Geography

Area (including Bijagos Archipelago); 36,125 sq. km., about the size of Maryland. Cities; Capital--Bissau. Other cities--Bafata, Gabu, Canchungo, Farim, Cacheu. Regions; Oio, Tombali, Cacheu, Bolama, Quinara, Biombo, Bafata, Gabu. Terrain; Coastal plain; savanna in the east. Climate; Tropical.

People

Nationality; Noun and adjective--Bissau-Guinean(s). Population (July 2009 est.); 1,533,964. Population growth rate (2009); 2.019%. Ethnic groups; Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, others 16%. Religions; Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 40%, Christian 10%. Languages; Portuguese (official), Creole, French; many indigenous languages--Balanta-Kentohe 26%, Pulaar 18%, Mandjak 12%, Mandinka 11%, Pepel 9%, Biafada 3%, Mancanha 3%, Bidyogo 2%, Ejamat 2%, Mansoanka 1%, Bainoukgunyuno 1%, Nalu 1%, Soninke 1%, Badjara 1%, Bayote 0.5%, Kobiana 0.04%, Cassanga 0.04%, Basary 0.03%. Education; Years compulsory--4. Literacy (2008)--42.4% of adults. Health; Infant mortality rate (2009)--99.82 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (2009)--47.9 years. Work force (2007); 632,700. Agriculture--82%; industry, services, and commerce--13%; government--2%.

Government

Type; Republic, multi-party since 1991. Independence; September 24, 1973 (proclaimed unilaterally); September 10, 1974 (de jure from Portugal). Constitution; Adopted 1984. The National Assembly adopted a new constitution in 2001, but it was neither promulgated nor vetoed by the President. Branches; Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government) and Council of State, ministers and secretaries of state. Legislature--National Popular Assembly (ANP), 100 members directly elected in 2008. Judicial--Supreme Court and lower courts. Administrative subdivisions; Autonomous sector of Bissau and eight regions. Political parties; In the November 2008 parliamentary elections, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won 67 seats; the Social Renovation Party (PRS) won 28 seats; and the Republican Party for Independence and Development won 3 seats. In addition to these three major parties, there are numerous other political parties. Suffrage; Universal at 18.

Economy

 GDP (2009); $826 million. Annual growth rate (2009); 3%. GDP per capita (2009); $512. Natural resources; Fish and timber. Bauxite and phosphate deposits are not exploited; offshore petroleum. Agriculture (62% of GDP); Products--cashews, tropical fruits, rice, peanuts, cotton, palm oil. Arable land--11%. Forested--38%. Industry (12% of GDP); Cashew processing. Very little industrial capacity remains following the 1998 internal conflict. Trade (2009); Exports--$114.8 million; cashews ($110.1 million); fish; shrimp; peanuts; palm kernels; sawn lumber. Major markets (2008)--India 56.8%, Nigeria 35.6%, Pakistan 1.2%. Imports--$146.4 million; food products ($58.1 million), petroleum products ($35 million). Major suppliers (2008)--Portugal 24.5%, Senegal 17.2%, Pakistan 4.8%, France 4.6%. Currency; West African franc (CFAF); 446 CFAF = U.S. $1.

Background
 

SOURCES All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008

ALTERNATIVE NAMES Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Republica da Guine-Bissau, Guine-Bissau

Identification

 

SOURCES CIA World Factbook, 28 July 2005; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; Microsoft.com; Wkipedia; IOC country codes

ALTERNATIVE NAMES Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Republica da Guine-Bissau, Guine-Bissau