Geography
Area: 245,860 sq. km. (95,000 sq. mi.), about the size of Oregon.
Cities: Capital--Conakry. Other cities--Guéckédou, Boké,
Kindia, N'Zérékoré, Macenta, Mamou, Kankan, Faranah, Siguiri,
Dalaba, Labe, Pita, Kamsar.
Terrain: Generally flat along the coast and mountainous in the
interior. The country's four geographic regions include a narrow
coastal belt; pastoral highlands (the source of West Africa's major
rivers); the northern savanna; and the southeastern rain forest.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Guinean(s).
Population (2002 census): 8,444,559, including refugees and foreign
residents. Refugee population (June 2002 est.): 180,000-200,000
Liberians and Sierra Leoneans. Population of Conakry: 2 million.
Population of largest prefectures--Guéckédou (487,017), Boké
(366,915), Kindia (361,117), N'Zérékoré (328,347), Macenta
(365,559).
Annual growth rate (2002 census): 3.5%.
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, other ethnic
groups 10%.
Christian singles note-Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, traditional
beliefs 7%.
Languages: French (official), national languages.
Education: Years compulsory--8. Enrollment--primary
school, 64.32% (male 78.71%, female 69.03%); secondary, 15%; and post
secondary, 3%. Literacy (total population over age 15 that can
read and write)--44.2% (male 58.74%, female 26.38%).
Health (2002): Life expectancy--total population 54 years. Infant
mortality rate (2002)--98/1000.
Work force (2002, 4.5 million): Agriculture--76%; industry
and commerce--18%; services--6%.
Government
Type: Republic.
Constitution: 1990; amended 2001.
Independence: October 2, 1958. Anniversary of the Second Republic,
April 3, 1984.
Branches: Executive--elected president (chief of state); 25
appointed civilian ministers. Legislative--elected National
Assembly (114 seats). Judicial--Supreme Court.
Administrative subdivisions: Region, prefecture, subprefecture, rural
district.
Political parties: Legalized on 1 April 1992. Seven parties, of the
more than 40 with legal status, won seats in the June 1995 legislative
elections. Pro-government--Party for Unity and Progress (PUP).
Opposition--Rally for the Guinean People (RPG), Union for Renewal and
Progress (UPR), Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), Union for
Progress of Guinea (UPG) , Union of Republican Forces (UFR).
Suffrage: Universal over age 18.
Central government budget (2002): $394.76 million.
Economy
GDP (2003 est.): $4.72 billion.
Annual economic growth rate (2003): 2.1%.
Per capita GDP (2003 est.): $376.3.
Avg. inflation rate (2003): 15.4%.
Natural resources: Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, water power,
uranium, fisheries.
Industry (31.12% of GDP): Types--mining, light manufacturing,
construction.
Agriculture (18.43% of GDP): Products--rice, cassava, fonio,
millet, corn, coffee, cocoa, bananas, palm products, pineapples,
livestock, forestry. Arable land--35%. Cultivated land--4.5%.
Trade (45.4% of GDP): Exports (2002)--$835
million: bauxite, alumina, diamonds, gold, coffee, pineapples,
bananas, palm products, coffee. Major markets--European
Union, U.S., Commonwealth of Independent States, China, Eastern
Europe, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Morocco.
Official exchange rate (2003): Approximately 2000 Guinean
francs=U.S.$1.
Fiscal year: January 1-December 31.
GEOGRAPHY
Guinea is located on the Atlantic Coast of West Africa and is bordered
by Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone. The country is divided into four geographic regions: A narrow
coastal belt (Lower Guinea); the pastoral Fouta Djallon highlands
(Middle Guinea); the northern savannah (Upper Guinea); and a
southeastern rain-forest region (Forest Guinea). The Niger, Gambia,
and Senegal Rivers are among the 22 West African rivers that have
their origins in Guinea.
The coastal region of Guinea and most of the inland have a tropical
climate, with a rainy season lasting from April to November,
relatively high and uniform temperatures, and high humidity. Conakry's
year-round average high is 29oC (85oF), and the
low is 23oC (74oF); its average annual rainfall
is 430 centimeters (169 inches). Sahelian Upper Guinea has a shorter
rainy season and greater daily temperature variations.
PEOPLE
Christian singles note-Guinea has four main ethnic groups:
- Peuhl (Foula or Foulani), who inhabit the mountainous Fouta
Djallon;
- Malinke (or Mandingo), in the savannah and forest regions;
- Soussous in the coastal areas; and
- Several small groups (Gerzé, Toma, etc.) in the forest region.
West Africans make up the largest non-Guinean population.
Non-Africans total about 10,000 (mostly Lebanese, French, and other
Europeans). Seven national languages are used extensively; major
written languages are French, Peuhl, and Arabic.
