Republic of Guinea

Country Data
Capital (and largest city): Conakry
Official language(s): French
Vernacular languages: Pular, Mandinka and Susu
Demonym: Guinean
Government: Presidential Republic
President: Alpha Condé
Prime Minister: Mohamed Said Fofana
Independence: from France, October 2, 1958
Area: Total 245,857 km2 (78th)
Population: 10,057,975 (July 2009 Estimate)
Population Density: 40.9/km2
GDP (PPP), 2010 estimate: Total $10.807 billion, Per capita $1,046
GDP (nominal) 2010 estimate: Total $4.633 billion Per capita $448
Currency: Guinean franc (GNF)

Guinea belonged to a series of empires until France colonized it in the 1890s, and made it part of French West Africa. Guinea declared its independence from France on October 2, 1958.

On November 16, 2010 – after a successful democratic election – Alpha Condé was declared the new president.
Occupying 246,000 square kilometers, Guinea forms a crescent by curving from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south. Its northern border is shared with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, the southern one with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire. The Niger River arises in Guinea and runs eastward.

Guinea is roughly the size of the United Kingdom and slightly smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon. There are 300 km of coastline and a total land border of 3,400 km.

Guinea’s 10 million people belong to twenty-four ethnic groups. The most prominent groups are the Fula, Mandinka, and Susu.

Conakry (pop. 1,548,470) is the capital, the seat of the national government, and the largest city.

Guinea has abundant natural resources including 25% or more of the world’s known bauxite reserves, and an abundance of diamonds, gold and iron ore.

Other industries include processing plants for beer, juices, soft drinks and tobacco. Agriculture employs 80% of the nation’s labor force.

In 2010, Guinea’s GDP growth rate was 3.3%.