Guinea - GN - GIN - GUI - Africa

chief of mission: Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022)

embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry

mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC  20521-2110

telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00

FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97

email address and website:
ConakryACS@state.gov

https://gn.usembassy.gov/

0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794)

15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366)

65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)

11 00 N, 10 00 W

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

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

slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania

18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)

Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century.

In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.

deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

43.7% (2018 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.)

highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 50%, China 36%, India 8%, Switzerland 1%, Spain 1% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

rice, cassava, maize, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, plantains, potatoes, fonio, yams, sweet potatoes (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army (Armée de Terre), Air Force (Armée de l'Air), Navy (Armée de Mer), National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) (2024)

note: the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials; Guinea's military and security forces are sometimes collectively referred to as the Defense and Security Forces

revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)

expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)

name: Conakry

geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W

time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name Cona, a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word nakiri, which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry

refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

320 km

history: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d'état; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
9,565.082 (2020 est.)
9,183.876 (2019 est.)
9,011.134 (2018 est.)
9,088.319 (2017 est.)
8,967.927 (2016 est.)

chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021)

head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)

cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - on 5 September 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature

elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020; note - a new election timetable has not been announced by the transitional government; note - on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; on 1 October 2021, DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transitional president

election results:
2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%

2015: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 57.8%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 31.4%, other 10.8%

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

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal

total: 44,301 km

paved: 3,346 km

unpaved: 40,955 km (2018)

2 October 1958 (from France)

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

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

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court - suspended on 5 September 2021

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65

subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Première Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts

total: 4,046 km

border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km

agricultural land: 70% (2022 est.)

arable land: 20.7% (2022 est.)

permanent crops: 5.8% (2022 est.)

permanent pasture: 43.5% (2022 est.)

forest: 24.9% (2022 est.)

other: 5.2% (2022 est.)

civil law system based on the French model

legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 81 (all appointed)

electoral system: mixed system

scope of elections: full renewal

most recent election date: 1/22/2022

percentage of women in chamber: 29.6%

expected date of next election: December 2025

note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People's National Assembly dissolved; in January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed; in February 2024, Guinea's military leaders dissolved the government

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 45.3%

male: 61.2%

female: 31.3% (2021)

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

ACP, AfDB, 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, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

noun: Guinean(s)

adjective: Guinean

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

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

growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps

African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE 
Alliance for National Renewal or ARN 
Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA 
Bloc Liberal or BL 
Citizen Generation or GECI 
Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC 
Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR 
Democratic National Movement or MND
Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP 
Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG 
Democratic People's Movement of Guinea or MPDG 
Democratic Workers' Party of Guinea or PDTG 
Front for the National Alliance or FAN 
Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP 
Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE 
Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD 
Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD 
Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD 
Guinean Rally for Development or RGD 
Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD 
Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR 
Modern Guinea 
Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD 
National Committee for Reconciliation and Development 
National Front for Development or FND 
National Union for Prosperity or UNP 
National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN 
New Democratic Forces or NFD 
New Generation for the Republic or NGR 
New Guinea or NG 
New Political Generation or NGP 
Party for Progress and Change or PPC 
Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT 
Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES 
Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP 
Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN 
Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD 
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG 
Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG 
Rally for the Republic or RPR 
Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG
Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR 
Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR 
Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG 
Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG 
Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG 
Union of Republican Forces or UFR 
Unity and Progress Party or PUP

total: 1,086 km (2017)

standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

18 years of age; universal

general assessment: the number of mobile subscribers grew strongly while revenue also increased steadily; fixed broadband services are still very limited and expensive, though there have been some positive developments in recent years; the landing of the first international submarine cable in 2012, and the setting up of an IXP in mid-2013, increased the bandwidth available to the ISPs, and helped reduce the cost of internet services for end-users; a National Backbone Network was completed in mid-2020, connecting administrative centers across the country; almost all internet connections are made via mobile networks; GSM services account for a dwindling proportion of connections, in line with the greater reach of services based on 3G and LTE (2022)

domestic: fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is just over 105 per 100 persons (2020)

international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019)

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

presidential republic

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea

conventional short form: Guinea

local long form: République de Guinée

local short form: Guinée

former: French Guinea

etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea, but the name itself derives from the Tuareg word aginaw, meaning "black people"

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

Africa

949 sq km (2017)

chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)

chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300

FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800

email address and website:
http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/

consulate(s): Los Angelos

percent of population: 34% (2022 est.)

.gn

$22.199 billion (2023 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

226 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 8 years (2014)

urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; 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 

(2022)

improved:

urban: 99.5% of population

rural: 76.9% of population

total: 85.2% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0.5% of population

rural: 23.1% of population

total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)

name: "Liberte" (Liberty)

lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA

note: adopted 1958

2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green

19.9 years (2018 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

10.9% (2018)

household consumption: 72.9% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 13.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -49% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

total dependency ratio: 82.4

youth dependency ratio: 76.3

elderly dependency ratio: 6.1

potential support ratio: 16.3 (2021 est.)

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: na

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

electrification - total population: 47.7% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas: 91%

electrification - rural areas: 21.3%

3X

improved:

urban: 90.9% of population

rural: 38.7% of population

total: 58% of population

unimproved:

urban: 9.1% of population

rural: 61.3% of population

total: 42% of population (2020 est.)

Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)

French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages

note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

China 39%, India 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 6%, UAE 4% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation: 472 m

3.8% of GDP (2021)

the Guinean military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; the military has undergone some attempts at reform since 2010, but in 2021 the Army’s special forces led a military overthrow of the government (2024)

estimated 10-15,000 Armed Forces personnel (2024)

the Guinean military's inventory consists almost entirely of Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand material from China, France, Russia, and South Africa  (2024)

severe localized food insecurity: due to reduced incomes - about 1.22 million people are projected to be in need of food assistance between June and August 2022, primarily due to food access constraints on account of the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (2022)

municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)

Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) - 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) - 1,094 km
note – [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

women married by age 15: 17%

women married by age 18: 46.5%

men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018 est.)

NA

imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)

fossil fuels: 25.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity: 74.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

2.36 (2024 est.)

68.7% (2023 est.)

2.24% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.65% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.01% of GDP (2021 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

total ports: 4 (2024)

large: 0

medium: 1

small: 0

very small: 3

ports with oil terminals: 2

key ports: Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria

4.465 million (2023 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total: 7.3% (2023 est.)

male: 6.3% (2023 est.)

female: 8.2% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total: 19.4 years (2024 est.)

male: 19.2 years

female: 19.6 years

$3.981 billion (2023 est.)

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

553 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

$1.499 billion (2020 est.)
$1.379 billion (2019 est.)
$1.242 billion (2018 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

4.78 children born/woman (2024 est.)

5.3% (2023 est.)
5.33% (2022 est.)
5.77% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 13,986,179 (2024 est.)

male: 6,985,606

female: 7,000,573

4.505 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 4.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total : 245,857 sq km

land: 245,717 sq km

water: 140 sq km

16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

$56.892 billion (2023 est.)
$53.297 billion (2022 est.)
$51.261 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

16 (2025)

total: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total subscriptions: 13.8 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2021 est.)

29.6 (2018 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

7.8% (2023 est.)
10.49% (2022 est.)
12.6% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$2.288 billion (2023 est.)
$3.35 billion (2022 est.)
$4.639 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$3,900 (2023 est.)
$3,800 (2022 est.)
$3,700 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

total: 1,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

7.7% (2016)

5.235 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

35.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

installed generating capacity: 1.06 million kW (2023 est.)

consumption: 3.624 billion kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 424.356 million kWh (2023 est.)

total: 2 (2023)

by type: other 2

16.3% (2018)

$8.365 billion (2023 est.)
$5.749 billion (2022 est.)
$5.353 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$12.008 billion (2023 est.)
$8.898 billion (2022 est.)
$10.266 billion (2021 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

1 (2025)

total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.)

male: 62.7 years

female: 66.6 years

6.74% (2023 est.)
3.97% (2022 est.)
3.9% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

10.9% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

agriculture: 29.1% (2023 est.)

industry: 26.3% (2023 est.)

services: 36.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

4.81% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

2.74% (2024 est.)