Guinea

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet country code

.gn

Internet users

5,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 8, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios

357,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

20,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,868 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

6 (1997)

Televisions

85,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Budget

revenues: $NA expenditures: $417.7 million, including capital expenditures of $NA million (2000 est.)

Currency

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code

GNF

Debt - external

$3.6 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$359.2 million (1998)

Economy - overview

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment. However, escalating fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders will cause major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Real GDP growth is expected to fall to 2% in 2001.

Electricity - consumption

697.5 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

750 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 46.67% hydro: 53.33% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Guinean francs per US dollar - 1,855.0 (October 2000), 1,572.0 (2000), 1,387.4 (1999), 1,236.8 (1998), 1,095.3 (1997), 1,004.0 (1996)

Exports

$820 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Exports - partners

US, Benelux, Ukraine, Ireland (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 22.3% industry: 35.3% services: 42.4% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 32% (1994)

Imports

$634 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners

France, Belgium, US, Cote d'Ivoire (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

3.2% (1994)

Industries

bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2000 est.)

Labor force

3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line

40% (1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Area

total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Coastline

320 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Environment - current issues

deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region

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, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Irrigated land

930 sq km (1993 est.)

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

Land use

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 59% other: 17% (1993 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Natural resources

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

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

Capital

Conakry

Constitution

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Timberlake FOSTER embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Aly THIAM chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420

Executive branch

chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Lamine SIDIME (since 8 March 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 14 December 1998 (next to be held NA December 2003); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 56.1%, Mamadou Boye BA (UNR-PRP) 24.6%, Alpha CONDE (RPG) 16.6%,

FAX

[1] (202) 483-8688

FAX

[224] 41 15 22

Flag description

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Rwanda, which has a large black letter R centered in the yellow band

Government type

republic

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Legal system

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 11 June 1995 (next scheduled for 26 November 2000 postponed indefinitely due to border fighting with rebels from Sierra Leone and Liberia) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 71, RPG 19, PRP 9, UNR 9, UPG 2, PDG-AST 1, UNP 1, PDG-RDA 1, other 1

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party of Guinea or PDG-AST [Marcel CROS]; Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UNP [Paul Louis FABER]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP [Siradiou DIALLO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for the New Republic or UNR [Mamadou Boye BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency.

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$56 million (FY96)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.4% (FY96)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 1,764,912 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 891,166 (2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.12% (male 1,637,000; female 1,645,786) 15-64 years: 54.19% (male 2,015,199; female 2,110,745) 65 years and over: 2.69% (male 84,586; female 120,554) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

39.78 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

17.53 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.54% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,600 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

55,000 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

129.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

French (official), each ethnic group has its own language

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 45.91 years male: 43.49 years female: 48.42 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Net migration rate

-2.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.) note: as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to almost half a million Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees

Population

7,613,870 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

1.96% (2001 est.)

Religions

Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.39 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

border incursions by Revolutionary United Front combatants from Sierra Leone; civil war in that country has engendered a massive flow of refugees to southern Guinea and Liberia

Airports

15 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 30,500 km paved: 5,033 km unpaved: 25,467 km (1996)

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

Boke, Conakry, Kamsar

Railways

total: 1,086 km standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry)

Waterways

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft)