top of pageBackground: Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.: For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trades were lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him, but a military mutiny and civil war in 1999 led to VIEIRA's ouster. In 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was then elected president, but he passed away in 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup blocked the second round of the election to replace him, but after mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president in a free and fair election, and in 2019, he became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in 2019, but he did not take office until 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.
Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds: 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: generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior: mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets
Major rivers: Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
Note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
GeographyNote: the Niger and its important tributary, the Milo River, have their sources in the Guinean highlands
Note: this small country is swampy along its western coast and is low-lying inland
top of pagePopulationTotal: 13,986,179 (2024 est.)
Male: 6,985,606
Female: 7,000,573
Total: 2,132,325 (2024 est.)
Male: 1,042,910
Female: 1,089,415
Distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Distribution: approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
Growth rate: 2.74% (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.54% (2024 est.)
Languages: French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages
Note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language: Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
Religions: Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.): Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.)
Age structure0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 453,513/female 448,514)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 561,868/female 602,280)
65 years and over: 3.1% (2024 est.) (male 27,529/female 38,621)
Birth rate: 35.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.): 36 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Death rate: 7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.): 7.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Population distribution: areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map: approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
Drinking water sourceUrban: 8% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 41% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 28.5% of population (2022 est.)
Urban: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
top of pageAdministrative divisions: 7 administrative regions (régions administratives, singular - région administrative) and 1 governorate (gouvenorat)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Legal system: civil law system based on the French model: mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Executive branchChief of state: Interim President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021)
Head of government: Prime Minister Amadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)
Cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term), and the prime minister was appointed by the president
Most recent election date: 18 October 2020
2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%
2015: 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%
Note 1: in 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature
Note 2: the transitional government has not announced a new election timetable
Chief of state: Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025)
Head of government: Interim Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025)
Cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
Most recent election date: 23 November 2025
2025: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) and Fernando DIAS da Costa (PRS) both claimed victory in first round; a coup prevented the release of election results after ballots were destroyed
2019: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% (2019)
Expected date of next election: 2025
Note: elections were held on 23 November 2025; a military coup on 26 November suspended the election process, arrested the sitting president, swore in a transitional president, and appointed a cabinet for one year
Flag description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), yellow, and green: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; a five-pointed black star is centered in the red band
National anthemTitle: 'Liberté' (Liberty)
Lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
History: adopted 1958
Title: 'Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada' (This is Our Beloved Country)
Lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
History: adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to fight for independence
top of pageReal gdp growth rate: 5.7% (2024 est.); 5.5% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency: 4.8% (2024 est.); 4.5% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real gdp per capita: 5.7% (2024 est.); 5.5% (2023 est.); 4% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency: 4.8% (2024 est.); 4.5% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency: 8% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Labor force: 4.534 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work: 845,300 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2024 est.); 5.3% (2023 est.); 5.3% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment: 2.7% (2024 est.); 2.7% (2023 est.); 2.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
BudgetRevenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)
Revenues: $269.794 million (2023 est.)
Expenditures: $450.953 million (2023 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Exports: $12.008 billion (2023 est.); $8.898 billion (2022 est.); $10.266 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars: $284.5 million (2023 est.); $280.065 million (2022 est.); $334.904 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Commodities: coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, fish, fish oil, processed crustaceans, malt extract (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports: $8.365 billion (2023 est.); $5.749 billion (2022 est.); $5.353 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars: $592.095 million (2023 est.); $577.899 million (2022 est.); $518.162 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, iron bars, rice, plastics, flavored water (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
top of pagetop of pagetop of pageMilitary expenditures: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.); 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.): 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.); 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
top of pageGuinea - Transnational issues 2025
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