Background: Guinea is at a turning point after decades of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Sekou TOURE ruled the country as president from independence to his death in 1984. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after TOURE's death. Gen. CONTE organized and won presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003, though all the polls were rigged. Upon CONTE's death in December 2008, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that peaked in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by Gen. Sekouba KONATE paved the way for Guinea's transition to a fledgling democracy. The country held its first free and competitive democratic presidential and legislative elections in 2010 and 2013 respectively, and in October 2015 held a second consecutive presidential election. Alpha CONDE was reelected to a second five-year term as president in 2015, and the National Assembly was seated in January 2014. CONDE's first cabinet is the first all-civilian government in Guinea. The country held a successful political dialogue in August and September 2016 that brought together the government and opposition to address long-standing tensions.

Geographic coordinates: 11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 245,857 km²
Land: 245,717 km²
Water: 140 km²
Rank: 80
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 4,046 km
Border countries: (6) Cote dIvoire 816 km; , Guinea-Bissau 421 km; , Liberia 590 km; , Mali 1062 km; , Senegal 363 km; , Sierra Leone 794 km

Coastline: 320 km

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

Elevation
Mean elevation: 472 m
Elevation extremes: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 58.1% (2011 est.)
Forest: 26.5% (2011 est.)
Other: 15.4% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land: 950 km² (2012)

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

Geography
Note: the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands

Population
Distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated: 11,855,411 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 75
Growth rate: 2.75% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 13
Below poverty line: 47% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Guinean(s)
Adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups: Fulani (Peul) 32.1%, Malinke 29.8%, Susu 19.8%, Guerze 6.2%, Kissi 4.7%, Toma 2.8%, other/no answer 4.6% (2012 est.)

Languages:

Religions: Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other .1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.)

Demographic profile: 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.

Age structure
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 2,473,486 /female 2,435,139)
15-24 years: 19.23% (male 1,145,488 /female 1,134,103)
25-54 years: 30.8% (male 1,827,246 /female 1,824,162)
55-64 years: 4.72% (male 269,995 /female 289,164)
65 years and over: 3.85% (male 203,754 /female 252,874) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 84.2 (2015 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 78.6 (2015 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2015 est.)
Potential support ratio: 17.8 (2015 est.)

Median age
Total: 19 years
Male: 18.8 years
Female: 19.3 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 204

Population growth rate: 2.75% (2018 est.)
Rank: 13

Birth rate: 36.4 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 16

Death rate: 8.9 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 64

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 84

Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated

Urbanization
Urban population: 36.1% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 3.54% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 1.843 million CONAKRY (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth:

Infant mortality rate
Total: 55.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 60.4 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 50.1 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 19

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 62.1 years (2018 est.)
Male: 60.4 years (2018 est.)
Female: 64 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 201

Total fertility rate: 4.98 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 14

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 8.7% (2016)

Drinking water source
Urban: 7.3% of population
Rural: 32.6% of population
Total: 23.2% of population (2015 est.)

Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 65.9% of population (2015 est.)
Rural: 88.2% of population (2015 est.)
Total: 79.9% of population (2015 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 1.5% (2017 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 33
People living with hivaids: 120,000 (2017 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 39
Deaths: 5,100 (2017 est.)
Deaths rank: 27

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high (2016)
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
Vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever (2016)
Water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
Animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
Aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016)

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 7.7% (2016)
Rank: 158

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.3% (2016)
Rank: 30

Education expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 166

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
Total population: 30.4% (2015 est.)
Male: 38.1% (2015 est.)
Female: 22.8% (2015 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 9 years (2014)
Male: 10 years (2014)
Female: 8 years (2014)

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
Etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Conakry
Geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions: 7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

Independence: 2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution
History: previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010 (2017)
Amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote (2017)

Legal system: civil law system based on the French model

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: na

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010)
Head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima FOFANA (since 22 May 2018)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 October 2015 (next to be held in 2020); prime minister appointed by the president
Election results: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 57.8%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 31.4%, other 10.8%

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Peoples National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; 76 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 38 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: last held on 28 September 2013 (next to be held in late 2018)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPG 53, UFDG 37, UFR 10, PEDN 2, UPG 2, other 10

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, at least 4 councillors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms
Subordinate courts: includes Court of Appeal or Cour dAppel; courts of first instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; High Court of Justice or Cour dAssises; labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts

Political parties and leaders: 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 UPGUnion of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Kerfalla YANSANE (since 24 January 2018)
In the us chancery: 2,112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 986-4,300
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 986-3,800
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis B. HANKINS (since December 2015)
From the us embassy: Koloma, Conakry, across from Radio Television de Guinee
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
From the us telephone: [224] 655-10-40-00
From the us FAX: [224] 655-10-42-97

Flag description:

National symbols: elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

National anthem
Name: Liberte (Liberty)
Lyricsmusic: unknown/Fodeba KEITA: note: adopted 1958

Economy overview: 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 complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. 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.Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea’s future growth. 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 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An 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 boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 138

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 8

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 205

Gross national saving:
Rank: 176

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.)
Industry: 32.1% (2017 est.)
Services: 48.1% (2017 est.)

Agriculture products: rice, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, palm kernels, cocoa, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, potatoes, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate: 11% (2017 est.)
Rank: 9

Labor force: 5.558 million (2017 est.)
Rank: 75
By occupation agriculture: 76%
By occupation industry: 24% (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 28

Population below poverty line: 47% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 30.3% (2007)
Highest 10: 30.3% (2007)

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 72

Budget
Revenues: 1.7 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 1.748 billion (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit: -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 61

Taxes and other revenues: 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Rank: 178

Public debt:
Rank: 137

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 200

Central bank discount rate: 22.25% (31 December 2005)
Rank: 2

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Rank: 10

Stock of narrow money:
Rank: 135

Stock of broad money:
Rank: 144

Stock of domestic credit:
Rank: 157

Market value of publicly traded shares: NA

Current account balance:
Rank: 128

Exports:
Rank: 124
Partners: China 35.8%, Ghana 20.1%, UAE 11.6%, India 4.3% (2017)
Commodities: bauxite, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Imports:
Rank: 133
Commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Partners: Netherlands 17.2%, China 13.2%, India 11.8%, Belgium 10%, France 6.9%, UAE 4.5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Rank: 165

Debt external:
Rank: 160

Stock of direct foreign investment at home:
Rank: 114

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad:
Rank: 118

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access population without electricity: 8.7 million (2013)
Access electrification total population: 26% (2013)
Access electrification urban areas: 53% (2013)
Access electrification rural areas: 11% (2013)
Production: 598 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 162
Consumption: 556.1 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 168
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 144
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 156
Installed generating capacity: 550,000 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 145
Generation sources fossil fuels: 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 182
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 103
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 20
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 190

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 144
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 133
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 137
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 141

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products production rank: 153
Products consumption: 19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 143
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 162
Products imports: 18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 128

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 142
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 155
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 117
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 135
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 143

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 2.794 million Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 149

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 0 (2017 est.)
Fixed lines date: (2017 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 219
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 10.8 million (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 81

Telephone system
General assessment: huge improvement over the last 10 years; the capital and the regional administrative centers have 3G access; in 2013 the set up of an IXP (Internet Exchange Point) will reduce cost of internet bandwith and improve infrastructure (2017)
Domestic: there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now approaches 90 per 100 persons (2017)
International: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); first international fibre optic submarine cable installed in 2012 (2017)

Broadcast media: government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)

Internet
Country code: .gn
Users total: 1,185,148 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 9.8% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 130

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1100 (2017 est.)
Date: (2017 est.)
Rank: 190

Military expenditures:
Rank: 38

Military service age and obligation: no compulsory military service (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3X (2016)

Airports: 16 (2013)
Rank: 143
With paved runways total: 4 (2017)
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 12 (2013)
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 7 (2013)
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 3 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Railways
Total: 1086 km (2017)
Standard gauge: 279 km
Note: 1.000-m gauge (2017)
Narrow gauge: 807 km
Rank: 88

Roadways
Total: 44,348 km (2003)
Paved: 4,342 km (2003)
Unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
Rank: 81

Waterways: 1300 km
Note: (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011)
Rank: 54

Merchant marine
Total: 1 (2017)
By type: other 1 (2017)
Rank: 172

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Conakry, Kamsar

Disputes international: Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998