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Guinea-Bissau

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Republic of Guinea-Bissau
República da Guiné-Bissau   (in Portuguese)
Emblem of Guinea-Bissau
Emblem
Motto: Portuguese: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso"  
"Unity, Struggle, Progress"
Anthem: Portuguese: "Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada"  
"This is Our Well-Beloved Motherland"
Location of Guinea-Bissau
Capital
and largest city
Bissau
11°52′N 15°36′W / 11.867°N 15.600°W / 11.867; -15.600
Official languagesPortuguese
Recognised national languagesGuinea-Bissau Creole
Other national languages
  • French
  • English
  • Arabic
  • Balanta
  • Jola-Fonyi
  • Fulfulde
  • Fang
  • Bubi
  • Hassaniya Arabic
  • Mandinka
  • Mandjak
  • Mankanya
  • Myene
  • Noon
  • Pulaar
  • Serer
  • Soninke
Ethnic groups
African 99% (includes Balanta 30%
Fula 20%
Manjaca 14%
Mandinga 13%
Papel 7%)
European and mulatto less than 1%
Demonym(s)Bissau-Guinean(s)[1]
GovernmentRepublic
Horta Inta-A Na Man
Ilídio Vieira Té
LegislatureNational People's Assembly
Independence 
 Declared
24 September 1973
 Recognized
10 September 1974
Area
 Total
36,125 km2 (13,948 sq mi) (136th)
 Water (%)
22.4
Population
 2023 estimate
2,080,000[2] (150th)
 2002 census
1,345,479
 Density
44.1/km2 (114.2/sq mi) (154th)
GDP (PPP)2025 estimate
 Total
Increase $6.620 billion[3] (172th)
 Per capita
Increase $3,280[3] (168th)
GDP (nominal)2025 estimate
 Total
Increase $2.270 billion[3] (174th)
 Per capita
Increase $1,130[3]
Gini (1993)47
high
HDI (2010)0.289
low · 164th
CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
Driving sideright
Calling code245
Internet TLD.gw
Satellite image of Guinea-Bissau
Where Guinea-Bissau is in the World

Guinea-Bissau is a country in Africa. It borders Senegal to the north, Guinea to the south. The official language is Portuguese, and the capital is Bissau. About 1,442,000 people live in Guinea-Bissau as of 2006.[4] The country was a Portuguese colony in the 19th century. At that time is was called Portuguese Guinea. It became independent in 1973. In 1974, the name of the country's capital was added so that it would not be confused with the neighboring country Guinea (which was called French Guinea, and became independent in 1958). Equatorial Guinea is another country in Africa with Guinea in its name. It lies further east, between Cameroon and Gabon.

Even though the official language of Guinea-Bissau is Portuguese, only about 35 percent of the people speak it. Most of the people speak a creole language, based on Portuguese, called Guinea-Bissau Creole. More than a quarter of the population of the country live in its capital.

Since its independence, Guinea-Bissau has seen many military-led governments. Its last war was the Guinea-Bissau Civil War, fough in 1998/1999. Since its indpendence, there were some democratic elections. These never led to a lasting democracy, though. Guinea-Bissau has had seversl authoritarian governments.

Corruption is common. Civil rights abuses are widespread. Guinea-Bissau is among the poorest countries in the world. There is almost no industry, most people live from farming. There are almost no exports, the only goods widely expoered are cashew nuts.

History: The leader of the country, fell from power because of the 2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état.

Regions and sectors

[change | change source]

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions and one autonomous sector. These are divided into thirty-seven sectors. The regions are:

* autonomous sector

References

[change | change source]
  1. "Background Note: Guinea-Bissau". US Department of State. December 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. "Guinea-Bissau". The World Factbook (2026 ed.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 22 June 2023. (Archived 2023 edition)
  3. 1 2 3 4 "World Economic Outlook Database, April 2025".
  4. Retrieved on 8 October 2007.