Guinea is at a turning point after decades of authoritarian rule since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Guinea held its first free and competitive democratic presidential and legislative elections in 2010 and 2013 respectively, and in October 2015 held a second consecutive presidential election. Alpha CONDE was reelected to a second five-year term as president in 2015, and the National Assembly was seated in January 2014. CONDE's first cabinet is the first all-civilian government in Guinea. The country held a successful political dialogue in August and September 2016 that brought together the government and opposition to address long-standing tensions. Likewise, President CONDE’s election as AU chairperson has instilled confidence in Guinea. Previously, Sekou TOURE ruled the country as president from independence to his death in 1984. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after TOURE's death. Gen. CONTE organized and won presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003, though all the polls were rigged. Upon CONTE's death in December 2008, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution. His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. A transitional government led by Gen. Sekouba KONATE paved the way for Guinea's transition to a fledgling democracy.

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Africa

slightly smaller than Oregon

320 km

generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

arable land 11.8%; permanent crops 2.8%; permanent pasture 43.5%

950 sq km (2012)

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands

12,413,867 (July 2017 est.)

Fulani (Peul) 32.1%, Malinke 29.8%, Susu 19.8%, Guerze 6.2%, Kissi 4.7%, Toma 2.8%, other/no answer 4.6% (2012 est.)

French (official)

Muslim 86.7%, Christian 8.9%, animist/other/none 4.4% (2012 est.)

Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.

Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile “Parrot’s Beak” region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.

2.61% (2017 est.)

35.1 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated

CONAKRY (capital) 1.936 million (2015)

18.9 years

679 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

4.77 children born/woman (2017 est.)

5.6% (2012)

5.6% of GDP (2014)

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

urban: 92.7% of population

rural: 67.4% of population

total: 76.8% of population

urban: 7.3% of population

rural: 32.6% of population

total: 23.2% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 34.1% of population

rural: 11.8% of population

total: 20.1% of population

urban: 65.9% of population

rural: 88.2% of population

total: 79.9% of population (2015 est.)

1.5% (2016 est.)

120,000 (2016 est.)

5,800 (2016 est.)

7.7% (2016)

18.7% (2012)

3.2% of GDP (2014)

presidential republic

7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore

2 October 1958 (from France)

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

civil law system based on the French model

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO]

National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE]

Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]

Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG

Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO]

Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]

National Confederation of Guinean Workers-Labor Union of Guinean Workers or CNTG-USTG Alliance

Syndicate of Guinean Teachers and Researchers or SLECG

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity

national colors: red, yellow, green

Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth.

Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea also complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts and was found to be compliant. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy.

The biggest threats to Guinea’s economy are political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, and low international commodity prices. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 5.2% in 2016, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The economy is projected to grow by 4.6% in 2017. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency, combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability.

Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment will boost economic growth while the mining sector continues to play a prominent role in economic performance.

Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development.

$24.38 billion (2016 est.)

$22.57 billion (2015 est.)

$21.57 billion (2014 est.)

$8.476 billion (2016 est.)

6.6% (2016 est.)

3.5% (2015 est.)

3.7% (2014 est.)

$1,900 (2016 est.)

$1,900 (2015 est.)

$1,800 (2014 est.)

-6.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

-8.1% of GDP (2015 est.)

-7% of GDP (2014 est.)

rice, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, palm kernels, cocoa, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, potatoes, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

8.5% (2016 est.)

6.138 million (2016 est.)

2.4% (2016 est.)

2.4% (2015 est.)

47% (2006 est.)

39.4 (2007)

40.3 (1994)

20.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

-4% of GDP (2016 est.)

56% of GDP (2016 est.)

54.7% of GDP (2015 est.)

calendar year

8.2% (2016 est.)

8.1% (2015 est.)

22.25% (31 December 2005)

21.7% (31 December 2016 est.)

23% (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.698 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.12 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$2.222 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.931 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$2.15 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$NA

$-2.706 billion (2016 est.)

$-1.024 billion (2015 est.)

$1.954 billion (2016 est.)

$1.558 billion (2015 est.)

bauxite, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

China 24.6%, Ghana 17.9%, Switzerland 10.1%, UAE 7.7%, France 5.2%, Spain 4.3%, India 4.1% (2016)

$2.109 billion (2016 est.)

$2.192 billion (2015 est.)

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Netherlands 14.6%, China 13.5%, India 12.4%, Belgium 8.6%, France 6.9%, UAE 5.4%, Singapore 4.9% (2016)

$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$339.3 million (31 December 2015 est.)

$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$1.389 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$69.19 million (31 December 2016 est.)

$68.44 million (31 December 2015 est.)

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -

9,085 (2016 est.)

9,085 (2015 est.)

7,485.5 (2014 est.)

7,014.1 (2013 est.)

6,986 (2012 est.)

1 billion kWh (2015 est.)

930 million kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

740,000 kW (2015 est.)

50% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

49.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

16,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

16,130 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

1.4 million Mt (2013 est.)

government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2011)

.gn

3X (2016)

16 (2013)

1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011)

2.49% of GDP (2016)

3.31% of GDP (2015)

2.97% of GDP (2014)

3.16% of GDP (2013)

2.98% of GDP (2012)

National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne, includes Marines), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee) (2009)

no compulsory military service (2017)

Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998