The Republic of Guinea is one of Africa's poorest nations, despite having significant mineral resources. In part, the country's economic problems have been exacerbated by refugees fleeing unrest in neighbouring Sierra Leone and Liberia. Calls have been made for the country's long-serving and authoritarian leader to step down, and uncertainty over his successor, together with the country's ongoing economic difficulties and instability in the region, has prompted fears that Guinea could become a failed state. The country's official language is French.
Leader: Alpha Conde
Capital city: Conakry
Economic profile
Monetary unit: Guinean franc
GDP per capita: $1000 (2010) (CIA)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 25.8% (2010) (CIA)
Industry: 45.7% (2010) (CIA)
Services: 28.5% (2010) (CIA)
GDP growth rate: 1.9% (2010) (CIA)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: $574.1-million (2010) (CIA)
Government expenditure: $875.4-million (2010) (CIA)
Consumer price inflation: 15% (2010) (CIA)
Industries: Bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing
Exports of goods and services: $1.468-billion (2010) (CIA)
Imports of goods and services: $1.551-billion (2010) (CIA)
Export commodities: Bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, and agricultural products
Import commodities: Petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Trade balance: $-434-million (2010) (CIA)
Reserves: $51-million (2009) (CIA)
Total investment: 11,7% of GDP (2008) (IMF)
Market capitalisation of listed companies: Figures not available
Social profile
Population: 10-million (2011) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2.4% (2011) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 58.3 years (2011) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 39% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment primary: 90% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 37% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment tertiary: 9% (2008) (World Bank)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 79 000 (2007) (UNAids estimate)
Election profile
Pre-election report
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