Guinea Population: 11,176,026
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| Background | |
| Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008 when following President CONTE's death, 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 culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by Gen. Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence. CONDE in July 2011 survived an attack on his residence allegedly perpetrated by the military. In October 2012, he announced a cabinet reshuffle that removed three members of the military from their positions, making the current administration Guinea's first all-civilian government. |
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| Geography | |
| The Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands | |
| Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone |
| Geographic coordinates: | 11 00 N, 10 00 W |
| Area: | total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km Size comparison: slightly smaller than Oregon |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 3,399 km border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 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 extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m |
| Natural resources: | bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt |
| Land use: | arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 950 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season |
| Current Environment Issues: | deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
| International Environment 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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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| People | |
| Population: | 11,176,026 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 42.2% (male 2,383,432/female 2,333,960) 15-24 years: 19.4% (male 1,096,664/female 1,075,842) 25-54 years: 30.4% (male 1,700,026/female 1,691,910) 55-64 years: 4.4% (male 235,705/female 259,752) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 175,896/female 222,839) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.641% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 36.6 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 59.04 deaths/1,000 live births male: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 55.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 58.61 years male: 57.12 years female: 60.15 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.99 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 1.3% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 79,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 4,700 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean |
| Ethnic groups: | Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% |
| Religions: | Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% |
| Languages: | French (official) note: each ethnic group has its own language |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 41% male: 52% female: 30% (2010 est.) |
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| Government | |
| 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 |
| Government type: | 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: | 33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou |
| Independence: | 2 October 1958 (from France) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 2 October (1958) |
| Constitution: | 7 May 2010 (Loi Fundamentale) |
| Legal system: | civil law system based on the French model |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held on 27 June 2010 with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010 election results: Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO 47.5% |
| Legislative branch: | the legislature was dissolved by junta leader Moussa Dadis CAMARA in December 2008 and in February 2010, the Transition Government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislature's place elections: last held on 30 June 2002 (next election scheduled for 12 May 2013) |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court; Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme |
| Political parties and leaders: | 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 [Jean Marie DORE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE] note: listed are the five most popular parties as of December 2012; overall, there are more than 130 registered parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG); Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (candidate country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, 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 Blaise CHERIF chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 |
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| Economy | |
| Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and significant iron ore, gold, and diamond reserves. However, Guinea has been unable to profit from this potential, as rampant corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, and political uncertainty have drained investor confidence. In the time since a 2008 coup following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, have significantly curtailed their development programs. Throughout 2009, policies of the ruling military junta severely weakened the economy. The junta leaders spent and printed money at an accelerating rate, driving inflation and debt to perilously high levels. In early 2010, the junta collapsed and was replaced by a Transition Government, which ceded power in December 2010 to the country's first-ever democratically elected president, Alpha CONDE. International assistance and investment are expected to return to Guinea, but the levels will depend upon the ability of the new government to combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. IMF and World Bank programs will be especially critical as Guinea attempts to gain debt relief. International investors have expressed keen interest in Guinea's vast iron ore reserves, which could further propel the country's growth. The government put forward a new mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment, and review all existing mining contracts. Longer range plans to deploy broadband Internet throughout the country could spur economic growth as well. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $12.25 billion (2012 est.) $11.69 billion (2011 est.) $11.25 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $5.744 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4.8% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) 1.9% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,100 (2012 est.) $1,100 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 12.8% industry: 48.5% services: 38.7% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 4.778 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 76% industry and services: 24% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Population below poverty line: | 47% (2006 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2007) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 39.4 (2007) 40.3 (1994) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 15% (2012 est.) 21.4% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 20.1% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $1.235 billion expenditures: $1.61 billion (2012 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (manioc), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber |
| Industries: | bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 3% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 955 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 888.2 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$1.754 billion (2012 est.) -$1.215 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $1.785 billion (2012 est.) $1.433 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products |
| Exports - partners: | Chile 24.6%, Spain 9.2%, Russia 7.5%, India 5.2%, Germany 5.2%, Ireland 5.1%, US 5%, Ukraine 4.4% (2011) |
| Imports: | $2.708 billion (2012 est.) $2.106 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners: | China 13.2%, Netherlands 8.1%, US 5.4% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $535.5 million (31 December 2012 est.) $806.8 million (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.652 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $2.997 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Exchange rates: | Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 7,100 (2012 est.) 6,658 (2011 est.) 5,726.1 (2010 est.) 5,500 (2009) 5,500 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 18,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 194 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 4.5 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeds 40 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .gn |
| Internet hosts: | 15 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 95,000 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 16 (2012) country comparison to the world: 144 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2012) |
| Railways: | total: 1,185 km standard gauge: 238 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003) |
| Waterways: | 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger system) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals: | Conakry, Kamsar |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2009) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 2,359,203 females age 16-49: 2,329,784 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,493,991 females age 16-49: 1,535,418 (2010 est.) |
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