Islamic countries

Islamic countries

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA
RÉPUBLIQUE DE GUINÉE

General Information

Total Land Area:	245,845 km²
Land boundaries:	3,399 km
Coastline:	300 km
Capital:	Conakry
Other Large Cities:	Kindia, Labé, Kankan, N'zérékoré
Official Language:	French
National Currency Unit:	Guinean Franc (GNF)
National Day:	October 2

Location and Geography

Guinea is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the West, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali in the North and East, Côte d’Ivoire in the South-east, and Liberia and Sierra Leone in the South. The country is divided into four distinct geographical regions: the Lower Guinea, the Fouta Djallon mountain, the Upper Guinea savannah region, and the Tropical Rain Forest region. The land is a flat coastal plain with hilly to mountainous areas towards the inland. Guinea has the highest summit in Western Africa, the Mount Nimba (1752m). Forests and woodlands take up nearly half of the land area while meadows and pastures take up about one fifth. The climate is generally hot and humid and there is a monsoon-type rainy season coupled with South-western winds.

Demography

Population:	8.40 million (2002)
Crude Birth Rate:	38 per thousand people (2002)
Crude Death Rate:	17 per thousand people (2002)
Infant Mortality Rate:	106 per thousand (2002)
Life Expectancy:	Male: 46 years, Female: 47 years (2002)
Urban Population:	28.0 percent (2002)
Adult Literacy:	41.00 percent (2001)

Economy

Guinea is well endowed with mineral, hydropower and agricultural resources. Thanks to fertile lands the country has also a considerable agricultural development potential. The major crops grown are: rice, coffee, pineapple, palm kernels, cassava, banana, and sweet potato. The forestry and livestock raising activities are limited. The economy is based on rich mineral deposits including bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, and uranium. The country owns over 25 percent of the world’s bauxite reserves and is the second largest producer. Diamonds are mined and exported in large scale. New deposits of copper, manganese, titanium, and uranium have been found. Aluminium smelting, food processing, textiles, and plywood manufacturing are the main industries.

GDP at Current Market Prices:	2110 million US$ (2001)
Per Capita GDP:	255 US$ (2001)
Share of Sectors in GDP:	24.0% Agriculture, 37.0% Industry, 39.0% Services, (2002)
Total Exports:	870 million US$ (2002)
Total Imports:	880 million US$ (2002)
Major Exports Items:	Bauxite, diamonds, gold, coffee, fish, cotton, cocoa, shea butter and palm oil
Major Imports Items:	Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transportation equipment, textile, foodstuff and pharmaceutical products
Major Trading Partners:	France, South Korea, Côte d’lvoire, Spain and Cameroon