Guinea-Bissau

Index

More Facts & Figures

National name: Républica da Guiné-Bissau

Current government officials

Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Ethnicity/race: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Religions: Islam 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10%

National Holiday: Independence Day, September 24

Literacy rate: 42.4% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2011 est.): $1.938 billion; per capita $1,100. Real growth rate: 4.8%. Inflation: 5.2%. Unemployment: n.a. Arable land: 8.31%. Agriculture: rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish. Labor force: 632,700 (2007); agriculture 82%, industry and services 18% (2000 est.). Industries: agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks. Natural resources: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum. Exports: $142.3 million (2011): fish, cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber. Imports: $239.5 million (2011): foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products. Major trading partners: Pakistan, Nigeria, India, Senegal, Portugal, Brazil, Cuba (2010).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 5,000 (2010); mobile cellular: 594,100 (2010). Broadcast media: One state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2007). Internet hosts: 86 (2011). Internet users: 37,100 (2009).

Transportation: Railways: 0 km. Highways: total: 3,455 km; paved: 965 km; unpaved: 2,490 km (2002). Waterways: rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2009). Ports and harbors: Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim. Airports: 9 (2010).

International disputes: attempts to stem refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and political instability from a separatist movement in Senegal's Casamance region.

Major sources and definitions