| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
11° 00' North Latitude
10° 00' West Longitude |
| Surface Area |
245,857 sq km |
| Climate |
Generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds |
| Natural Resources |
Bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Republic of Guinea |
| Capital City |
Conakry |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou,
Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou |
| Independence Day |
2 October 1958 (from France) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
9,467,866 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Guinean |
| Ethnic Groups |
Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% |
| Religion |
Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% |
| Languages |
French (official), each ethnic group has its own language |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.37% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Guinean franc (GNF) |
| Industries |
Bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries |
| Labor Force |
3 million (1999) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber |
| Export Commodities |
Bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products |
| Export Partners |
South Korea 15.6%, Russia 13.1%, Spain 12.3%, Ireland 9.1%, US 7.5%, Germany 6.2%, France 5.9%, Ukraine 5.6%, Belgium 5.2% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs |
| Import Partners |
France 14.6%, China 9.6%, Netherlands 6.8%, Belgium 6%, US 5.9%, Italy 5%, South Africa 4.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.3%, India 4% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
837 km |
| Highways |
30,500 km |
| Pipelines |
- |
| Airports |
16 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Boke, Conakry, Kamsar |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+224 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.gn |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president,
Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003.
Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies. |
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