| COUNTRY FACTS: GUINEA-BISSUA | |
|---|---|
| Name(official): | Republic of Guinea-Bissau |
| Name(short): | Guinea-Bissau |
| Capital City: | Bissau |
| Location: | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal. |
| Coordinate: | 12 00 N, 15 00 W |
| Independence: | 24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal). |
| President: | Malam Bacai Sanha (President from 8 Sept. 2009) Carlos Gomes (Prime Minister from 2 Jan. 2009 --) Raimundo Pereira (Interim President 3 March 2009 - 8 Sept. 2009) Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIERA (President 1980-1999, 2005 - 2009 killed by soldiers on 2 March 2009 in retaliation to a bomb blast that killed the country's military chief, Gen. Batista Tagme Na Waie), Aristides GOMES (Prime Minister 2005 - 2007) |
| Type of Government: | Republic |
| Total Area: | 36 120sq.km. |
| Population: | 1 442 029 |
| People: | African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%. |
| Religion: | indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5% |
| Languages: | Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages. |
| Literacy: | 42.4%total, 58.1%male, 27.4%female (2003 est.) |
| Currency: | CFAF |
| GDP(per capita): | $800 (2005 est.) |
| Arable Land: | 8.31% (2005 est.) |
| Agriculture: | Rice, corn, beans, cassava(tapioca), cashewnuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton, timber, fish. |
| Natural resources: | Fish, timber, phosphate, bauxite, granite, clay, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum. |
| Embassy in Japan: |
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| General Info: | |
| International Phone Code: | +245 |
ECONOMY: BUSINESS, TRADE AND INVESTMENT
- Tourism:
MAJOR CITIES
Bissau, Bafata.
NEWS
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
- United Nations
- African Union
- ECOWAS
- CEN-SAD
- NEPAD
GOVERNMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos.