Page last updated on January 28, 2014
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.
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
total: 245,857 sq km
country comparison to the world: 79
land: 245,717 sq km
water: 140 sq km
slightly smaller than Oregon
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
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
arable land: 11.59%
permanent crops: 2.81%
other: 85.6% (2011)
total: 0.55 cu km/yr (39%/10%/51%)
per capita: 64.3 cu m/yr (2005)
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage
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
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%
French (official)
note: each ethnic group has its own language
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%
11,176,026 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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.)
total dependency ratio: 83.2 %
youth dependency ratio: 77.5 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 %
potential support ratio: 17.5 (2013)
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.8 years (2013 est.)
2.64% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
36.3 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
9.94 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
urban population: 35.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.86% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
CONAKRY (capital) 1.597 million (2009)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
610 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 13
total: 57.11 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 33
male: 60.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 59.11 years
country comparison to the world: 195
male: 57.6 years
female: 60.66 years (2013 est.)
4.99 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
6% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 111
0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
1.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
79,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
4,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
degree 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
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
4.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 165
20.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 29
3.1% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 140
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41%
male: 52%
female: 30% (2010 est.)
total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2011)
total number: 571,774
percentage: 25 % (2003 est.)
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
7 regions and 1 governate*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
2 October 1958 (from France)
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010 (2010)
civil law system based on the French model
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010); note - resigned 15 January 2014, no replacement has been appointed
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
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%
unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists)
note: 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 pending elections finally held on 28 September 2013
elections: last held on 28 September 2013 (next election scheduled for 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RPG 53, UFDG 37, UFR 10, others 14
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Constitutional, Civil, Penal, Commercial, and Administrative Chambers, and Chamber of Accounts; court consists of the first president, chamber presidents, and NA members)
judge selection and term of office: court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; member tenure NA
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; courts of first instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; labor court; military tribunal; High Court of Justice; justices of the peace
National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]
note: listed are the five most popular parties as of December 2012; overall, there are more than 130 registered parties
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
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Blaise CHERIF (since 2 September 2011)
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander Mark LASKARIS (since 10 September 2012)
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
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal
name: "Liberte" (Liberty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
note: adopted 1958
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.
$12.04 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$5.556 billion (2012 est.)
3.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
$1,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 87%
government consumption: 12%
investment in fixed capital: 38.1%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 28.7%
imports of goods and services: -65.8%
agriculture: 22.8%
industry: 46.1%
services: 31.1% (2012 est.)
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (manioc), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
5.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
5.24 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
agriculture: 76%
industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2007)
39.4 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 64
revenues: $1.296 billion
expenditures: $1.483 billion (2012 est.)
23.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
-3.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
15.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
NA% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
27% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$1.492 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
$1.915 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$1.539 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
$-1.754 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
$1.348 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
India 10.6%, Spain 9.6%, Chile 9.4%, US 7.1%, Ireland 6.3%, Germany 6.3%, Ukraine 5.7%, France 5% (2012)
$2.606 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
China 14.2%, Netherlands 7.6% (2012)
$174.3 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
$2.584 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
$145 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -
969 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
901.2 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
395,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
68.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
31.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 139
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
8,671 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
9,089 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 146
1.419 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
18,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 192
4.781 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 115
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)
government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)
15 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 223
95,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
16 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 144
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2013)
total: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m:
total: 1,185 km
country comparison to the world: 87
standard gauge: 238 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)
total: 44,348 km
country comparison to the world: 80
paved: 4,342 km
unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger system) (2011)
country comparison to the world: 55
major seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar
National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2012)
males age 16-49: 2,359,203
females age 16-49: 2,329,784 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,493,991
females age 16-49: 1,535,418 (2010 est.)
male: 118,443
female: 115,901 (2010 est.)
conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998
refugees (country of origin): 6,552 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2012)
