arable land: 11.8%
permanent crops: 2.8%
permanent pasture: 43.5%

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 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.
Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile “Parrot’s Beak” region of southwest Guinea a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces as well as anti-refugee violence.

urban: 92.7% of population
rural: 67.4% of population
total: 76.8% of population
urban: 7.3% of population
rural: 32.6% of population
total: 23.2% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 34.1% of population
rural: 11.8% of population
total: 20.1% of population
urban: 65.9% of population
rural: 88.2% of population
total: 79.9% of population (2015 est.)

Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO]
National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]
Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG
Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]
Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves as well as gold and diamonds. In addition Guinea has fertile soil ample rainfall and is the source of several West African rivers including the Senegal Niger and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold bauxite and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth.
Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed international donors including the G-8 the IMF and the World Bank significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012 following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012 Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent combat corruption reform its banking system improve its business environment and build infrastructure. In April 2013 the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014 Guinea also complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts and was found to be compliant. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan focusing on the development of higher value-added products including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy.
The biggest threats to Guinea’s economy are political instability a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic and low international commodity prices. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy however grew by 5.2% in 2016 mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The economy is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2017. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam inaugurated in September 2015 has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An enduring legacy of corruption inefficiency and lack of government transparency combined with fears of Ebola virus continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability.
Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017 agriculture output and public investment will boost economic growth while the mining sector continues to play a prominent role in economic performance.
Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government led by President Alpha CONDE is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development.

$24.38 billion (2016 est.)
$22.57 billion (2015 est.)
$21.57 billion (2014 est.)

6.6% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
3.7% (2014 est.)

$1900 (2016 est.)
$1900 (2015 est.)
$1800 (2014 est.)

-6.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
-8.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
-7% of GDP (2014 est.)

2.4% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)

39.4 (2007)
40.3 (1994)

56% of GDP (2016 est.)
54.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

8.2% (2016 est.)
8.1% (2015 est.)

21.7% (31 December 2016 est.)
23% (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.698 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.12 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.222 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.931 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$2.15 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$-2.706 billion (2016 est.)
$-1.024 billion (2015 est.)

$1.954 billion (2016 est.)
$1.558 billion (2015 est.)

$2.109 billion (2016 est.)
$2.192 billion (2015 est.)

$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$339.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
$1.389 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$69.19 million (31 December 2016 est.)
$68.44 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -
9,085 (2016 est.)
9,085 (2015 est.)
7,486 (2014 est.)
7,014 (2013 est.)
6,986 (2012 est.)

2.49% of GDP (2016)
3.31% of GDP (2015)
2.97% of GDP (2014)
3.16% of GDP (2013)
2.98% of GDP (2012)