ARCHIVE // GN // 2024
Guinea
2024 Edition — sovereign
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 1,000 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.01 (2020 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
Government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; 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 (2022)
Internet country code
[time series]
.gn
Internet users
[time series]
total: 4.9 million (2021 est.) percent of population: 35% (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: the number of mobile subscribers grew strongly while revenue also increased steadily; fixed broadband services are still very limited and expensive, though there have been some positive developments in recent years; the landing of the first international submarine cable in 2012, and the setting up of an IXP in mid-2013, increased the bandwidth available to the ISPs, and helped reduce the cost of internet services for end-users; a National Backbone Network was completed in mid-2020, connecting administrative centers across the country; almost all internet connections are made via mobile networks; GSM services account for a dwindling proportion of connections, in line with the greater reach of services based on 3G and LTE (2022) domestic: fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is just over 105 per 100 persons (2020) international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 13.795 million (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2021 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
cassava, rice, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, maize, fonio, plantains, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.) expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
$3.35 billion (2022 est.) $4.639 billion (2021 est.) $2.685 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
Debt - external
[time series]
$3.329 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
Economic overview
[time series]
growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps
Exchange rates
[time series]
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 9,565.082 (2020 est.) 9,183.876 (2019 est.) 9,011.134 (2018 est.) 9,088.319 (2017 est.) 8,967.927 (2016 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$8.898 billion (2022 est.) $10.266 billion (2021 est.) $8.996 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports - commodities
[time series]
gold, aluminum ore, coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, cocoa beans, fish (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Exports - partners
[time series]
China 37%, India 27%, UAE 25%, Switzerland 3%, Spain 2% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$23.612 billion (2023 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 52% (2023 est.) government consumption: 12.3% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 23.6% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 39.2% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -29.8% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 28.2% (2023 est.) industry: 31.3% (2023 est.) services: 31.9% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
[time series]
29.6 (2018 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.) highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Imports
[time series]
$5.749 billion (2022 est.) $5.353 billion (2021 est.) $6.314 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports - commodities
[time series]
refined petroleum, rice, garments, plastic products, wheat (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Imports - partners
[time series]
China 37%, India 10%, Netherlands 8%, UAE 4%, Belgium 4% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
11.47% (2023 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Industries
[time series]
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
7.8% (2023 est.) 10.49% (2022 est.) 12.6% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Labor force
[time series]
4.401 million (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Population below poverty line
[time series]
43.7% (2018 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Public debt
[time series]
37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$56.655 billion (2023 est.) $52.918 billion (2022 est.) $50.543 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
7.06% (2023 est.) 4.7% (2022 est.) 3.9% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$4,000 (2023 est.) $3,800 (2022 est.) $3,700 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars
Remittances
[time series]
2.36% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.51% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.14% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$1.499 billion (2020 est.) $1.379 billion (2019 est.) $1.242 billion (2018 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
5.3% (2023 est.) 5.33% (2022 est.) 5.77% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
[time series]
total: 7.3% (2023 est.) male: 6.3% (2023 est.) female: 8.2% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
[time series]
4.502 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 5,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 4.497 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
Coal
[time series]
imports: 2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Electricity
[time series]
installed generating capacity: 1.191 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 2.625 billion kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 418.8 million kWh (2022 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 47.7% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 91% electrification - rural areas: 21.3%
Electricity generation sources
[time series]
fossil fuels: 33.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) solar: 0.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.) hydroelectricity: 65.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
[time series]
4.891 million Btu/person (2022 est.)
Petroleum
[time series]
refined petroleum consumption: 30,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.)
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
Environment - current issues
[time series]
deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal
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, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Food insecurity
[time series]
severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - levels of acute food insecurity are expected to increase in 2023; food prices are likely to remain at high levels, supported by the unfolding effects of the war in Ukraine on international trade; nearly 710,000 people are projected to be acutely food insecure during the June to August 2023 lean season, an improvement compared to 2022 when about 1.22 million people were estimated to face acute food insecurity; acute food insecurity is mainly driven by high food prices (2023)
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
[time series]
Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Revenue from coal
[time series]
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
226 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.) agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total : 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
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
[time series]
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Geography - note
[time series]
the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands
Irrigated land
[time series]
950 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.)
Location
[time series]
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Major rivers (by length in km)
[time series]
Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km note [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
[time series]
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
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
Population distribution
[time series]
areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map
Terrain
[time series]
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
7 regions administrative (administrative regions) and 1 gouvenorat (governorate)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore
Capital
[time series]
name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name Cona , a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word nakiri , which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank ( Cona-nakiri )," which over time became Conakry
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: na
Constitution
[time series]
history: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d etat; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: R publique de Guin e local short form: Guin e former: French 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022) embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110 telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023) chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/ consulate(s): Los Angelos
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024) cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - on 5 September 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020; note - a new election timetable has not been announced by the transitional government; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president election results: 2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7% 2015: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 57.8%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 31.4%, other 10.8%
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government type
[time series]
presidential republic
Independence
[time series]
2 October 1958 (from France)
International law organization participation
[time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021 judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts
Legal system
[time series]
civil law system based on the French model
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: formerly the People's National Assembly elections: 81 members to the Transitional National Council were appointed by the transitional president Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA on 22 January 2022; elections for a permanent legislature had not been announced as of late January 2022 election results: 81 members of the National Transitional Council appointed on 22 January 2022 by the transitional president; the members represent all of the country's socio-professional organizations and political parties note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; in January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed; in February 2024, Guinea's military leaders dissolved the government
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
name: "Liberte" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA note: adopted 1958
National heritage
[time series]
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
National symbol(s)
[time series]
elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green
Political parties
[time series]
African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE Alliance for National Renewal or ARN Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA Bloc Liberal or BL Citizen Generation or GECI Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR Democratic National Movement or MND Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG Front for the National Alliance or FAN Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD Guinean Rally for Development or RGD Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR Modern Guinea Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD National Committee for Reconciliation and Development National Front for Development or FND National Union for Prosperity or UNP National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN New Democratic Forces or NFD New Generation for the Republic or NGR New Guinea or NG New Political Generation or NGP Party for Progress and Change or PPC Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD Rally for the Guinean People or RPG Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG Rally for the Republic or RPR Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG Union of Republican Forces or UFR Unity and Progress Party or PUP
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.
Military and Security
Military - note
[time series]
the Guinean military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; the military has undergone some attempts at reform since 2010, but in 2021 the Army s special forces led a military overthrow of the government (2024)
Military and security forces
[time series]
Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Arm es Guin ennes): Army (Arm e de terre), Air Force (Arm e de l'air), Navy (Arm e de mer), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la S curit Presidentielle, BASP), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) (2024) note: the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 12,000 active personnel, including about 1,500 Gendarmerie (2023)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the Guinean military's inventory consists almost entirely of Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand material from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2024)
Military expenditures
[time series]
2.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.) 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794) 15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366) 65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)
Alcohol consumption per capita
[time series]
total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
35.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Child marriage
[time series]
women married by age 15: 17% women married by age 18: 46.5% men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
16.3% (2018)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
10.9% (2018)
Current health expenditure
[time series]
4% of GDP (2020)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
[time series]
68.7% (2023 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Demographic profile
[time series]
Guinea s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman as of 2022 because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country s large youth population is unemployed. Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 82.4 youth dependency ratio: 76.3 elderly dependency ratio: 6.1 potential support ratio: 16.3 (2021 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 76.9% of population total: 85.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 23.1% of population total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
[time series]
2.36 (2024 est.)
Hospital bed density
[time series]
0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
[time series]
French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.) male: 62.7 years female: 66.6 years
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 45.3% male: 61.2% female: 31.3% (2021)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
553 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 19.4 years (2024 est.) male: 19.2 years female: 19.6 years
Mother's mean age at first birth
[time series]
19.9 years (2018 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean
Net migration rate
[time series]
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
7.7% (2016)
Physician density
[time series]
0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2018)
Population
[time series]
total: 13,986,179 male: 6,985,606 female: 7,000,573 (2024 est.)
Population distribution
[time series]
areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.74% (2024 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 90.9% of population rural: 38.7% of population total: 58% of population unimproved: urban: 9.1% of population rural: 61.3% of population total: 42% of population (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
[time series]
total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2014)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
4.78 children born/woman (2024 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
[time series]
NA
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
16 (2024)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
3X
Heliports
[time series]
1 (2024)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 2 (2023) by type: other 2
Ports
[time series]
total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 2 key ports: Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria
Railways
[time series]
total: 1,086 km (2017) standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Roadways
[time series]
total: 44,301 km paved: 3,346 km unpaved: 40,955 km (2018)
Waterways
[time series]
1,300 km (2011) (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system)