Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]
total: 2,383 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media [time series]
1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code [time series]
.gw
Internet users [time series]
total: 250,000 (2020 est.) percent of population: 3.93% (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems [time series]
general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications; 2 mobile network operators; one of the poorest countries in the world and this is reflected in the countries telecommunications development; radio is the most important source of information for the public (2020) domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 83 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 245; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea-Bissau with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Telephones - fixed lines [time series]
total subscriptions: 0 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total subscriptions: 1,913,858 (2020) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 97.25 (2020 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products [time series]
rice, cashew nuts, roots/tubers nes, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, groundnuts, vegetables, coconuts, fruit
Budget [time series]
revenues: 246.2 million (2017 est.) expenditures: 263.5 million (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
-1.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance [time series]
-$27 million (2017 est.) $16 million (2016 est.)
Debt - external [time series]
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)
Economic overview [time series]
Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe. Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. Offshore oil and gas exploration has begun. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% of export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities. The government was deposed in August 2015, and since then, a political stalemate has resulted in weak governance and reduced donor support. The country is participating in a three-year, IMF extended credit facility program that was suspended because of a planned bank bailout. The program was renewed in 2017, but the major donors of direct budget support (the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank) have halted their programs indefinitely. Diversification of the economy remains a key policy goal, but Guinea-Bissau’s poor infrastructure and business climate will constrain this effort.
Exchange rates [time series]
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.)
Exports [time series]
$290 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $380 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Exports - commodities [time series]
cashews, gold, fish, lumber, aluminum ores (2019)
Exports - partners [time series]
India 50%, Belgium 28%, Cote d'Ivoire 8% (2019)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$1.339 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use [time series]
household consumption: 83.9% (2017 est.) government consumption: 12% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 4.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 26.4% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -26.5% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin [time series]
agriculture: 50% (2017 est.) industry: 13.1% (2017 est.) services: 36.9% (2017 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income [time series]
50.7 (2010 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: 2.9% highest 10%: 28% (2002)
Imports [time series]
$500 million note: data are in current year dollars (2019 est.) $460 million note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)
Imports - commodities [time series]
refined petroleum, rice, wheat products, soups/broths, malt extract (2019)
Imports - partners [time series]
Portugal 31%, Senegal 20%, China 10%, Netherlands 7%, Pakistan 7% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
2.5% (2017 est.)
Industries [time series]
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
0.2% (2019 est.) 0.3% (2018 est.) 1.6% (2017 est.)
Labor force [time series]
731,300 (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 82% industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Population below poverty line [time series]
67% (2015 est.)
Public debt [time series]
53.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 57.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) [time series]
$3.64 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $3.73 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $3.56 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate [time series]
5.9% (2017 est.) 6.3% (2016 est.) 6.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita [time series]
$1,800 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $1,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $1,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$356.4 million (31 December 2017 est.) $349.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
18.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
NA
Energy
Crude oil - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption [time series]
36.27 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
99% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
1% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
28,300 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production [time series]
39 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access [time series]
electrification - total population: 28% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 56% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 7% (2019)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
2,700 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
2,625 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants [time series]
particulate matter emissions: 27.12 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 0.29 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.46 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate [time series]
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Environment - current issues [time series]
deforestation (rampant felling of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.) forest: 55.2% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.)
Major aquifers [time series]
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies
Revenue from coal [time series]
coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources [time series]
forest revenues: 9.24% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources [time series]
31.4 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal [time series]
municipal: 34.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 11.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 144 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 44.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling [time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 289,514 tons (2015 est.)
Geography
total: 36,125 sq km land: 28,120 sq km water: 8,005 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Climate [time series]
tropical; 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]
350 km
Elevation [time series]
highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 70 m
Geographic coordinates [time series]
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland
Irrigated land [time series]
250 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 762 km border countries (2): Guinea 421 km, Senegal 341 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 44.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 8.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 6.9% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 29.7% (2018 est.) forest: 55.2% (2018 est.) other: 0% (2018 est.)
Location [time series]
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Major aquifers [time series]
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
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; brush fires
Natural resources [time series]
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Population distribution [time series]
approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map
Terrain [time series]
mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Capital [time series]
name: Bissau geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the meaning of Bissau is uncertain, it might be an alternative name for the Papel people who live in the area of the city of Bissau
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent only: yes dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Constitution [time series]
history: promulgated 16 May 1984; note - constitution suspended following military coup April 2012, restored 2014; note - in May 2020, President EMBALO established a commission to draft a revised constitution amendments: proposed by the National People s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended; amended 1991, 1993, 1996
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau local short form: Guine-Bissau former: Portuguese Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
embassy: the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau mailing address: 2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC 20521-2080 email address and website: dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: President Umaro Sissoko EMBALO (since 27 February 2020); note - President EMBALO was declared winner of the 29 December 2019 runoff presidential election by the electoral commission. In late February 2020, Embalo seized power with the help of the military without being officially inaugurated, even though the Supreme Court of Justice had yet to rule on an electoral litigation appeal lodged by his political rival Domingos Simoes PEREIRA. head of government: Prime Minister Nuno NABIAM (since 27 February 2020) cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; election last held on 24 November 2019 with a runoff on 29 December 2019 (next to be held in 2024); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly; note - the president cannot apply for a third consecutive term, nor during the 5 years following the end of the second term election results: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5%
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag
Government type [time series]
semi-presidential republic
Independence [time series]
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
International law organization participation [time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
International organization participation [time series]
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch [time series]
highest courts: Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life subordinate courts: Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Legal system [time series]
mixed legal system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Legislative branch [time series]
description: unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; 100 members directly elected in 27 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 2 elected in single-seat constituencies for citizens living abroad (1 for Africa, 1 for Europe); all members serve 4-year terms) elections: last held on 10 March 2019 (next to be held in March 2023) election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 35.2%, Madem G-15 21.1%, PRS 21.1%, other 22.6%; seats by party - PAIGC 47, Madem G-15 27, PRS 21, other 7; composition - men 88, women 14, percent of women 13.7%
National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]
name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country) lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to struggle for independence
National holiday [time series]
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
National symbol(s) [time series]
black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos SIMOES PEREIRA] Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES] Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 [Braima CAMARA] National People s Assembly Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB [Nuno Gomes NABIAM] New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO] Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA] Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES] Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu kingdom. In the 16 th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trade was lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18 th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19 th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In May 1999, a military mutiny and civil war led to VIEIRA's ouster. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In September 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. In June 2009, Malam Bacai SANHA was elected, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. In April 2012, a military coup prevented the second-round of the presidential election from taking place. Following mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS), a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ won a free and fair election. In June 2019, VAZ became the first president in Guinea-Bissau s history to complete a full presidential term. After winning the 2019 presidential elections, Umaro SISSOCO EMBALO was sworn in as president.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
from 2012-2020, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) deployed a security force to Guinea-Bissau to manage the post-coup transition, including protecting key political figures and public buildings, restoring civil institutions, and re-establishing the rule of law; at the height of the deployment, the force, known as the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea-Bissau (ECOMIB), deployed nearly 700 military and police personnel from Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Senegal
Military and security forces [time series]
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force; Ministry of Internal Administration: Guard Nacional (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2021) note - the Public Order Police is responsible for maintaining law and order, while the Judicial Police, under the Ministry of Justice, has primary responsibility for investigating drug trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes
Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]
the People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP) has approximately 4,000 total active troops, including about 300 Navy and 100 Air Force (2020)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]
the FARP is poorly armed with an inventory consisting of Soviet-era equipment, much of which is reportedly unserviceable; the only reported deliveries of military equipment to since 2015 were patrol boats from Spain in 2017 and non-lethal equipment from China in 2015; Guinea-Bissau has also discussed acquiring military equipment with Indonesia (2020)
Military expenditures [time series]
1.7% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.7% of GDP (2019) 1.4% of GDP (2018) 1.4% of GDP (2017) 1.3% of GDP (2016)
Military service age and obligation [time series]
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2019)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 43.17% (male 417,810/female 414,105) 15-24 years: 20.38% (male 192,451/female 200,370) 25-54 years: 30.24% (male 275,416/female 307,387) 55-64 years: 3.12% (male 29,549/female 30,661) 65 years and over: 3.08% (male 25,291/female 34,064) (2020 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
36.64 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
18.8% (2019)
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
20.6% (2018)
Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]
7% (2018)
Death rate [time series]
7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Demographic profile [time series]
Guinea-Bissau’s young and growing population is sustained by high fertility; approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Its large reproductive-age population and total fertility rate of more than 4 children per woman offsets the country’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. The latter is among the world’s highest because of the prevalence of early childbearing, a lack of birth spacing, the high percentage of births outside of health care facilities, and a shortage of medicines and supplies. Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability, a civil war, and several coups (the latest in 2012) have resulted in a fragile state with a weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, and thriving drug and child trafficking. With the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers, and with the cultural emphasis placed on religious education, parents frequently send boys to study in residential Koranic schools (daaras) in Senegal and The Gambia. They often are extremely deprived and are forced into street begging or agricultural work by marabouts (Muslim religious teachers), who enrich themselves at the expense of the children. Boys who leave their marabouts often end up on the streets of Dakar or other large Senegalese towns and are vulnerable to even worse abuse. Some young men lacking in education and job prospects become involved in the flourishing international drug trade. Local drug use and associated violent crime are growing.
Dependency ratios [time series]
total dependency ratio: 81.2 youth dependency ratio: 76 elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 potential support ratio: 19.1 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source [time series]
improved: urban: 91.2% of population rural: 60.3% of population total: 73.5% of population unimproved: urban: 8.5% of population rural: 39.7% of population total: 26.5% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
2.9% of GDP (2019)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Fulani 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
3% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
1,500 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
37,000 (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate [time series]
total: 50.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 56.33 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Languages [time series]
Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 63.26 years male: 61.04 years female: 65.55 years (2021 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 59.9% male: 71.8% female: 48.3% (2015)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies
Major urban areas - population [time series]
621,000 BISSAU (capital) (2021)
Maternal mortality ratio [time series]
667 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age [time series]
total: 18 years male: 17.4 years female: 18.6 years (2020 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Bissau-Guinean(s) adjective: Bissau-Guinean
Net migration rate [time series]
-3.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
9.5% (2016)
Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]
0.13 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
Population [time series]
1,976,187 (July 2021 est.)
Population distribution [time series]
approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions as shown in this population distribution map
Population growth rate [time series]
2.52% (2021 est.)
Religions [time series]
Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)
Sanitation facility access [time series]
improved: urban: 66.5% of population rural: 13.4% of population total: 36.2% of population unimproved: urban: 33.5% of population rural: 86.6% of population total: 63.8% of population (2017 est.)
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
4.72 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 44.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
a longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of Casamance, in Senegal across the border; some rebels use Guinea-Bissau as a safe haven
Illicit drugs [time series]
important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling
Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]
refugees (country of origin): 7,757 (Senegal) (2021)
Trafficking in persons [time series]
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a country of origin and destination for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the scope of the problem of trafficking women or men for forced labor or forced prostitution is unknown; boys reportedly were transported to southern Senegal for forced manual and agricultural labor; girls may be subjected to forced domestic service and child prostitution in Senegal and Guinea; both boys and girls are forced to work as street vendors in cities in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List Guinea-Bissau does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; efforts include identifying forced child begging victims, cooperating with Moroccan authorities on international crime investigations, and approving a new action plan; yet, the government has not convicted a trafficker, identified fewer trafficking victims, and lacked resources or the political will to fight trafficking or to enact its action plan, which would meet minimum standards; Guinea-Bissau was granted a waiver under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act from downgrade to Tier 3 (2020)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 8 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 3 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]
J5
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 8 by type: general cargo 5, other 3 (2021)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
major seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim
Roadways [time series]
total: 4,400 km (2018) paved: 453 km (2018) unpaved: 3,947 km (2018)
Waterways [time series]
(rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)