Guinea

Broadcast media

government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a steadily increasing number of privately-owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)

Internet country code

.gn

Internet hosts

15 (2012) country comparison to the world: 225

Internet users

95,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 161

Telephone system

general assessment: inadequate system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: Conakry reasonably well served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate and large companies tend to rely on their own systems for nationwide links; fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding and exceeds 40 per 100 persons international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

18,000 (2011) country comparison to the world: 194

Telephones - mobile cellular

4.5 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 111

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.235 billion expenditures: $1.61 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Central bank discount rate

NA% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 7 22.25% (31 December 2005)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

27% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 28% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.754 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 -$1.215 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external

$2.652 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $2.997 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

39.4 (2007) country comparison to the world: 63 40.3 (1994)

Economy - overview

Guinea is a poor country that possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and significant iron ore, gold, and diamond reserves. However, Guinea has been unable to profit from this potential, as rampant corruption, dilapidated infrastructure, and political uncertainty have drained investor confidence. In the time since a 2008 coup following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, have significantly curtailed their development programs. Throughout 2009, policies of the ruling military junta severely weakened the economy. The junta leaders spent and printed money at an accelerating rate, driving inflation and debt to perilously high levels. In early 2010, the junta collapsed and was replaced by a Transition Government, which ceded power in December 2010 to the country's first-ever democratically elected president, Alpha CONDE. International assistance and investment are expected to return to Guinea, but the levels will depend upon the ability of the new government to combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. IMF and World Bank programs will be especially critical as Guinea attempts to gain debt relief. International investors have expressed keen interest in Guinea's vast iron ore reserves, which could further propel the country's growth. The government put forward a new mining code in September 2011 that includes provisions to combat corruption, protect the environment, and review all existing mining contracts. Longer range plans to deploy broadband Internet throughout the country could spur economic growth as well.

Exchange rates

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 7,100 (2012 est.) 6,658 (2011 est.) 5,726.1 (2010 est.) 5,500 (2009) 5,500 (2008)

Exports

$1.785 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 145 $1.433 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

Chile 24.6%, Spain 9.2%, Russia 7.5%, India 5.2%, Germany 5.2%, Ireland 5.1%, US 5%, Ukraine 4.4% (2011)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.744 billion (2012 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$12.25 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 149 $11.69 billion (2011 est.) $11.25 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 12.8% industry: 48.5% services: 38.7% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 215 $1,100 (2011 est.) $1,100 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.8% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62 3.9% (2011 est.) 1.9% (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2007)

Imports

$2.708 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $2.106 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

China 13.2%, Netherlands 8.1%, US 5.4% (2011)

Industrial production growth rate

3% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 212 21.4% (2011 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.1% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 94

Labor force

4.778 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

47% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$535.5 million (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146 $806.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.915 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 152 $1.731 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.515 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.533 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.657 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 134 $1.38 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.5% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Unemployment rate

NA%

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.392 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Electricity - consumption

888.2 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 204

Electricity - from fossil fuels

68.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

31.3% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 102

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 196

Electricity - installed generating capacity

393,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Electricity - production

955 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,671 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Refined petroleum products - imports

8,970 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Area

total: 245,857 sq km country comparison to the world: 79 land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

320 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

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

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

950 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

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

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

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Total renewable water resources

226 cu km (1987)

Administrative divisions

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

name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

7 May 2010 (Loi Fundamentale)

Country name

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

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER 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

chief of mission: Ambassador Blaise CHERIF chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 483-8688

Executive branch

chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010) head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Said FOFANA (since 24 December 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held on 27 June 2010 with a runoff election held on 7 November 2010 election results: Alpha CONDE elected president in a runoff election; percent of vote Alpha CONDE 52.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO 47.5%

Flag description

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

republic

Independence

2 October 1958 (from France)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Legislative branch

the legislature was dissolved by junta leader Moussa Dadis CAMARA in December 2008 and in February 2010, the Transition Government appointed a 155 member National Transition Council (CNT) that has since acted in the legislature's place elections: last held on 30 June 2002 (next election scheduled for 12 May 2013)

National anthem

name: "Liberte" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA note: adopted 1958

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Political parties and leaders

National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean Marie DORE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE] note: listed are the five most popular parties as of December 2012; overall, there are more than 130 registered parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance (includes National Confederation of Guinean Workers or CNTG and Labor Union of Guinean Workers or USTG); Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008 when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and fair elections since independence. CONDE in July 2011 survived an attack on his residence allegedly perpetrated by the military. In October 2012, he announced a cabinet reshuffle that removed three members of the military from their positions, making the current administration Guinea's first all-civilian government.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 2,359,203 females age 16-49: 2,329,784 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,493,991 females age 16-49: 1,535,418 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 118,443 female: 115,901 (2010 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures

1.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 121

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 2,330,406/ female 2,281,477) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 2,945,202/ female 2,942,363) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 169,937/ female 215,573) (2012 est.)

Birth rate

36.6 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

20.8% (2008) country comparison to the world: 31

Death rate

10.19 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 50

Education expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2008) country comparison to the world: 149

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

HIV/AIDS - deaths

4,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

79,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Health expenditures

6.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 103

Hospital bed density

0.31 beds/1,000 population (2005)

Infant mortality rate

total: 59.04 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 31 male: 62.18 deaths/1,000 live births female: 55.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 58.61 years country comparison to the world: 192 male: 57.12 years female: 60.15 years (2012 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 41% male: 52% female: 30% (2010 est.)

Major cities - population

CONAKRY (capital) 1.597 million (2009)

Major infectious diseases

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 aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

610 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 12

Median age

total: 18.6 years male: 18.4 years female: 18.9 years (2012 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2005)

Population

10,884,958 (July 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Population growth rate

2.641% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 34% of population rural: 11% of population total: 19% of population unimproved: urban: 66% of population rural: 89% of population total: 81% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 7 years (2009)

Sex ratio

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: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.04 children born/woman (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Urbanization

urban population: 35% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.3% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

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

refugees (country of origin): 9,972 (Liberia); 6,380 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2011)

Airports

16 (2012) country comparison to the world: 144

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2012)

Ports and terminals

Conakry, Kamsar

Railways

total: 1,185 km country comparison to the world: 87 standard gauge: 238 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 947 km 1.000-m gauge (2008)

Roadways

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

Waterways

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger system) (2011) country comparison to the world: 54