Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2023 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
7,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
1 state-owned TV station, Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, operated by Portuguese public broadcaster (RTP); 1 state-owned radio station, several private radio stations, and some community radio stations; multiple international broadcasters are available (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.gw
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
29.78% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
0 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
126 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2.76 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, groundnuts, cashews, root vegetables, oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, coconuts, vegetables, sweet potatoes (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$450.953 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$269.794 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$52.5 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$6.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$20.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$17.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$3.9 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$54.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$127.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$38.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$14.128 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$146.64 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$160.169 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$161.7 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.251 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$896.812 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
493.900 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
493.757 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
591.212 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
592.606 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
580.657 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
555.446 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
585.911 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
575.586 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
554.531 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
623.760 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
606.570 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
606.345 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, fish, fish oil, processed crustaceans, malt extract (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$223.3 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$189.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$288.6 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$296.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$390.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$395.9 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$291.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$263.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$334.904 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$280.065 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$284.5 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$262.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
12.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
17.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
77% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-28.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
22.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
-1.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
36.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
16.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
42.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$3,119 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$2.12 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$6.867 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
34.8 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
33.4 (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
26.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.4% (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, iron bars, rice, plastics, flavored water (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$290.3 million (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$337.9 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$380.1 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$446.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$459.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$505.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$467.5 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$518.162 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$577.899 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$592.095 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$598.1 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
8% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.48% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
1.50% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.69% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
0.38% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.25% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
1.14% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
2.24% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
9.39% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
7.10% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
3.77% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
845,300 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
50.50% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
57.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$2.535 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$3.090 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$3.342 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$3.908 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$4.422 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$4.711 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$5.194 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$5.399 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$5.64 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$5.912 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.13% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
5.43% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.66% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.76% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.33% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
2.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.05% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.53% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
5.83% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.15% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,456 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,730 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,824 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$2,082 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$2,247 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$2,340 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$2,523 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$2,789 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$2,990 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$63.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$92.4 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$85.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$174.9 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
11% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
10.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
9.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$217.2 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
8.8% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.41% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
2.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.02% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.67% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.63% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.65% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
3.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
2.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
15.8%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
37.4% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
61%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
96.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
3.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
79.8 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
29,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
6 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
2.351 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
2,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
366,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation (overharvesting of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment: International environmental agreements: 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, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
29.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
75% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
42.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
31.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
144 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
11.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
34.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
46.11% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
289,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
10.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Geography: Area: land
28,120 sq km
Geography: Area: water
8,005 sq km
Geography: Coastline
350 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Dongol Ronde 277 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
70 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
this small country is swampy along its western coast and is low-lying inland
Geography: Irrigated land
250 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Guinea 421 km; Senegal 341 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
762 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
29.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 14.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 8.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 6.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
75% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
0% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Senegalo-Mauritanian Basin
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Geography: Population distribution
approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
Geography: Terrain
mostly low-lying coastal plain with a deeply indented estuarine coastline rising to savanna in east; numerous off-shore islands including the Arquipelago Dos Bijagos consisting of 18 main islands and many small islets
Government: Administrative divisions
9 regions ( regioes , singular - regiao ); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Government: Capital: etymology
the name is derived from the local Bijuga people and is used to distinguish the country from neighboring Guinea
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
11 51 N, 15 35 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
promulgated 16 May 1984
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Guinea-Bissau
Government: Country name: etymology
the country is partly named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea; the name itself is derived from the Tuareg word aginaw , meaning "black people;" Bissau, the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea and is derived from the local Bijuga people
Government: Country name: former
Portuguese Guinea
Government: Country name: local long form
Republica da Guine-Bissau
Government: Country name: local short form
Guine-Bissau
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 20 April 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC 20521-2080
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
918 16th Street, NW (Mezzanine Suite) Washington DC 20006
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Maria Da Conceição NOBRE CABRAL (since 18 September 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 872-4226
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 872-4222
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2025: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) and Fernando DIAS da Costa (PRS) both claimed victory in first round; a coup prevented the release of election results after ballots were destroyed 2019: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% (2019)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2025
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Interim Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
23 November 2025
Government: Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; a five-pointed black star is centered in the red band meaning: yellow stands for the sun, green for hope, red for blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement; the Ghanaian flag heavily influenced the design
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Government: Legal system
mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
November 2029
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
11/23/2025
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
102 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
Inclusive Alliance Platform/Terra Coalition (54); Movement for Democratic Alternation (MADEM G.15) (29); Party for Social Renewal (PRS) (12); Bissau-Guinean Workers’ Party (6); Other (1)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
9.8%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to fight for independence
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, green, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô (n)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Government: National symbol(s)
black star
Government: Political parties
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde or PAIGC Democratic Convergence Party or PCD Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB New Democracy Party or PND Party for Social Renewal or PRS Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID Union for Change or UM
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trades were lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him, but a military mutiny and civil war in 1999 led to VIEIRA's ouster. In 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was then elected president, but he passed away in 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup blocked the second round of the election to replace him, but after mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president in a free and fair election, and in 2019, he became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in 2019, but he did not take office until 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Armed Forces (FARP) are focused on external security, but also has some internal security duties; the FARP and the paramilitary National Guard have been influential in the country’s politics since independence and have attempted several coups; since the 2000s, the FARP has undergone various attempts at defense and security sector reforms under the auspices of the African Union, the EU, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), and the UN (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (Forcas Armadas Revolucionarias do Povo or FARP): Army, Navy, Air Force Ministry of Internal Administration: National Guard (a gendarmerie force), Public Order Police, Border Police, Rapid Intervention Police, Maritime Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 4,000 active FARP (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FARP is outfitted mostly with Soviet-era weapons and equipment (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.48% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.26% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.31% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.38% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.49% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.52% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.46% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.40% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.23% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service for men and women (Air Force service is voluntary) (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
42.3% (male 453,513/female 448,514)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
54.6% (male 561,868/female 602,280)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.1% (2024 est.) (male 27,529/female 38,621)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.41 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
1.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.54 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.21 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.98 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
35.82 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.2% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
8.1% (2019)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
25.7% (2019)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
18.8% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
8.82% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
59% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.99 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
17.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
83.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
77.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 52.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 61.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 47.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 38.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure
2.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.01% (2013 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Balanta 30%, Fulani 30%, Manjaco 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, unspecified smaller ethnic groups 6% (2015 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
2.26 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
8.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
5.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
40.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
52 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
42.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
66.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
61.8 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
52.2% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
77.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
63.93% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
664,000 BISSAU (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
505 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
18.9 years
People and Society: Median age: male
17.8 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Bissau-Guinean
People and Society: Net migration rate
-3.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.5% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.25 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
2,201,352 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
approximately one fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight mainly rural regions, as shown in this population distribution map
People and Society: Population growth rate
2.21% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,089,415
People and Society: Population: male
1,042,910
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 23.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 45.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 72.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 76.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 54.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 27.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.71 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
13.2% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
6.7% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.22% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
46.11% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
54 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
7 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
J5
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 3, general cargo 12, other 5
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
20 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Bissau, Rio Cacheu
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
2 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.