,860 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

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.)

Population: 6,549,336 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guinean(s)
Adjective: Guinean

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

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

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

Age structure
0-14 years: 44% (female 1,450,501; male 1,448,164)
15-64 years: 53% (female 1,784,420; male 1,691,502)
65 years and over: 3% (female 102,735; male 72,014) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 43.43 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 19.13 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Note: Guinea has received about 400,000 refugees from the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone; the continued fighting in Sierra Leone will likely drive more refugees into Guinea in 1995; on the other hand, peace may be achieved in Liberia and permit Liberian refugees to return home

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing
Current issues natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Desertification

Infant mortality rate: 136.6 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 44.6 years
Male: 42.31 years
Female: 46.95 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.79 children born/woman (1995 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: Guinea
Local long form: Republique de Guinee
Local short form: Guinee
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: 18 years of age; universal

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
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
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, tentatively scheduled for 1994, were not held and are now rescheduled for 11 June 1995

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

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Elhadj Boubacar BARRY
In the us chancery: 2,112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 483-9,420
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 483-8,688
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. SALOOM III
From the us embassy: 2nd Boulevard and 9th Avenue, Conakry
From the us mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
From the us telephone: [224] 44 15 20 through 44 15 23
From the us FAX: [224] 44 15 22

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 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: 0.8% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $980 (1994 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: mining - bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; 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: 80.0%
By occupation industry and commerce: 11.0%
By occupation services: 5.4%
By occupation civilservants: 3.6%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $449 million
Expenditures: $708 million, including capital expenditures of $361 million (1990 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $622 million (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: 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.)
Commodoties: 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: 180,000 kW
Production: 520 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 77 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 15,000 telephones; poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiocommunication stations, and new radio relay system
Local: NA
Intercity: microwave radio relay and radio communication stations
International: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $50 million, 1.6% of GDP (1994)

Airports: 15
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 2
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 7
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3

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

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none