GUINÉ BISSAU

Background:

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 elections. 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 ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president 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.

Geography ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:

12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references:

Africa
Area:

total: 36,125 sq km
country comparison to the world: 137
land: 28,120 sq km
water: 8,005 sq km
Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:

total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km
Coastline:

350 km
Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:

Current Weather
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
Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m
Natural resources:

fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use:

arable land: 8.31%
permanent crops: 6.92%
other: 84.77% (2005)
Irrigated land:

250 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:

31 cu km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.18 cu km/yr (13%/5%/82%)
per capita: 113 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:

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
Geography - note:

this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

People ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Population:

1,533,964 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.8% (male 312,253/female 313,609)
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 414,924/female 445,639)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 19,191/female 28,348) (2010 est.)
Median age:

total: 19.4 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 19.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:

2.019% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
Birth rate:

35.97 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Death rate:

15.79 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
Urbanization:

urban population: 30% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 3.2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:

total: 99.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 109.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.9 years
country comparison to the world: 213
male: 46.07 years
female: 49.79 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:

4.58 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,100 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:

noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups:

African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
Religions:

Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%
Languages:

Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 5 years
male: 7 years
female: 4 years (2001)
Education expenditures:

5.2% of GDP (1999)
country comparison to the world: 59

Government ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Country name:

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
Government type:

republic
Capital:

name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos
Independence:

24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution:

16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and in 1996
Legal system:

based on French civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:

chief of state: President Malam Bacai SANHA (since 8 September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 25 December 2008)
cabinet: NA
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 28 June 2009 with a runoff between the two leading candidates held on 26 July 2009 (next to be held by 2014); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Malam Bacai SANHA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Malam Bacai SANHA 63.5%, Kumba YALA 36.5%
Legislative branch:

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 16 November 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 49.8%, PRS 25.3%, PRID 7.5%, PND 2.4%, AD 1.4%, other parties 13.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 67, PRS 28, PRID 3, PND 1, AD 1
Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at more than $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases valued at less than $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)
Political parties and leaders:

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Democratic Alliance or AD [Victor MANDINGA]; Democratic Social Front or FDS [Rafael BARBOSA]; Electoral Union or UE [Joaquim BALDE]; Guinea-Bissau Civic Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-Bissau Socialist Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor and Solidarity Party or PST [Lancuba INDJAI]; New Democracy Party or PND; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP; Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Kumba YALA]; Progress Party or PP; Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]; Union of Guinean Patriots or UPG [Francisca VAZ]; Union for Change or UM [Amine SAAD]; United Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB); United Popular Alliance or APU; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Frnacisco FADUL]
Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:

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 is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
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; 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 Ghanian flag

Economy ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Economy - overview:

One of the six poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks fifth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. Offshore oil prospecting is underway in several sectors but has not yet led to commercially viable crude deposits. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, resulted in continued low growth in 2002-06. Higher raw material prices boosted growth in 2007-09.
GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.726 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
$1.675 billion (2008 est.)
$1.619 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):

$826 million (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
3.5% (2008 est.)
2.9% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
$1,100 (2008 est.)
$1,100 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)
Labor force:

632,700 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 152
Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:

NA% est.)
Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28% (2002)
Budget:

revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Central bank discount rate:

4.75% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 114
4.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:

NA% (31 December 2008)
Stock of money:

$171.2 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 149
$142.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:

$17.99 million (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 165
$12.04 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:

$NA (31 December 2008)
$46.44 million (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:

$NA
Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Electricity - production:

65 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - consumption:

60.45 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Oil - consumption:

3,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Oil - imports:

2,545 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
Current account balance:

-$6 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Exports:

$133 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 185
Exports - commodities:

fish, shrimp; cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber
Exports - partners:

India 62.21%, Nigeria 31.28%, Portugal 1.48% (2009)
Imports:

$200 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 201
Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:

Portugal 17.33%, Senegal 13.66%, Netherlands 9.27%, India 9.11%, Thailand 5.2%, Brazil 4.49% (2009)
Debt - external:

$941.5 million (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 481.35 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 493.51 (2007), 522.59 (2006), 527.47 (2005)
note: since 1 January 1999, the West African CFA franc (XOF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; West African CFA franc (XOF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using Central African CFA francs (XAF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par

Communications ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Telephones - main lines in use:

4,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 214
Telephones - mobile cellular:

500,200 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 155
Telephone system:

general 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 approached 35 per 100 in 2008
international: country code - 245 (2008)
Broadcast media:

1 state-owned TV station and a second station, 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)
Internet country code:

.gw
Internet hosts:

82 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 202
Internet users:

37,100 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 176

Transportation ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Airports:

9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 158
Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2010)
Roadways:

total: 3,455 km
country comparison to the world: 161
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
Waterways:

rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2008)
Ports and terminals:

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Military ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Military branches:

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force; paramilitary force
Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16 years of age or younger with parental consent, for voluntary service (2009)
Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 361,785
females age 16-49: 363,488 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 199,771
females age 16-49: 206,240 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 17,300
female: 17,523 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:

3.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

Transnational Issues ::GUINEA-BISSAU
Disputes - international:

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 and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,454 (Senegal) (2007)
Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children trafficked primarily for forced begging and forced agricultural labor to other West African countries
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - for the second year in a row, Guinea-Bissau is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons, as evidenced by the continued failure to pass an anti-trafficking law and inadequate efforts to investigate or prosecute trafficking crimes or convict and punish trafficking offenders (2008)
Illicit drugs:

increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine enroute to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations thanks to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography around the capital facilitates drug smuggling