The World Factbook (1982)/Guinea-Bissau

by the Central Intelligence Agency

GUINEA-BISSAU
(formerly Portuguese Guinea)

(See reference map VII)

LAND

36,260 km² (includes Bijagos archipelago)

Land boundaries: 740 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm (economic including fishing 200 nm)

Coastline: 274 km

PEOPLE

Population: 823,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.9%

Nationality: noun—Guinean(s); adjective—Guinean

Ethnic divisions: about 99% African (Balanta 30%, Fulani 20%, Mandyako 14%, Malinke 13%, and 23% other tribes); less than 1% European and mulatto

Religion: 66% animist, 30% Muslim, 4% Christian

Language: Portuguese and numerous African languages

Literacy: 3% to 5%

Labor force: 90% of economically active population engaged in subsistence agriculture

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Guinea-Bissau

Type: republic; achieved independence .from Portugal in September 1974; constitution abolished after 14 November 1980 coup; new constitution pending

Capital: Bissau

Political subdivisions: 9 municipalities, 3 circumscriptions (predominantly indigenous population)

Legal system: to be determined

National holiday: 12 September

Branches: Presidency and Cabinet overseen by Revolutionary Council

Government leaders: President and Revolutionary Council Chairman Brig. Gen. Joao Bernardo VIEIRA; Vice President of the Revolutionary Council and Foreign Affairs Minister Victor SAUDE MARIA

Suffrage: universal over age 15

Elections: none held to date

Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC), led by Pres. Vieira, secretary general, only legal party; Guinea-Bissau recently decided to retain the binational party title despite its formal break with Cape Verde

Communists: a few Communists, some sympathizers

Member of: FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMCO, IMF, ISCON, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

ECONOMY

GDP: $200 million (1980), $333 per capita, real growth rate 1.5% (1980)

Agriculture: main crops—palm products, root crops, rice, coconuts, peanuts

Fishing: catch 3,724 metric tons (1979 est.)

Electric power: 11,000 kW capacity (1980); 13 million kWh produced (1980), 16 kWh per capita

Exports: $9.6 million (1980); principally peanuts, palm-kernals, shrimp, fish, lumber

Imports: $48.3 million (1980); foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, transport equipment

Major trade partners: mostly Portugal, and other European countries

Budget: (1979 est.) revenue $27.4 million, current expenditures $45.4 million, investment expenditures $107.7 million

Monetary conversion rate: 37.6 Guinean pesos=US$1 (1981)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: approx. 3,218 km (418 km bituminous, remainder earth)

Inland waterways: scattered stretches

Ports: 1 major (Bissau)

Civil air: 3 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 59 total, 56 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; 8 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: limited system of open-wire lines, radio-relay links, and radiocommunication stations; 3,000 telephones (0.5 per 100 popl.); 1 AM station and 1 FM station; no TV stations

DEFENSE FORCES:

Military manpower: males 15-49, 190,000; 110,000 fit for military service

Ships: no combat ships