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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gn

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

16 (2008)

Internet users [time series]

50,000 (2006)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2006)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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; combined fixed and mobile-cellular teledensity is about 2 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

26,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

189,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

6 (2001)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $347.1 million expenditures: $742.7 million (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

22.25% (31 December 2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA (31 December 2007)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Guinean franc (GNF)

Current account balance [time series]

-$424 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.351 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

38.1 (2006)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006-07, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

744 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

800 million kWh note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003)

Exports [time series]

$1.128 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Russia 10.8%, Ukraine 9.6%, Spain 8.8%, US 7.5%, Germany 7.4%, South Korea 7.2%, France 7%, Ireland 5.5%, China 5% (2007)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$4.714 billion (2007 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$10.96 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 23.8% industry: 38.6% services: 37.6% (2007 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]

$1,100 (2007 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

1.5% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 41% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$1.202 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 10%, France 7%, Netherlands 6.3% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.6% (2007 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

23.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

11.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force [time series]

3.7 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 76% industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$NA

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

8,559 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports [time series]

8,811 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$119 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$422.1 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$309.8 million (31 December 2005)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

NA (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

320 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

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 environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 1.51 cu km/yr (8%/2%/90%) per capita: 161 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands

Irrigated land [time series]

950 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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 [time series]

arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Total renewable water resources [time series]

226 cu km (1987)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 33 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Elizabeth RASPOLIC 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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Mory Karamoko KABA chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 483-9420 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Tidiane SOUARE (since 23 May 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held in December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

2 October 1958 (from France)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Court of First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Legal system [time series]

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by a mixed system of direct popular vote and proportional party lists) elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9 note: legislative elections were due in 2007 but have been postponed

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP (the governing party) [Lansana CONTE]; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane BAH]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG [Rabiatou Sarah DIALLO] and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG [Dr. Ibrahima FOFANA]); National Council of Civil Society Organizations of Guinea or CNOSCG [Ben Sekou SYLLA]; Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG [Dr. Louis M'Bemba SOUMAH]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

Guinea has had only two presidents 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 have been marred by irregularities. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased. Declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes in 2006; a third nationwide strike in early 2007 sparked violent protests in many Guinean cities and prompted two weeks of martial law. To appease the unions and end the unrest, CONTE named a new prime minister in March 2007.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 2,230,049 females age 16-49: 2,193,236 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 1,268,193 females age 16-49: 1,259,913 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 106,967 female: 104,631 (2008 est.)

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Air Force, Presidential Guard (2008)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.7% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 2-year conscript service obligation (2006)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.9% (male 2,126,575/female 2,080,048) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,628,675/female 2,633,876) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 148,159/female 189,176) (2008 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.84 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

1.6% of GDP (2005)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

140,000 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 67.41 deaths/1,000 live births male: 71.02 deaths/1,000 live births female: 63.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages [time series]

French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 56.58 years male: 55.12 years female: 58.08 years (2008 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 29.5% male: 42.6% female: 18.1% (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

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 respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2008)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.4 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.7 years (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Net migration rate [time series]

-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population [time series]

9,806,509 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.492% (2008 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 8 years male: 10 years female: 7 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.25 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 21,856 (Liberia); 5,259 (Sierra Leone); 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire) IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone) (2007)

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Guinea is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and internal trafficking is more prevalent than transnational trafficking; within the country, girls are trafficked primarily for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while boys are trafficked for forced agricultural labor, and as forced beggars, street vendors, shoe shiners, and laborers in gold and diamond mines; some Guinean men are also trafficked for agricultural labor within Guinea; transnationally, girls are trafficked into Guinea for domestic servitude and likely also for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking over 2006; Guinea demonstrated minimal law enforcement efforts for a second year in a row, while protection efforts diminished over efforts in 2006; the government did not report any trafficking convictions in 2007; due to a lack of resources, the government does not provide shelter services for trafficking victims; the government took no measures to reduce the demand for commercial sexual exploitation (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

16 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Conakry, Kamsar

Railways [time series]

total: 837 km standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2006)

Roadways [time series]

total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Waterways [time series]

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)