Guinea

Republic of Guinea

Africa Conakry

Population

14.37M

Area

245,857 km²

GDP

$25.33B

GDP Per Capita

$4,000

Pop. Density

58/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

FrGuinean franc(GNF)

Calling Code

+224

Timezone

UTC

Languages

French

Driving Side

right

Demonym

Guinean

Background

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑492.6% since 2006

$4B (2006)$25B (2024)

Population

↑56.3% since 2006

9.4M (2006)14.8M (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 60.7 years

2006: 54.9 years2023: 60.7 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography19

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map references

Africa

Area

total : 245,857 sq km
land: 245,717 sq km
water: 140 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 4,046 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km

Coastline

320 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Elevation

highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 472 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land

73.2% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 24.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 5.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 43.5% (2023 est.)

forest

20.3% (2023 est.)

other

6.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

949 sq km (2017)

Major rivers (by length in 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

Major watersheds (area sq km)

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

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

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

People & Society34

Population

total: 14,374,590 (2025 est.)
male: 7,179,661
female: 7,194,929

Nationality

noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups

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.)

Languages

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

Religions

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

Age structure

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)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 81.5 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 74.1 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.4 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.6 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 19.5 years (2025 est.)
male: 19.2 years
female: 19.6 years

Population growth rate

2.74% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

35.04 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

7.69 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

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.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

494 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 45.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 62.7 years
female: 66.6 years

Total fertility rate

4.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

2.34 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 92% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 59% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 71.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 41% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 28.5% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 5% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 95.6% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 4.4% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 60.6% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 39.4% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.7% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

70.9% (2018 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 17% (2018)
women married by age 18: 46.5% (2018)
men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 9.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population: 39.6% (2018 est.)
male: 54.4% (2018 est.)
female: 27.7% (2018 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years (2021 est.)
male: 9 years (2021 est.)
female: 8 years (2021 est.)

Government23

Country name

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"

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology:

the name derives from konakri, a Susu word meaning "over the water" and referring to the city's location on a peninsula; it was originally the name of a local village

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

civil law system based on the French model

Constitution

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 17 January 2026)

head of government

Prime Minister Amadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)

cabinet

formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president

election/appointment process

the president is directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 7-year single term, and the prime minister is appointed by the president

most recent election date

28 December 2025

election results

2025: Mamady DOUMBOUYA elected president in the first round; percent of vote -Mamady DOUMBOUYA (Independent) 86.7%, Abdoulaye Yero BALDE (DFG) 6.5%, other 7%

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%

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Mary E. DASCHBACH (since 15 July 2025)

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

[email protected]

https://gn.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Flag

description: three equal vertical bands of red (left side), yellow, and green

meaning: red stands for the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow for the sun, the riches of the earth, and justice; green for the country's vegetation and unity

history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement

National symbol(s)

elephant

National color(s)

red, yellow, green

National anthem(s)

title: "Liberté" (Liberty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
history: adopted 1958

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve

Economy30

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $59.439 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $56.251 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $53.297 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024: 5.7% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024: $4,000 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $3,900 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $3,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$25.334 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 8.1% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 7.8% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 10.5% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 29.6% (2024 est.)
industry: 25.3% (2024 est.)
services: 37.5% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

67.4% (2024 est.)

government consumption

13.4% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

32.1% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

-0.9% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

44% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-56.1% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

4.534 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 5.3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 5.3% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 7.1% (2024 est.)
male: 6.2% (2024 est.)
female: 8% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

43.7% (2018 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018: 29.6 (2018 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 2.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016: 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2023: $2.288 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: $3.35 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: $4.639 billion (2021 est.)

Exports

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

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports

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

Imports - partners

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

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.887 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $2.11 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $2.183 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $3.764 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

9,565.082 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

9,183.876 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

9,011.134 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

9,088.319 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

8,967.927 (2016 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 47.7% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 91%
electrification - rural areas: 21.3%

Electricity

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.)

Electricity generation sources

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.)

Coal

imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

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

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 5.235 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 0 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 15.3 million (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 109 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.gn

Internet users

percent of population: 27% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Transportation6

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

16 (2025)

Heliports

1 (2025)

Railways

total: 1,086 km (2017)
standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge

Merchant marine

total: 2 (2023)
by type: other 2

Ports

total ports

4 (2024)

large

medium

small

very small

ports with oil terminals

key ports

Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria

Military & Security6

Military and security forces

Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Air Force, Navy, National Gendarmerie

Ministry of Security: National Police (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military Expenditures 2023: 2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Guinean military's inventory consists almost entirely of ageing Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand arms from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2025)

Military - note

the Guinean military is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; in 2021 the Army’s special forces led a military overthrow of the government; the military-led government has since been accused of cracking down on dissent, the media, and political opposition; border security is a key focus for the Guinean military, particularly a territorial dispute with Sierra Leone that dates back to 2001 (2025)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 2,343 (2024 est.)
IDPs: 5,160 (2024 est.)

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