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

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total area total: 36,120 km²
Land: 28,000 km²
Comparative: slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

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

Population: 1,124,537 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s)
Adjective: Guinea-Bissauan

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%

Age structure
0-14 years: 43% (female 242,518; male 243,093)
15-64 years: 54% (female 320,987; male 286,308)
65 years and over: 3% (female 16,129; male 15,502) (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.36% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 40.24 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 16.62 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Current issues natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Current issues international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Infant mortality rate: 117.9 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.87 years
Male: 46.21 years
Female: 49.57 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1995 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: Guinea-Bissau
Local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau
Local short form: Guine-Bissau
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: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980); election last held August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%
Head of government: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November 1994
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Peoples Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1

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, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIL, UNOMOZ, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alfredo Lopes CABRAL
In the us chancery: 918 16th Street NW, Mezzanine Suite, Washington, DC 20,006
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 872-4,222
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 872-4,226
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. McGUIRE
From the us embassy: Bairro de Penha, Bissau
From the us mailing address: C.P. 297, 1067 Bissau Codex, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
From the us telephone: [245] 252,273, 252,274, 252,275, 252,276
From the us FAX: [245] 252,282

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. 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. With IMF support the country is committed to an economic reform program emphasizing monetary stability and private sector growth. This process will continue at a slow pace because of a heavy foreign debt burden and internal constraints.

Real gdp growth rate: 2.9% (1993 est.)

Real gdp per capita: $840 (1994 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: NA (1991 est.), accounts for 8% of GDP

Labor force: 403,000 (est.)
By occupation agriculture: 90%
By occupation industry services and commerce: 5%
By occupation government: 5%

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget
Revenues: $33.6 million
Expenditures: $44.8 million, including capital expenditures of $570,000 (1991 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports: $19 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels
Partners: Portugal, Spain, Senegal, India, Nigeria

Imports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: 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 - 14,482 (December 1994), 12,892 (1994), 10,082 (1993), 6,934 (1992), 3,659 (1991), 2,185 (1990)

Electricity
Capacity: 22,000 kW
Production: 40 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 37 kWh (1993)

Telephone system: 3,000 telephones; poor system; telephone density - 2.7 telephones/1000 persons
Local: NA
Intercity: combination of microwave radio relay, open wire lines and radiocommunications
International: NA

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $9 million, 4.5% of GDP (1994)

Airports: 32
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 2
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 22
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6

Waterways: scattered stretches are important to coastal commerce

Merchant marine: none

Disputes international: none