Islamic countries

Islamic countries

REPUBLIC OF GUINEA-BISSAU
RÉPUBLICA DA GUINÉ-BISSAU

General Information

Total Land Area:	28,120 km²
Land boundaries:	724 km
Coastline:	350 km
Capital:	Bissau
Other Large Cities:	Bafata, Gabu , Farim
Official Language:	Portuguese
National Currency Unit:	Communauté Financière Africaine Franc (XOF)
National Day:	September 24

Location and Geography

Guinea-Bissau is bounded by Senegal to the North, Guinea to the East and South, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West. The terrain is made up of low coastal plains rising to savanna in the East. Meadows and pastures cover nearly half the land. Forests and woodlands are spread over one-third of the area. Guinea-Bissau also extends through the Bijagos Archipelago, a series of scenic islands off the Western Coast. Many rivers cut through the country and the sea encroaches deeply into the land. Only a few areas are cultivated; inland, the country is largely savanna while the coasts are covered with forests. The climate is tropical with only two seasons. There is a monsoon-type rainy season coupled with South-westerly winds blowing from June to November.

Demography

Population:	1.30 million (2002)
Crude Birth Rate:	49 per thousand people (2002)
Crude Death Rate:	20 per thousand people (2002)
Infant Mortality Rate:	130 per thousand (2002)
Life Expectancy:	Male: 44 years, Female: 47 years (2002)
Urban Population:	33.0 percent (2002)
Adult Literacy:	39.60 percent (2001)

Economy

The economy of Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on agriculture, with good prospects for forestry and fishing. Farming and animal husbandry dominate the sector. Some of the important agricultural products are rice, corn, beans, cassava, cashew nuts, peanuts, cotton, timber and fish. Cashews account for the major portion of the exports. The country is also endowed with large deposits of bauxite and phosphates. The river Corubal has remarkable hydroelectric potential. Guinea-Bissau is dependent on imported oil, although offshore exploration is under way. Industrial activity is limited to small-scale agro-related factories producing light consumer goods.

GDP at Current Market Prices:	216 million US$ (2002)
Per Capita GDP:	167 US$ (2002)
Share of Sectors in GDP:	62.0% Agriculture, 13.0% Industry, 25.0% Services, (2002)
Total Exports:	120 million US$ (2002)
Total Imports:	112 million US$ (2002)
Major Exports Items:	Cashews, fish, peanuts, palm kernels and sawn lumber
Major Imports Items:	Foodstuffs, transportation equipment and petroleum products
Major Trading Partners:	India, Senegal, Uruguay, Portugal and Thailand