Country Profile: Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau, located in Western Africa, is bordered by the North Atlantic Ocean, Guinea, and Senegal. This small tropical nation has a population of approximately 2.1 million people, predominantly living in rural areas, with Bissau as the capital. The economy is primarily agrarian, with cashew nuts being a significant export, although the country faces challenges including systemic banking issues and corruption. Governance has been marked by political and military turmoil since independence in 1974, but recent efforts aim to stabilize the democratic framework.

Geography

Guinea-Bissau features a tropical climate characterized by a monsoonal rainy season from June to November and a dry season from December to May. The terrain consists primarily of low-lying coastal plains, with many offshore islands, including the Bijagos Archipelago. The country has a total area of 36,125 square kilometers, comprising both land and water.

• 36,125 sq km - Total area (2023 est.)
• 350 km - Coastline (2023)
• 29.9% - Agricultural land (2023 est.)
• 75% - Forest cover (2023 est.)
• 0 m - Lowest elevation at the Atlantic Ocean

People and Society

With a population of approximately 2,132,325 (2024), Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse, including significant groups such as Balanta (30%) and Fulani (30%). Portuguese is the official language, but a Portuguese-based Creole is widely spoken. The population growth rate is approximately 2.54%, with a median age of 18.4 years.

• 42.3% - Population aged 0-14 years (2024 est.)
• 64.5 years - Average life expectancy (2024 est.)
• 36 births/1,000 population - Birth rate (2024 est.)
• 63.9% - Adult literacy rate (2022 est.)
• 2.7% - Unemployment rate (2024 est.)

Economy

Guinea-Bissau's economy is one of West Africa's poorest, heavily reliant on agriculture, particularly cashew exports. The GDP growth rate is projected at 4.8% for 2024, driven by agriculture and service sectors. Economic challenges include inflation and high levels of public debt.

• $5.912 billion - Real GDP (PPP) for 2024 est.
• 4.8% - Real GDP growth rate for 2024 est.
• 36.8% - Agriculture's contribution to GDP (2024 est.)
• 50.5% - Population below the poverty line (2021 est.)
• $2.7 million - GDP per capita (2024 est.)

Government

Guinea-Bissau is a semi-presidential republic with a history marked by military coups and political instability. The government is characterized by a mixed legal system that incorporates civil law influenced by Portuguese law. The capital, Bissau, is central to governance.

• 18 years - Minimum voting age
• 102 - Seats in the People's National Assembly
• 9.8% - Percentage of women in the legislative assembly
• 24 September 1973 - Independence Day
• 2 - Major political parties represented in the assembly

Military and Security

Guinea-Bissau's military, the People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP), engages in defense and internal security roles, with an estimated active personnel strength of about 4,000. Military expenditure is projected to be 1.2% of GDP for 2024.

• 1.2% - Military expenditure as a percentage of GDP (2024 est.)
• 18-25 years - Age for compulsory military service
• 4,000 - Estimated active military personnel (2025)
• Soviet-era weaponry - Predominant type of military equipment
• 5-year - Terms length for military service

Energy

Energy access remains limited in Guinea-Bissau, with only 37.4% of the population having electricity. The country relies heavily on fossil fuels, which make up 96.5% of its electricity generation capacity.

• 37.4% - Electrification rate of total population (2022 est.)
• 2,000 bbl/day - Refined petroleum consumption (2023 est.)
• 29,000 kW - Installed electricity generation capacity (2023 est.)
• 79.8 million kWh - Electricity consumption (2023 est.)
• 15.8% - Electrification rate in rural areas (2022 est.)

Environment

Guinea-Bissau faces significant environmental challenges, including deforestation and overfishing. It participates in various international environmental agreements aimed at protecting biodiversity and addressing climate change.

• 75% - Forest coverage (2023 est.)
• 289,500 tons - Municipal solid waste generated annually (2024 est.)
• 10.1% - Percentage of waste recycled (2022 est.)
• 366,000 metric tonnes - CO2 emissions (2023 est.)
• 3.22% - Urbanization rate (2020-2025 est.)

Transportation

The transportation infrastructure includes 7 airports and a merchant marine fleet of 20 vessels. The country has two ports, notably Bissau and Rio Cacheu, facilitating maritime trade.

• 7 - Number of airports (2025)
• 20 - Merchant marine vessels (2023)
• 2 - Total ports (2024)
• 126 - Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022 est.)
• 0 - Fixed-line telephone subscriptions (2022 est.)

Communications

Guinea-Bissau's telecommunications sector is characterized by limited infrastructure, with a growing number of mobile users compared to fixed lines. Approximately 33% of the population has internet access.

• 2.76 million - Mobile cellular subscriptions (2023 est.)
• 33% - Internet user percentage of the population (2023 est.)
• 7,000 - Fixed broadband subscriptions (2023 est.)

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	2,132,325 (2024 est.)
Area	36,125 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$5.912 billion (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate	2.7% (2024 est.)
Birth rate	36 births/1,000 population	(2024 est.)
Life expectancy	64.5 years (2024 est.)
Total energy consumption per capita	2.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electrification rate	37.4% (2022 est.)
CO2 emissions	366,000 metric tonnes (2023 est.)
Urban population	45.5% (2023)