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Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free election. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was overthrown in a bloodless military coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup in April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place. Following mediation by the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power in 2012 and remained until Jose Mario VAZ won free and fair elections in 2014.
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Geography :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Africa
total: 36,125 sq km
land: 28,120 sq km
water: 8,005 sq km
country comparison to the world:
138slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
total: 762 km
border countries (2): Guinea 421 km, Senegal 341 km
350 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
agricultural land: 44.8%
arable land 8.2%; permanent crops 6.9%; permanent pasture 29.7%
forest: 55.2%
other: 0% (2011 est.)
225.6 sq km (2003)
31 cu km (2011)
total: 0.18 cu km/yr (18%/6%/76%)
per capita: 135.7 cu m/yr (2005)
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland
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People and Society :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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noun: Bissau-Guinean(s)
adjective: Bissau-Guinean
Fula 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)
Crioulo 90.4%, Portuguese 27.1% (official), French 5.1%, English 2.9%, other 2.4%
note: shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2008 est.)
Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)
1,726,170 (July 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1530-14 years: 39.53% (male 340,575/female 341,747)
15-24 years: 20.18% (male 172,787/female 175,511)
25-54 years: 32.3% (male 277,820/female 279,762)
55-64 years: 4.66% (male 30,010/female 50,354)
65 years and over: 3.34% (male 21,671/female 35,933) (2015 est.)
population pyramid:
total dependency ratio: 78.4%
youth dependency ratio: 72.8%
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7%
potential support ratio: 17.7% (2015 est.)
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.4 years
female: 20.4 years (2015 est.)
1.91% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
5633.38 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
3114.33 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
40 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
94urban population: 49.3% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 4.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
BISSAU (capital) 492,000 (2015)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.6 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
total: 89.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
5total population: 50.23 years
male: 48.21 years
female: 52.31 years (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2234.23 children born/woman (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
3214.2% (2010)
5.5% of GDP (2013)
country comparison to the world:
1160.1 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
1 beds/1,000 population (2009)
improved:
urban: 98.8% of population
rural: 60.3% of population
total: 79.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.2% of population
rural: 39.7% of population
total: 20.7% of population (2015 est.)
improved:
urban: 33.5% of population
rural: 8.5% of population
total: 20.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 66.5% of population
rural: 91.5% of population
total: 79.2% of population (2015 est.)
3.69% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1742,000 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
591,900 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
57degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
6.3% (2014)
country comparison to the world:
15918.1% (2010)
country comparison to the world:
35NA
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.9%
male: 71.8%
female: 48.3% (2015 est.)
total: 9 years
male: NA
female: NA (2006)
total number: 226,316
percentage: 57% (2010 est.)
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Government :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
republic
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
promulgated 16 May 1984; amended several times, last in 1996; note - constitution suspended following military coup in April 2012 (2013)
mixed legal system of civil law which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by early French civil code and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Josse Mario VAZ (since 17 June 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos CORREIA (since 17 September 2015); the initial appointment of Baciro DJA in August was nullified by the Supreme Court and he resigned
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in two rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 April 2014 with a runoff on 18 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
election results: first round - Jose Mario VAZ (PAIGC) 41%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (independent) 25.1%, other 33.9%; Jose Mario VAZ elected president in second round - Jose Mario VAZ 61.9%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM 38.1%
description: unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 48.0%, PRS 30.8%, other parties 21.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 57, PRS 41, other 4
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Suprema Tribunal Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction
judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president with life tenure
subordinate courts: Appeal Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos Simoes PEREIRA]
Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES]
New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO]
Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Filomeno Mendes PEREIRA]
Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]
Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA]
Chamber of Commerce of Agriculture, Industry, and Services [Braima CAMARA]
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU (suspended), CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal, currently Ambassador James P. ZUMWALT, is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
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; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag
black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRA, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence
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Economy :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. The legal economy is based on farming and fishing, but illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics are also important economic activities. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe while trade in illegal logging, food, and fishing is also significant. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities. With renewed donor support following elections in April-May 2014 and a successful regional bond issuance, the new government of Guinea-Bissau has made progress paying salaries, settling domestic arrears, and gaining more control over revenues and expenditures. The IMF noted that the new government has taken the positive step of developing a long-term economic plan, while implementing sensitive economic reforms in the wake of the 2012 coup.
$2.495 billion (2014 est.)
$2.433 billion (2013 est.)
$2.425 billion (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
190$1.024 billion (2014 est.)
2.5% (2014 est.)
0.3% (2013 est.)
-2.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
125$1,400 (2014 est.)
$1,400 (2013 est.)
$1,400 (2012 est.)
note: data are in 2014 US dollars
country comparison to the world:
2190.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
-7% of GDP (2013 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
162household consumption: 87.4%
government consumption: 11.3%
investment in fixed capital: 12.3%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 20.8%
imports of goods and services: -31.9%
(2014 est.)
agriculture: 45%
industry: 7.5%
services: 47.5% (2014 est.)
rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
0.5% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
161632,700 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world:
155agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
NA%
NA%
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28% (2002)
revenues: $142.5 million
expenditures: $177.6 million (2014 est.)
13.7% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
200-3.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
129calendar year
-1% (2014 est.)
0.7% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
74.25% (31 December 2009)
4.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world:
8615% (31 December 2014 est.)
15% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
39$384.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$330 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
170$480.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$393 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
180$215.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)
$185.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
176$NA
-$102 million (2014 est.)
-$44.9 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
68$179.9 million (2014 est.)
$143.7 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
185fish, shrimp; cashews, peanuts, palm kernels, raw and sawn lumber
India 52.3%, Nigeria 20.7%, China 16.3%, Togo 5.5% (2014)
$236.2 million (2014 est.)
$184 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
201foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Portugal 20.6%, Senegal 17.5%, UK 16.1%, Spain 4.2%, India 4.2%, China 4.1% (2014)
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)
country comparison to the world:
159Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
491.2 (2014 est.)
494.04 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
471.87 (2011 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
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Energy :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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50 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
20546.5 million kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2050 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1860 kWh (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
19026,000 kW (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
201100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
280% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1660% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1920% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1160 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2090 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1710 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1110 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1790 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1862,700 bbl/day (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1820 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
2092,661 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1740 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1830 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1870 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1650 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world:
1200 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
185460,100 Mt (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world:
184
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Communications :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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total subscriptions: 5,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
208total: 1.1 million
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
156general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications
domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons
international: country code - 245 (2011)
1 state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007)
AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2001)
1 (2007)
.gw
total: 56,100
percent of population: 3.3% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world:
181
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Transportation :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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8 (2013)
country comparison to the world:
160total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m:
3 (2013)
total: 3,455 km
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
country comparison to the world:
162(rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)
major seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
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Military :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2013)
males age 16-49: 370,790
females age 16-49: 372,171 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 205,460
females age 16-49: 212,277 (2010 est.)
male: 17,639
female: 17,865 (2010 est.)
1.85% of GDP (2012)
1.81% of GDP (2011)
1.85% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world:
45
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Transnational Issues :: GUINEA-BISSAU
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in 2006, political instability within Senegal's Casamance region resulted in thousands of Senegalese refugees, cross-border raids, and arms smuggling into Guinea-Bissau
refugees (country of origin): 8,601 (Senegal) (2014)
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys are forced into street vending in Guinea-Bissau and manual labor, agriculture, and mining in Senegal, while girls may be forced into street vending, domestic service, and, to a lesser extent, prostitution in Senegal and Guinea
tier rating: Tier 3 - Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; anti-trafficking efforts have stalled under the transitional government; despite enacting an anti-trafficking law and adopting a national action plan in 2011, authorities still have not taken action against trafficking offenders, provided protection to identified victims, or conducted any prevention activities; no progress has been made in implementing the national action plan (2014)
increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling