Guinea-Bissau - Economic Indicators

Economic Overview

Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe. Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite,...

Continue reading View Factbook for Guinea-Bissau

GDP Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Nominal Gross Domestic Product 2022 1,069,230,000,000 956,319,000,000 GWP Annual
Private Consumption 2019 671,936,510,192 599,042,000,000 GWP Annual
Investment 2019 139,353,174,423 164,198,000,000 GWP Annual
Real Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 62,988,006,300 47,766,731,800 NCU Annual
Nominal Fixed Investment (gross fixed capital formation) 2017 81,825,288,800 54,136,777,100 NCU Annual
Real Investment 2017 62,747,627,300 47,515,352,800 NCU Annual
Government Consumption 2015 62,994 64,530 Mil. GWE Annual
Real Gross Domestic Product 2014 110.71 107.55 Index 2005=100 Annual
Price Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Consumer Price Index (CPI) Apr 2023 136.11 135.14 2010=100, NSA Monthly
Trade Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Current Account Balance 2021 -14,127,802 -38,683,254 USD Annual
Exports of Goods 2021 299,866,729 213,798,110 USD Annual
Imports of Goods 2021 349,874,423 307,279,709 USD Annual
Balance of Goods 2021 -50,007,693 -93,481,598 USD Annual
Imports of Goods and Services 2019 309,057,054,982 255,024,000,000 GWP Annual
Exports of Goods and Services 2019 185,190,991,054 219,926,000,000 GWP Annual
Real Imports of Goods and Services 2017 207,029,667,500 182,690,987,900 NCU Annual
Real Exports of Goods and Services 2017 98,083,203,000 107,333,259,200 NCU Annual
Government Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Government Expenditures 2017 817,174,728,740 732,193,403,566 NCU Annual
Government Budget Balance 2011 17,899,999,999 16,899,999,999 current LCU Annual
Government Revenues 2011 74,700,000,001 73,100,000,001 current LCU Annual
Markets Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Lending Rate Mar 2017 2.5 2.5 % - End of period Monthly
Money Market Rate Feb 2017 5.17 5.01 % p.a., NSA Monthly
Business Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Change in Inventories 2017 544,000,000 522,000,000 NCU Annual
Real Change in Inventories 2017 -240,379,000 -251,379,000 NCU Annual
Demographics Reference Last Previous Units Frequency
Population 2020 1,967,998 1,920,917 # Annual
Net Migration 2017 -9,995 # Annual
Birth Rate 2016 36.58 37.15 # per Ths. pop. Annual
Death Rate 2016 10.54 10.78 # per Ths. pop. Annual

Factbook

Background

Background:
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite eventually setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free, multiparty election. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was overthrown in a bloodless military coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup in April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place. Following mediation by the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power in 2012 and remained until Jose Mario VAZ won a free and fair election in 2014. A long-running dispute between factions in the ruling PAIGC party has brought the government to a political impasse; there have been five prime ministers since August 2015.

Geography

Location:
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
Geographic coordinates:
12 00 N, 15 00 W
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 36,125 sq km
land: 28,120 sq km
water: 8,005 sq km
country comparison to the world: 138
Area - comparative:
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries:
total: 762 km
border countries (2): Guinea 421 km, Senegal 341 km
Coastline:
350 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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
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
Elevation:
mean elevation: 70 m
elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed elevation in the eastern part of the country 300 m
Natural resources:
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
Land use:
agricultural land: 44.8%
arable land 8.2%; permanent crops 6.9%; permanent pasture 29.7%
forest: 55.2%
other: 0% (2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2012)
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 other, mainly rural, regions
Natural hazards:
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (rampant felling of trees for timber and agricultural purposes); soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland

People & Society

Population:
1,792,338 (July 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Nationality:
noun: Bissau-Guinean(s)
adjective: Bissau-Guinean
Ethnic groups:
Fulani 28.5%, Balanta 22.5%, Mandinga 14.7%, Papel 9.1%, Manjaco 8.3%, Beafada 3.5%, Mancanha 3.1%, Bijago 2.1%, Felupe 1.7%, Mansoanca 1.4%, Balanta Mane 1%, other 1.8%, none 2.2% (2008 est.)
Languages:
Crioulo (lingua franca), Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
Religions:
Muslim 45.1%, Christian 22.1%, animist 14.9%, none 2%, unspecified 15.9% (2008 est.)
Demographic profile:
Guinea-Bissau’s young and growing population is sustained by high fertility; approximately 60% of the population is under the age of 25. Its large reproductive-age population and total fertility rate of more than 4 children per woman offsets the country’s high infant and maternal mortality rates. The latter is among the world’s highest because of the prevalence of early childbearing, a lack of birth spacing, the high percentage of births outside of health care facilities, and a shortage of medicines and supplies.
Guinea-Bissau’s history of political instability, a civil war, and several coups (the latest in 2012) have resulted in a fragile state with a weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, and thriving drug and child trafficking. With the country lacking educational infrastructure, school funding and materials, and qualified teachers, and with the cultural emphasis placed on religious education, parents frequently send boys to study in residential Koranic schools (daaras) in Senegal and The Gambia. They often are extremely deprived and are forced into street begging or agricultural work by marabouts (Muslim religious teachers), who enrich themselves at the expense of the children. Boys who leave their marabouts often end up on the streets of Dakar or other large Senegalese towns and are vulnerable to even worse abuse.
Some young men lacking in education and job prospects become involved in the flourishing international drug trade. Local drug use and associated violent crime are growing.
Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.03% (male 349,256/female 350,327)
15-24 years: 20.18% (male 179,389/female 182,242)
25-54 years: 32.77% (male 292,736/female 294,526)
55-64 years: 4.57% (male 32,156/female 49,761)
65 years and over: 3.46% (male 22,574/female 39,371) (2017 est.)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio: 80.4
youth dependency ratio: 75.2
elderly dependency ratio: 5.2
potential support ratio: 19.3 (2015 est.)
Median age:
total: 20.1 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.6 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Population growth rate:
1.86% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Birth rate:
32.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
13.9 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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 other, mainly rural, regions
Urbanization:
urban population: 50.8% of total population (2017)
rate of urbanization: 3.69% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
BISSAU (capital) 492,000 (2015)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.62 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio:
549 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Infant mortality rate:
total: 85.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51 years
male: 48.9 years
female: 53.1 years (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
Total fertility rate:
4.09 children born/woman (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
16% (2014)
Health expenditures:
5.6% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 123
Physicians density:
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
Hospital bed density:
1 beds/1,000 population (2009)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 98.8% of population
rural: 60.3% of population
total: 79.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.2% of population
rural: 39.7% of population
total: 20.7% of population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 33.5% of population
rural: 8.5% of population
total: 20.8% of population
unimproved:
urban: 66.5% of population
rural: 91.5% of population
total: 79.2% of population (2015 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.1% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
36,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,000 (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2016)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
9.5% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 144
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
17% (2014)
country comparison to the world: 35
Education expenditures:
2.1% of GDP (2013)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.9%
male: 71.8%
female: 48.3% (2015 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea
etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; "Bissau," the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea
Government type:
semi-presidential republic
Capital:
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Independence:
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Constitution:
history: promulgated 16 May 1984; note - constitution suspended following military coup in April 2012 and restored in 2014
amendments: 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; amended 1991, 1993, 1996 (2017)
Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence and influenced by early French civil code and customary law
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: yes
citizenship by descent: yes
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Mario VAZ (since 17 June 2014)
head of government: Prime Minister Aristides GOMES (since 16 April 2018)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 13 April 2014 with a runoff on 18 May 2014 (next to be held in 2019); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
election results: Jose Mario VAZ elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Jose Mario VAZ (PAIGC) 41%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (independent) 25.1%, other 33.9%; percent of vote in second round - Jose Mario VAZ 61.9%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM 38.1%
Legislative branch:
description: unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (102 seats; members directly elected in 2 single- and 27 multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held on 13 April 2014 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 48.0%, PRS 30.8%, other 21.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 57, PRS 41, other 4
Judicial branch:
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Suprema da Tribunal Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers); note - the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction
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
subordinate courts: Appeal Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
Political parties and leaders:
African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cabo Verde or PAIGC [Domingos SIMOES PEREIRA]
Democratic Convergence Party or PCD [Vicente FERNANDES]
New Democracy Party or PND [Mamadu Iaia DJALO]
Party for Social Renewal or PRS [Alberto NAMBEIA]
Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID [Aristides GOMES]
Union for Change or UM [Agnelo REGALA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce of Agriculture, Industry, and Services [Braima CAMARA]
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: none; note - Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and a military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to Guinea-Bissau
Flag description:
two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; yellow symbolizes the sun; green denotes hope; red represents blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity
note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the flag design was heavily influenced by the Ghanaian flag
National symbol(s):
black star; national colors: red, yellow, green, black
National anthem:
name: "Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This Is Our Beloved Country)
lyrics/music: Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
note: adopted 1974; a delegation from then 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 struggle for independence

Economy

Economy - overview:
Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe.
Guinea-Bissau has substantial potential for development of mineral resources, including phosphates, bauxite, and mineral sands. Offshore oil and gas exploration has begun. The country’s climate and soil make it feasible to grow a wide range of cash crops, fruit, vegetables, and tubers; however, cashews generate more than 80% of export receipts and are the main source of income for many rural communities.
With renewed donor support following elections in April-May 2014 and a successful regional bond issuance, the Government of Guinea-Bissau began to make progress paying salaries, settling domestic arrears, and gaining more control over revenues and expenditures, but it was deposed by the president in August 2015. A political stalemate since then has resulted in weak governance and reduced donor support.
The country is participating in a three-year, IMF extended credit facility program that was suspended because of a planned bank bailout. The program was renewed in 2017, but the major donors of direct budget support (the EU, World Bank, and African Development Bank) have halted their programs indefinitely. Diversification of the economy remains a key policy goal, but Guinea-Bissau’s poor infrastructure and business climate will constrain this effort.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$3.071 billion (2017 est.)
$2.925 billion (2016 est.)
$2.783 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 188
GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.295 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5% (2017 est.)
5.1% (2016 est.)
5.1% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,800 (2017 est.)
$1,800 (2016 est.)
$1,700 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 212
Gross national saving:
11.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
14% of GDP (2016 est.)
11.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 86.7%
government consumption: 10.8%
investment in fixed capital: 11.1%
investment in inventories: 0.1%
exports of goods and services: 28.9%
imports of goods and services: -37.7% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 44.1%
industry: 12.9%
services: 43% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
Industries:
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Industrial production growth rate:
1.9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
Labor force:
731,300 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
67% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 28% (2002 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $226 million
expenditures: $267 million (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
17.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.2% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
46.8% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2017 est.)
1.5% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
4.75% (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2017 est.)
5.3% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
Stock of narrow money:
$653.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$525.2 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
Stock of broad money:
$685.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$560 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
Stock of domestic credit:
$275.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$241 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$1 million (2017 est.)
$11 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
Exports:
$281.2 million (2017 est.)
$278.6 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Exports - commodities:
fish, shrimp; cashews, peanuts, palm kernels, raw and sawn lumber
Exports - partners:
India 64.6%, Vietnam 9.4%, Belarus 9.4%, Nigeria 4.7% (2016)
Imports:
$241.2 million (2017 est.)
$221.8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Imports - partners:
Portugal 44.2%, Senegal 19.2%, China 7.2%, Pakistan 6.7%, Netherlands 4.4% (2016)
Debt - external:
$1.095 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
$941.5 million (31 December 2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar -
605.3 (2017 est.)
593.01 (2016 est.)
593.01 (2015 est.)
591.45 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access:
population without electricity: 1,300,000
electrification - total population: 21%
electrification - urban areas: 37%
electrification - rural areas: 6% (2013)
Electricity - production:
34 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Electricity - consumption:
31.62 million kWh (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
28,000 kW (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184
Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
2,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
Refined petroleum products - imports:
2,423 bbl/day (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
500,000 Mt (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions: 0 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 221
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total: 1,285,835
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 72 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Telephone system:
general assessment: small system including a combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and mobile cellular communications
domestic: fixed-line teledensity less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile cellular teledensity is roughly 70 per 100 persons
international: country code - 245 (2015)
Broadcast media:
1 state-owned TV station and a second station, Radio e Televisao de Portugal (RTP) Africa, is 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 (2007)
Internet country code:
.gw
Internet users:
total: 66,169
percent of population: 3.8% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
J5 (2016)
Airports:
8 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 160
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2013)
Roadways:
total: 3,455 km
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)
country comparison to the world: 161
Waterways:
(rivers are partially navigable; many inlets and creeks provide shallow-water access to much of interior) (2012)
Merchant marine:
total: 9
by type: general cargo 5, other 4 (2017)
country comparison to the world: 153
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s): Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Military & Security

Military expenditures:
1.76% of GDP (2015)
1.94% of GDP (2014)
2.11% of GDP (2013)
2.46% of GDP (2012)
1.58% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 60
Military branches:
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP): Army, Navy, National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional); Presidential Guard (2012)
Military service age and obligation:
18-25 years of age for selective compulsory military service (Air Force service is voluntary); 16 years of age or younger, with parental consent, for voluntary service (2013)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
a longstanding low-grade conflict continues in parts of
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 8,572 (Senegal) (2017)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Guinea-Bissau is a source country for children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the extent to which adults are trafficked for forced labor or forced prostitution is unclear; boys are forced into street vending in Guinea-Bissau and manual labor, agriculture, and mining in Senegal, while girls may be forced into street vending, domestic service, and, to a lesser extent, prostitution in Guinea and Senegal; some Bissau-Guinean boys at Koranic schools are forced into begging by religious teachers
tier rating: Tier 3 - Guinea-Bissau does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; despite enacting an anti-trafficking law and adopting a national action plan in 2011, the country failed to demonstrate any notable anti-trafficking efforts for the third consecutive year; existing laws prohibiting all forms of trafficking were not used to prosecute any trafficking offenders in 2014, and only one case of potential child labor trafficking was under investigation; authorities continued to rely entirely on NGOs and international organizations to provide victims with protective services; no trafficking prevention activities were conducted (2015)
Illicit drugs:
increasingly important transit country for South American cocaine en route to Europe; enabling environment for trafficker operations due to pervasive corruption; archipelago-like geography near the capital facilitates drug smuggling

Economic Indicators for Guinea-Bissau including actual values, historical data, and latest data updates for the Guinea-Bissau economy.