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 2004 est.): 1,388,363.
Population growth rate: 1.99%.
Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%,
Christian 5%.
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--42.4% of
adults.
Health: Infant mortality rate--108.72 deaths/1,000 live births.
Life expectancy—46.98 years.
Work force (480,000): Agriculture--78%; industry, services,
and commerce--14%; government--8%.
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--People's National Assembly (ANP), 102
members directly elected in 2004. Judicial--Supreme Court and
lower courts.
Administrative subdivisions: Autonomous sector of Bissau and eight
regions.
Political parties: The African Party for the Independence of
Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) [leader Carlos Domingos Gomes
Jr.] won the most seats (45) in the March 2004 legislative elections.
Other parties represented in the ANP include: the Party for Social
Renovation (PRS) ) [leader Alberto Nambeia] with 35 seats, the United
Social Democratic Party (PUSD) [leader Francisco Jose Fadul] with 17
seats, the Electoral Union (UE) [leader Joaquim Balde] with 2 seats,
and the United Popular Alliance (APU) with one seat. Other parties
include: the Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba-Fata Movement (RGB-FM)
[leader Salvador Tchongo], the Union for Change (UM) [leader Amin Saad],
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING) [leader
Catengul Mendy], Guinean Civic Forum or (FCG) [leader Antonieta Rosa
Gomes], International League for Ecological Protection (LIPE),
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP), Party for Democratic
Convergence (PCD) [leader Victor Mandinga], Party of National Unity
(PUN) [leader Idrissa Djalo], Party of Solidarity and Employment (PST)
[leader Iamcuba Indjai], Guinean Democratic Movement (MDG) [leader
Silvestre Alves], Guinean Popular Party (PPG) [leader Joao Tatis Sa],
Socialist Alliance (AS) [leader Fernando Gomes]. Coalitions: Platform
for Unity (PU) [leader Victor Mandinga].
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2003 est.): $251 million; real growth rate (2003 est.): -7%.
Per capita income (2003 est.): $180.
Natural resources: Fish and timber. Bauxite and phosphate deposits are
not exploited; offshore petroleum.
Agriculture: Products--cashews, tropical fruits, rice, peanuts,
cotton, palm oil. Arable land--43%.
Industry: Very little industrial capacity remains following the 1998
internal conflict. The cashew processing industry is nascent.
Trade: Exports--$40 million (f.o.b., 2003 est.): cashews ($45.1
million, 2001 est.), cotton ($1.1 million, 2001 est.), shrimp,
peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber. Major markets--India
50.49%, Uruguay 19.1%, Thailand 19%, Italy 2.6% (2002). Imports--$59
million (f.o.b., 2003 est.): foodstuffs ($18.1 million, 2001 est.),
machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products ($6 million,
2002 est.). Major suppliers—Senegal 19.6%, Portugal 19.1%,
India 15.4%, China 4.3%, France, Netherlands (2002 est.).
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically
diverse with distinct languages, customs, and social structures. Most
people are farmers, with traditional religious beliefs (animism); 45%
are Muslim, principally Fula and Mandinka speakers concentrated in the
north and northeast. Other important groups are the Balanta and Papel,
living in the southern coastal regions, and the Manjaco and Mancanha,
occupying the central and northern coastal areas.
