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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gn

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

14 (2009) country comparison to the world: 218

Internet users [time series]

90,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 157

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; fixed-line density less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and is roughly 25 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

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

50,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 163

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

2.6 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 113

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: $769.7 million expenditures: $837.7 million (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 5 22.25% (31 December 2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA%

Current account balance [time series]

-$489 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105 -$463 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.222 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 119 $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) country comparison to the world: 73 40.3 (1994)

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. The mining sector accounts for more than 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 because of the death of President Lansana CONTE in December 2008. 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 2006-08, 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]

790.5 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

850 million kWh country comparison to the world: 149 note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2007 est.)

Exchange rates [time series]

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 5,500 (2008 est.), 4,122.8 (2007), 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$1.392 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $1.203 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

India 28.9%, Spain 10%, Russia 9.5%, Germany 6.7%, US 5.8%, Ireland 4.2%, France 4.1% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$4.517 billion (2008 est.)

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

$10.62 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 $10.17 billion (2007 est.) $10.02 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 23.2% industry: 39.5% services: 37.3% (2008 est.)

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

$1,100 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 208 $1,100 (2007 est.) $1,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

4.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 97 1.5% (2007 est.) 2.2% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.389 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 162 $1.218 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

China 9.6%, France 7.8%, Netherlands 7.6% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

15% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 23.4% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

12.3% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Labor force [time series]

4.392 million (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

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 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Oil - consumption [time series]

9,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 150

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198

Oil - imports [time series]

8,674 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 191

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Population below poverty line [time series]

47% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$93 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $86 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]

$NA (31 December 2008) $309.8 million (31 December 2005)

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

$NA

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 245,857 sq km country comparison to the world: 78 land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 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) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA, President of the National Council for Democracy and Development, who led a military coup following the death of President Lansana CONTE on 22 December 2008 head of government: Prime Minister Kabine KOMARA (since 30 December 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 (ad hoc election scheduled for 31 January 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 (legislative elections due in 2007 were first rescheduled for 2008 and subsequently rescheduled for 26 March 2010) 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

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) [Sekou KONATE]; 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 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 as well as political and union activity. Guinea has maintained some semblance of internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, however, 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, and a third nationwide strike in early 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: 1,396,278 females age 16-49: 1,435,387 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 110,281 female: 107,879 (2009 est.)

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

National Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Air Force (2009)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.7% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 97

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-25 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; 18-month conscript service obligation (2009)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.8% (male 2,175,852/female 2,128,518) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,701,184/female 2,704,161) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 153,053/female 195,207) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.52 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Death rate [time series]

11 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

1.6% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 173

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.6% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,500 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

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

87,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 65.22 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 31 male: 68.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 61.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 57.09 years country comparison to the world: 189 male: 55.63 years female: 58.6 years (2009 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 animal contact disease: rabies aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2009)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.5 years male: 18.2 years female: 18.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Population [time series]

10,057,975 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Population growth rate [time series]

2.572% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30

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 (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.2 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 34% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2005-10 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]

17 (2009) country comparison to the world: 141

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2009)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Conakry, Kamsar

Railways [time series]

total: 1,185 km country comparison to the world: 86 standard gauge: 238 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 44,348 km country comparison to the world: 82 paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Waterways [time series]

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2008) country comparison to the world: 57