SPAMfighter information about
Guinea
| The data on this page is obtained from The World Factbook. |
 Communications information
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| SPAMfighters: | 80 |
| Internet users: | 46,000 (2005) |
| Internet hosts: | 367 (2006) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 4 (2001) |
| Internet country code: | .gn |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 26,200 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 189,000 (2005) |
| Telephone system: |
general assessment: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001) |
| Radios: | 357,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 6 low-power stations (2001) |
| Televisions: | 85,000 (1997) |
 Geographical information
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| Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone |
| Geographic coordinates: | 11 00 N, 10 00 W |
| Map references: | Africa |
| Area: |
total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,857 sq km water: 0 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Oregon |
| 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 |
| Coastline: | 320 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate: | generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds |
| Terrain: | generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m |
| Natural resources: | bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt |
| Land use: |
arable land: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 950 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season |
| 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, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: | the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands |
 People information
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| Population: | 9,690,222 (July 2006 est.) |
| Age structure: |
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027) 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236) (2006 est.) |
| Median age: |
total: 17.7 years male: 17.4 years female: 17.9 years (2006 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.63% (2006 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 41.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Death rate: | 15.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
| Net migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 141,500 refugees from Cote d´Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (2006 est.) |
| 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: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: |
total: 90 deaths/1,000 live births male: 95.16 deaths/1,000 live births female: 84.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 49.5 years male: 48.34 years female: 50.7 years (2006 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 5.79 children born/woman (2006 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 3.2% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 140,000 (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 9,000 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean |
| Ethnic groups: | Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% |
| Religions: | Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% |
| Languages: | French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.) |
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Governmental information
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| 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 |
| Government type: | republic |
| Capital: |
name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 31 N, 13 43 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 2 October 1958 (from France) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 2 October (1958) |
| Constitution: | 23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale) |
| Legal system: | based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: |
chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993) head of government: vacant; note - Prime Minister Cellou Dalein DIALLO was dismissed on 5 April 2006 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2010); the prime minister is appointed by the president election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%, Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6% |
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral People´s National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held in 2007) 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 |
| Judicial branch: | Court of Appeal or Cour d´Appel |
| Political parties and leaders: | Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] (the governing party); People´s Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Mamadou BA]; 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 pressure groups and leaders: | Student and teacher unions |
| International organization participation: | ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d´Affaires Ibrihama Sory TRAORE chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 478-3800 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson C. MCDONALD 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] 30-42-08-61 FAX: [224] 30-42-08-73 |
| Flag description: | three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia |
 Economical information
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| Economy - overview: | Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country possesses almost half of the world´s bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for over 70% of exports in 2004. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid; the IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2005, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $18.65 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $3.576 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $2,000 (2005 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 23.7% industry: 36.2% services: 40.1% (2005 est.) |
| Labor force: | 3 million (1999) |
| Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2000 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA% |
| Population below poverty line: | 40% (2003 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 32% (1994) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 25% (2005 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $305.6 million expenditures: $590.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber |
| Industries: | bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries |
| Industrial production growth rate: | NA |
| Electricity - production: | 775 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 45.5% hydro: 54.5% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 720.8 million kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2003) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 8,400 bbl/day (2003 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2003 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $-268.4 million (2005 est.) |
| Exports: | $612.1 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products |
| Exports - partners: | Russia 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Spain 10.2%, Ukraine 7.9%, United States 6.1%, Ireland 6%, France 5.7%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005) |
| Imports: | $680 million f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs |
| Imports - partners: | China 8.5%, United States 7.3%, France 7.2%, Cote d´Ivoire 5.2%, Italy 4.7%, Belgium 4.1% (2005) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $69.83 million (2005 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $3.46 billion (2003 est.) |
| Currency (code): | Guinean franc (GNF) |
| Currency code: | GNF |
| Exchange rates: | Guinean francs per United States dollar - 2,550 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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Transportations information
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| Airports: | 16 (2006) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2006) |
| Railways: |
total: 837 km standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2005) |
| Roadways: |
total: 44,348 km paved: 4,342 km unpaved: 40,006 km (2003) |
| Waterways: | 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005) |
| Ports and terminals: | Kamsar |
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Military information
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| Military branches: | Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2006) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 18-49: 1,852,534 females age 18-49: 1,827,560 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 1,034,006 females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $119.7 million (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 2.9% (2005 est.) |
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Information about transnational issues
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| Disputes - international: | conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone has pressured Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga, occupied since 1998 |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: |
refugees (country of origin): 127,256 (Liberia) 7,165 (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d´Ivoire) IDPs: 82,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d´Ivoire) (2005) |
