# Conakry > capital of Guinea **Wikidata**: [Q3733](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3733) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conakry) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/conakry ## Summary Conakry is the capital and largest city of Guinea, a West African nation. It serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, situated on the Atlantic coast with a population of approximately 1.67 million residents as of 2014. The city functions as both the national capital and the seat of the Conakry Region, covering an area of 450 square kilometres and functioning as Guinea's primary port, administrative hub, and largest urban center. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Conakry (native: 𞤑𞤮𞤲𞤢𞥄𞤳𞤭𞤪𞤭, Kɔnakiri) - **Country**: Guinea - **Capital Of**: Guinea, People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea, Conakry Region, French Guinea - **Coordinates**: Latitude 9.5092° N, Longitude -13.7122° W - **Area**: 450 square kilometres - **Elevation**: 13 metres above sea level - **Population**: 1,667,864 (2014); 2,160,000 (2009); 1,857,153 (2008) - **Timezone**: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) - **ISO 3166-2 Code**: GN-C - **Postal Code**: 001 - **Local Dialing Codes**: 3041, 3043, 3045, 3047 - **Languages Used**: French, Guinean Sign Language - **Demonym**: Conakrien (masculine), Conakrienne (feminine) - **Administrative Divisions**: Ratoma, Dixinn, Matam, Kaloum, Kassa Island, Matoto - **Bordering Regions**: Kindia Region, Dubréka Prefecture - **Water Body**: Atlantic Ocean - **Head of Government**: M'Mahawa Sylla (since 2021) - **Twin Cities**: Freetown, Cleveland (since 1991), Dakar ## FAQs **What type of administrative entity is Conakry?** Conakry is classified as a city, first-level administrative division, big city, national capital, and the largest city in Guinea. It serves as the capital of both the country and the Conakry Region. **What is Conakry's population and how has it changed over time?** Conakry's population has grown significantly: 50,000 in 1958, 600,000 in 1980, 705,300 in 1996, approximately 1.09-1.86 million in 2008, 2.16 million in 2009, and 1,667,864 in 2014. The variation in 2008 figures reflects different measurement methodologies. **What are Conakry's sister city relationships?** Conakry is twinned with Freetown (Sierra Leone), Cleveland, Ohio, United States (partnership began in 1991), and Dakar (Senegal). **What major identifiers and reference codes are associated with Conakry?** Conakry has numerous identifiers including Wikidata Q465, VIAF 158291510, GeoNames 2422465, OpenStreetMap relation 3731500, Freebase /m/0fn8, UN/LOCODE GNCKY, and ISO 3166-2 code GN-C. **What bodies of water is Conakry associated with?** Conakry is located on the Atlantic Ocean and includes Kassa Island within its administrative territory. **What is the administrative structure of Conakry?** Conakry contains five communes: Ratoma, Dixinn, Matam, Kaloum, and Matoto, plus Kassa Island. It shares borders with Kindia Region and Dubréka Prefecture. ## Why It Matters Conakry serves as Guinea's primary gateway to the world through its major port facilities, handling the vast majority of the country's imports and exports. As the political capital, it houses the headquarters of national government institutions, foreign embassies, and international organizations operating in Guinea. The city's economic significance extends beyond trade—it functions as the nation's commercial hub where banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, and services concentrate. The city's geographic position on the Kaloum Peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean has shaped its unique urban layout and development patterns. Conakry's growth from a small settlement of 50,000 in 1958 (the year Guinea gained independence from France) to a metropolitan area of over two million demonstrates the rapid urbanization sweeping across West Africa. This transformation has made Conakry a focal point for regional migration, economic opportunity, and cultural exchange. Conakry's status as Guinea's largest city and capital makes it the natural center for education, healthcare, and cultural institutions in the country. The presence of the University of Conakry, national museums, and major media outlets reinforces its role as Guinea's intellectual and cultural capital. Its sister city relationships with Freetown, Cleveland, and Dakar reflect Guinea's international connections and its position within West African regional networks. ## Notable For - Largest city and capital of Guinea - One of the few West African capitals located directly on the Atlantic coastline - Home to the Conakry International Airport (Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport) - Features the distinctive Kaloum Peninsula urban layout - Contains the historic Conakry Grand Mosque and National Museum of Guinea - Major port city handling Guinea's international trade - Twinned with Freetown (Sierra Leone), Cleveland, USA (since 1991), and Dakar (Senegal) - Named capital of French Guinea before Guinea's independence in 1958 - Administrative center of Conakry Region, one of Guinea's eight regions ## Body ### Geography and Location Conakry occupies a strategic position on the West African Atlantic coast, specifically on the Kaloum Peninsula at coordinates 9.5092° N latitude and -13.7122° W longitude. The city sits at an elevation of 13 metres above sea level, with its urban footprint extending onto Kassa Island via a bridge connection. The total administrative area covers 450 square kilometres, making it one of the larger capital cities in the region by land area. The city's geography is defined by its peninsula location, which creates a natural harbor that has historically facilitated maritime trade. Conakry shares its administrative borders with Kindia Region to the north and Dubréka Prefecture to the east and south, creating a contiguous metropolitan area that extends beyond the original peninsula boundaries. The Atlantic Ocean forms the city's western boundary, providing direct access to international shipping routes. ### Administrative Structure Conakry functions as both a city and a first-level administrative division, equivalent to a region in Guinea's administrative hierarchy. The city is subdivided into five communes: Kaloum (the central business district), Dixinn, Matam, Ratoma, and Matoto, plus the offshore Kassa Island. Each commune has its own local administration while falling under the overall jurisdiction of the Conakry Region. The current head of government is M'Mahawa Sylla, who has held the position since 2021. The city's administrative code under the ISO 3166-2 system is GN-C, while its FIPS 10-4 code is GV04. The postal code for Conakry is 001, and local telephone dialing uses prefixes 3041, 3043, 3045, and 3047. ### Population and Demographics Conakry has experienced explosive population growth since Guinea's independence in 1958. The population stood at just 50,000 in 1958, the year Guinea achieved independence from France. By 1980, this figure had grown to 600,000, and by 1996, the city had reached 705,300 residents. The most recent comprehensive census data from 2014 recorded a population of 1,667,864, though estimates from 2009 suggested figures as high as 2,160,000. The population growth reflects both natural increase and substantial rural-urban migration, as residents from throughout Guinea have moved to the capital seeking economic opportunities, education, and access to services. The city is home to diverse ethnic groups from across Guinea, though French remains the official language of government and business. ### International Connections and Identifiers Conakry maintains numerous international identifiers that facilitate cross-referencing across global databases. The city's Wikidata entity is Q465, while its VIAF (Virtual International Authority File) identifier is 158291510. GeoNames lists Conakry under ID 2422465, and OpenStreetMap uses relation ID 3731500 for mapping purposes. The UN/LOCODE for Conakry is GNCKY, facilitating international trade and shipping documentation. The city participates in international municipal partnerships through its sister city relationships. Conakry is twinned with Freetown in Sierra Leone, reflecting the historical and cultural connections between the two neighboring West African nations. An American sister city relationship with Cleveland, Ohio was established in 1991, promoting cultural and economic exchange. Additionally, Conakry maintains ties with Dakar, Senegal, strengthening its position within the West African economic community. ### Cultural and Historical Significance As Guinea's capital, Conakry carries significant historical weight. The city served as the capital of French Guinea before independence and subsequently became the capital of the People's Revolutionary Republic of Guinea following the 1958 coup led by Ahmed Sékou Touré. The city's name derives from local languages, with the native designation being 𞤑𞤮𞤲𞤢𞥄𞤳𞤭𞤪𞤭 (Kɔnakiri). Conakry is home to several notable cultural institutions including the National Museum of Guinea, which houses collections documenting the country's history and artistic heritage. The Conakry Grand Mosque represents important Islamic architectural heritage, while the city serves as a center for Guinean music, literature, and visual arts. The University of Conakry, the country's premier higher education institution, is located within the city. ### Economic Role The Port of Conakry serves as Guinea's primary maritime gateway, handling the overwhelming majority of the country's international trade. The city's economy is diversified across sectors including banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, construction, and services. Conakry's central location within Guinea's road network makes it the distribution hub for goods moving throughout the country. The Central Business District in Kaloum commune houses the headquarters of Guinea's major corporations, banks, and government ministries. The city's economic significance has attracted investment and migration from throughout Guinea and the broader West African region, contributing to its rapid urbanization. ### Transportation and Infrastructure Conakry is served by Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport, the country's primary international air gateway, connecting the capital to destinations in Europe, West Africa, and beyond. The city's road network radiates outward from the peninsula, connecting to the interior regions of Guinea and neighboring countries. The port facilities handle containerized cargo, bulk commodities, and passenger ferry services. The local transportation system includes shared taxis, buses, and motorcycle taxis that serve the dense urban population across the various communes. The city's unique peninsula geography creates distinct traffic patterns, with the central business district experiencing significant congestion during peak hours. ### Regional Context Within Guinea's administrative structure, Conakry holds a unique position as both a city and a first-level administrative division, effectively functioning as both a municipality and a region. The city is surrounded by, but not part of, the Kindia Region to the north and the Dubréka Prefecture to the south and east. This administrative arrangement gives Conakry a degree of autonomy not enjoyed by other Guinean cities. Conakry's position within West Africa places it within the broader economic and cultural networks of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) region. Its sister city relationships with Freetown, Dakar, and Cleveland reflect its international connections beyond the immediate region. The city's Atlantic coastline position has historically made it a point of contact between Guinea and the wider world, from colonial times through the present day. ## References 1. [Source](https://www.iso.org/obp/ui/#iso:code:3166:GN) 2. [Source](https://www.clevelandohio.gov/CityofCleveland/Home/Government/MayorsOffice/Office_of_Government_Affairs/SisterCities) 3. Virtual International Authority File 4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 5. Czech National Authority Database 6. FIPS 10-4 7. MusicBrainz 8. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0 9. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf) 10. GeoNames 11. BBC Things 12. [Source](https://service.unece.org/trade/locode/gn.htm) 13. GEOnet Names Server 14. YSO-Wikidata mapping project 15. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php) 16. [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/places/inaturalist-places.csv.zip)