Factual information on Guinea

General information on Guinea
Guinea gained its independence from colonial master France in 1958.

However democratic elections did not take place until 1993 when the military leader General Lansana Conte was elected into the post of President of the civilian government.

Guinea has been affected in recent years, by civil war and fighting in neighbouring Sierra Leone, with a large influx of refugees.

Geographical Information & statistics - Guinea

Geographical Position: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. Map Ref Latitude & Longitude 11 degrees 00’ North, 10 degrees 00’ West.

Total Land & Sea Area Area: Total: 246,000 square kilometres Sea Area 0 square kilometres land area: 246,000 square kilometres Land boundaries: Total: 3,400 kilometres border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 600 kilometres, Guinea-Bissau 390 kilometres, Liberia 560 kilometres, Mali 850 kilometres, Senegal 350 kilometres, Sierra Leone 650 kilometres Coastal Length: 300 kilometres

Climatological Conditions:

Climate information on Guinea, West Africa.

Predominantly humid and hot; monsoonal-type rainy season (from the month of June to the month of November) with southwesterly winds; the dry season in Guinea runs from the month of December to the month of May. During the dry season hot, dry and often dusty northeasterly harmattan winds are common.

Geography

Terrain information on Guinea: mainly flat plain type terrain in coastal regions, hilly to mountainous further inland. Highest & Lowest Elevations: Lowest elevation: Atlantic Ocean at sea level Highest elevation: Mont Nimba 1,755 metres Information on Guinea's natural resources: bauxite deposits, iron ore, diamonds, gold deposits, uranium, hydroelectric power, fish stocks & resources Land use: ploughable land area: 4 percent permanent crops: 2 percent other: 94 percent (1998 estimate) Irrigated land area: 900 square kilometres (1998 estimate) Hazardous Natural phenomena: Harmattan haze (from the hot, dry & dusty harmattan wind) can restrict visibility during dry seasons.) Geographical Point of Interest: The Niger River and its tributary the Milo River both have find their source in the Highlands of Guinea.

People & Population Information on Guinea

Population: 9,030,000 (July 2003 estimate) Age structure: under 15 years: 45 percent 15 to 64 years: 52 percent Over 65: 3 percent Median age of population: Total: 17.5 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2002) Population growth rate: 2 percent (2003 estimate) Birth rate: 42 births per thousand population (2003 estimate) mortality rate: 16 deaths per thousand population (2003 estimate) Net rate of migration: -3 migrant(s) per thousand population Infant mortality rate: Total: 93 deaths per thousand live births female: 87 deaths per thousand live births (2003 estimate) male: 99 deaths per thousand live births Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49 years male: 48 years female: 50 years (2003 estimate) Total fertility rate: 6 children born/woman (2003 estimate)

Nationality: Guinean Ethnic groups: Peuhl 45 percent, Malinke 30 percent, Soussou 25 percent, smaller ethnic groups 5 percent. Religions: Muslim/Islamic faith 90 percent, Christian 5 percent, indigenous religious practices 5 percent

Languages: French (official), several ethnic languages, e.g. Peuhl, Malinke, Soussou Literacy: definition: People over the age of 15 years that are literate (can read & write): total population: 36 percent Male: 50 percent Female: 22 percent (1995 estimate)

Government information on Guinea:

Country name: Republic of Guinea

Government type: Republic Capital city: Conakry

Independence: October 2nd, 1958 from Republic of France National holiday: Independence Day: 2 October (1958) Constitution: December 1990 (Loi Fondamentale) Legal system: based on French civil law codes & customary law Electoral System: Universal vote from the age of 18. Executive branch: Head of State: President Chief of Government:Prime Minister Cabinet: President appoints his cabinet of ministers.

Economy information on Guinea:

Economy - overview: Despite being rich in natural resources such as major mineral deposits, hydroelectric power resources, and rich agricultural potential, Guinea is still economically underdeveloped as a nation, with poor infrastructure.

Guinea holds more than 30 percent of the world's bauxite reserves and is the world’s second-largest bauxite producing nation.

The mining industry accounts for about three quarters of exports.

However, fighting along the borders of Sierra Leonean and Liberia has caused major economic disruption and unrest, leading to serious drops in market confidence and investment.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $19 billion (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product - real growth rate: 4 percent (2002 estimate) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - per capita: $2,000 (2002 estimate)

Gross Domestic Product - composition by sector: agriculture: 22 percent industry: 38 percent services: 40 percent (2001 estimate)

Population below poverty line: 50 percent+

Rate of inflation: 5 percent (2002 estimate) Labor force: 3 million (1999) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 85 percent, industry and services 15 percent (2000 estimate).

Budget: Incomes: $395 million spending : $472 million, (2000 estimate) Industries: bauxite mining, gold mining, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries Industrial production growth rate: 3 percent

Agriculture - products: primary commodities and foodstuffs, rice, coffee & coffee products, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava - manioc, bananas, sweet potatoes; livestock; timber and wood products

Exports: $830 million Exports - commodities: Bauxite, alumina, gold , diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products Exports - partners: South Korea 18 percent, Spain 10 percent, Cameroon 9.5 percent, Belgium 9.5 percent, US 9. percent, Ireland 8. percent, France 7 percent, Russia 6 percent, Germany 5 percent (2002) Imports: $700 million Imports - commodities: Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs Imports - partners: France 18 percent, Cote d'Ivoire 11 percent, Italy 9 percent, US 8 percent, Belgium 7 percent, China 5 percent, UK 5 percent (2002) Debt - external: $3 billion (2000 estimate) Currency: Guinean franc (GNF) Currency code: GNF

Communications in

Telephones landlines: 35,000 (1998) Radio broadcast stations: Amplitude Modulation 4, Frequency Modulation 1, SW 3 (2001) Television broadcast stations: 6 low-power stations (2001) Internet country code: .gn

Transportation in & travel to Guinea:

Railroad networks: Total: 1,000 kilometres Roading System: Total: 30,000 kilometres Airports: 10 (2002)

Military information on Guinea :

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Republican Guard, Presidential Guard, paramilitary National Gendarmerie, National Police Force (Surete National) Military spending : $155 million (Fiscal Year02) Military spending : percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP): 3 percent (Fiscal Year02)

International Issues Disputes - international: In regions on the borders of Sierra Leone and Liberia civil unrest in those countries has spilled to some degree in to Guinea. Clashes have led to deaths, and civil instability, and refugee influxes in these border areas.

Now that you know all the information on Guinea click here for the history of the French speaking countries

More fun facts and information on Guinea

For the flag information on Guinea

For the map information on Guinea

For lots of info on the world’s French speaking countries

Information sourced and adapted from the CIA Factbook

Information on Guinea, West Africa. Fun facts, figures & stats
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