Guinea-Bissau
sovereign state in Western Africa
Press Enter · cited answer in seconds
0 sources
Guinea-Bissau is a country in Africa.[1] It was established on January 1, 1974.
Portuguese is the official language.[2] The population was 1.9M (2017).[3]
Its area is 36k. The time zone is UTC±00:00 and Africa/Bissau.[4].
World Factbook
CIA reference data · 4 sections
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
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
Natural resources
fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum
People & Society
Languages
Portuguese-based Creole, Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
Religions
Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.)
Government
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Independence
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Economy
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$5.912 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$2,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
4.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.8% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
2.7% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
India 66%, Chile 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Ghana 4%, Netherlands 3% (2023)
Imports - partners
Senegal 28%, Portugal 24%, China 11%, Gambia, The 10%, Pakistan 4% (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook · public domain (US gov work, 17 USC §105) · fetched 2026-05-06
Key Facts
- Member of: United Nations[3], African Union[4], World Trade Organization[5], Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[6], International Bank for Reconstruction and Development[7], International Development Association[8], International Finance Corporation[9], Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency[10], African Development Bank[11], Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States[12], Alliance of Small Island States[13], OHADA[14], Community of Portuguese Language Countries[15], Interpol[16]
- Country: Guinea-Bissau[17]
- Located in or next to body of water: Atlantic Ocean[18]
- Head of government: Rui Duarte de Barros[19]
- Continent: Africa[20]
- Instance of: country[21]
- Capital: Bissau[22]
- Official language: Portuguese[23]
- Currency: West African CFA franc[24]
- Shares border with: Guinea[25], Senegal[26]
- Top-level Internet domain: .gw[27]
- Anthem: Esta é a Nossa Pátria bem Amada[28]
- Contains the administrative territorial entity: Bafatá[29], Biombo Region[30], Bissau Autonomous Sector[31], Bolama region[32], Cacheu Region[33], Gabú Region[34], Oio Region[35], Quinara Region[36], Tombali Region[37]
- Flag: flag of Guinea-Bissau[38]
- Legislative body: National People's Assembly[39]
- Coat of arms: Emblem of Guinea-Bissau[40]
- Part of: Portuguese-speaking African countries[41]
- Commons category: Guinea-Bissau[42]
- Located in time zone: UTC±00:00[43], Africa/Bissau[44]
- Telephone country code: +245[45]
Why It Matters
Guinea-Bissau has Wikipedia articles in 30 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[46] Guinea-Bissau is known by 54 alternative names across languages and contexts.[47]