Discover Fascinating Guinea Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Guinea.
Guinea
Background
๐ Exploring the Rich History of Guinea! ๐
Did you know that before Europeans landed in the 16th century, the region now known as Guinea was ruled by various kingdoms? ๐ฐ That's right! ๐ฐ Additionally, Islam found its way to Guinea in the 11th century, which has shaped much of the culture and society we see today.
๐ช A New Era: After many years of authoritarian rule, Guinea is on the verge of exciting changes since it gained independence from France in 1958. It's an important moment in time for the country!
Stay tuned to discover more about this fascinating journey of Guinea! ๐
Year of Independence from France
1958
Introduction of Islam
11th century
Exports - commodities
๐ชโจ Guinea's Treasure Trove of Exports! โจ๐ช Did you know that Guinea is rich in natural resources? Their export market is bustling with valuable commodities! Hereโs what theyโre sending off to other countries:
- Gold: Shine bright like a diamond, but even shinier!
- Aluminum Ore: A key ingredient for making things strong and light!
- Coconuts/Brazil Nuts/Cashews: Yummy snacks that many people love!๐ฅฅ๐ฅ
- Cocoa Beans: The magic behind our favorite chocolates! ๐ซ
- Fish: Fresh catches making waves in the global market! ๐ฃ
These exports show just how diverse Guinea's economy is and highlight the natural wealth of this amazing country! ๐
Major exports from Guinea
Gold, Aluminum Ore, Coconuts/Brazil Nuts/Cashews, Cocoa Beans, Fish
Exports - partners
๐ณ๏ธ Let's sail into the world of Guinea's exports! In 2022, Guinea had some important trade partners that helped boost its economy. ๐ Check out these numbers:
- China: 37% of Guinea's exports went here! ๐จ๐ณ
- India: A solid 27% of exports were shipped off to India! ๐ฎ๐ณ
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): 25% headed to the UAE! ๐ฆ๐ช
- Switzerland: A smaller share, at 3% of exports. ๐จ๐ญ
- Spain: The smallest partner, with 2% of exports. ๐ช๐ธ
Itโs clear that China, India, and the UAE are the big players in Guinea's export game! ๐
Percentage of Exports to China
37%
Percentage of Exports to India
27%
Percentage of Exports to UAE
25%
Percentage of Exports to Switzerland
3%
Percentage of Exports to Spain
2%
Guinea's Export Partners in 2022
Capital
๐ฌ๐ผ The capital of Guinea is Conakry! This vibrant city is where the heart of Guinea beats. Itโs an important hub for politics, culture, and trade. ๐๏ธ
Imports - commodities
Guinea imports a variety of important commodities to support its economy and meet the needs of its people. Hereโs a fun snapshot of the goods flowing into Guinea in 2022:
- Refined Petroleum: This is essential for transportation and industry. โฝ
- Rice: A staple food that helps keep the nation fed. ๐
- Garments: Clothing imports play a big role in fashion and industry! ๐๐งฅ
- Plastic Products: From containers to toys, these are central to daily life. ๐งด๐งธ
- Wheat: Crucial for making bread and other foods. ๐
Each of these commodities helps paint the picture of Guinea's import landscape. Let's dig deeper into the statistics!
Top Imported Commodities
Refined Petroleum, Rice, Garments, Plastic Products, Wheat
Climate
๐ก๏ธ Guinea's climate is generally hot and humid, creating a warm environment year-round! The country experiences a monsoonal-type rainy season from June to November, during which southwesterly winds bring rainfall. ๐ง After that, from December to May, there is a dry season marked by northeasterly harmattan winds, providing a change in the weather! These climate patterns are essential for understanding the environment in Guinea.
Executive branch
๐๏ธ The Executive branch in Guinea is led by some key figures that guide the country's direction. The chief of state is President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA, who has been in power since 1 October 2021. Meanwhile, the head of government is Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH, who stepped into office recently on 27 February 2024. These leaders play vital roles in shaping policies and managing the country's affairs! ๐
Current President
Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA since 1 October 2021
Current Prime Minister
Mamadou Oury BAH since 27 February 2024
Legislative branch
In Guinea, the Legislative branch is made up of the Transitional National Council. It has a total of 81 seats but guess what? They are all unelected! ๐๏ธ This means that the members of the council are not chosen through a typical election process, which is quite interesting. This body plays a vital role in shaping the nation's policies and governing activities.
Total seats in Transitional National Council
81
Type of council
Unelected
Natural resources
๐ Guinea is rich in natural resources! Hereโs a quick look at what this beautiful country has in store:
- Bauxite: Used to make aluminum!
- Iron ore: A key component for steel.
- Diamonds: Sparkling gems that are always in demand. ๐
- Gold: Precious metal loved by many. ๐ฐ
- Uranium: Important for energy production.
- Hydropower: Source of renewable energy that powers homes.
- Fish: A bountiful source of nutrition and delicious meals! ๐
- Salt: An essential mineral found naturally.
With such a variety of resources, Guinea has a bright future ahead! โจ
Economic overview
๐ Guinea's Economy Overview ๐พ
Guinea has a growing but primarily agrarian economy that relies heavily on agriculture and a major mining sector. ๐ชจ The country was showing improvements in fiscal and debt balances before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. ๐
However, Guinea's economy is facing challenges as it is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. โ This vulnerability affects production and livelihoods, especially in rural areas where agriculture is king!
Moreover, the country is dealing with slow infrastructure improvements ๐ง, which can hinder economic growth and development. ๐๏ธ
There are also significant gender wealth and human capital gaps, indicating that not all citizens have equal opportunities to thrive. ๐ฉโ๐พ๐จโ๐พ
Overall, while there are positive trends in Guinea's economy, many challenges remain for it to fully realize its potential! ๐
Economic Sector Type
Primarily Agrarian
Major Economic Sector
Mining
Pre-COVID-19 Fiscal Improvement
Improving
Climate Change Vulnerability
Increasingly Vulnerable
Infrastructure Improvement Status
Slow
Human Capital Gaps
Present
Gender Wealth Gaps
Present
Government type
In Guinea, the government operates as a presidential republic! ๐โจ This means that the President is the head of state and government, and has significant authority. This type of system often allows for a direct election of the president by the citizens, shaping how the country is governed. ๐ณ๏ธ๐ค
Government Structure
Presidential Republic
Ethnic groups
Guinea is a vibrant country with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups! ๐ Let's take a look at the major groups that make up the population:
- Fulani (Peuhl): 33.4% ๐
- Malinke: 29.4% โ
- Susu: 21.2% ๐
- Guerze: 7.8% ๐ฟ
- Kissi: 6.2% ๐
- Toma: 1.6% ๐ผ
- Other/Foreign: 0.4% ๐
This diverse mix makes Guinea a unique and colorful place to live and visit! ๐
Total Population Ethnic Groups Percentages
100%
Most Represented Ethnic Group
Fulani (Peuhl) - 33.4%
Least Represented Ethnic Group
Other/Foreign - 0.4%
Ethnic Composition of Guinea
Religions
In Guinea, the population has diverse religious beliefs! ๐ Hereโs the breakdown of what people believe in as of 2018:
- Muslim: 85.2% ๐
- Christian: 13.4% โช
- Animist: 0.2% ๐ฟ
- None: 1.2% ๐ซ
As you can see, a huge majority of the population practices Islam, making it the predominant religion in the country. ๐
Percentage of Muslims
85.2%
Percentage of Christians
13.4%
Percentage of Animists
0.2%
Percentage of No Religion
1.2%
Religious Composition of Guinea (2018)
Languages
In Guinea, people speak a variety of languages! The official language is French ๐ซ๐ท, but that's not all! There are also several vibrant native languages like Pular, Maninka, and Susu. ๐๐ฌ It's fascinating to see how diverse and rich Guinea's language landscape is, reflecting the country's cultural heritage! ๐โจ
Official Language
French
Native Languages
Pular, Maninka, Susu, Other
Imports - partners
๐ Guinea gets its imports from various countries! Here's a breakdown of where Guinea's goods come from in 2022:
- China: 37% ๐จ๐ณ
- India: 10% ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Netherlands: 8% ๐ณ๐ฑ
- UAE: 4% ๐ฆ๐ช
- Belgium: 4% ๐ง๐ช
As you can see, China is the biggest partner for imports, making up more than a third of the total! ๐
Total import partners
5
Percentage of imports from China
37%
Percentage of imports from India
10%
Percentage of imports from Netherlands
8%
Percentage of imports from UAE
4%
Percentage of imports from Belgium
4%
Guinea's Import Partners (2022)
Population
๐ Guinea is home to approximately 13,986,179 people! That's a lot of vibrant cultures and communities living together. From bustling cities to scenic landscapes, there's so much to explore in this beautiful country! ๐โจ
Total Population
13,986,179
Area
Area of Guinea ๐ฌ๐ผ
Guinea is a country with a fascinating area that's worth exploring! It covers a total of 245,857 sq km. Let's break it down:
- Land Area: Most of Guinea is made up of land, specifically 245,717 sq km.
- Water Area: There are also some beautiful water bodies, covering 140 sq km.
Isn't it interesting how big Guinea is? ๐
Total Area
245857 sq km
Land Area
245717 sq km
Water Area
140 sq km
Land vs Water Area in Guinea
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
โจ Let's take a closer look at Guinea's Real GDP over the past few years! ๐ This helps us understand how well the economy is doing.
Here are the estimated values for the last three years:
- 2021: $50.543 billion
- 2022: $52.918 billion
- 2023: $56.655 billion
As you can see, there's been a steady increase in GDP each year! This is a positive sign for the economy as it suggests growth and development. ๐ฑ๐ฐ
Guinea's Real GDP Over Time (PPP)
Real GDP per capita
๐ฐ In Guinea, a West African nation, the Real GDP per capita has shown an uplift over the last few years! ๐ Hereโs how it has changed:
- 2021: $3,700
- 2022: $3,800
- 2023: $4,000
This means that people in Guinea are getting more money to spend, which is a good sign for the economy! ๐ Keep an eye on this number as it continues to grow!
GDP Growth from 2021 to 2023
300 USD
Real GDP per Capita Over Years in Guinea
Imports
๐ Let's dive into Guinea's import data! In 2022, Guinea imported a whopping $5.749 billion worth of goods! That's an increase from $5.353 billion in 2021. It's interesting to note that in 2020, imports were even higher at $6.314 billion. This shows how import trends can change over the years! ๐๐ฐ
2020 Import Value
6.314 billion $
2021 Import Value
5.353 billion $
2022 Import Value
5.749 billion $
Guinea's Imports Over the Years
Exports
๐ Let's talk about Guinea's exports! In 2022, Guinea exported goods worth $8.898 billion. The year before, in 2021, exports were higher at $10.266 billion. If we look back to 2020, exports reached $8.996 billion. You can see the ups and downs in the export numbers over these three years. It's like a roller coaster, isn't it? ๐ข
2022 Exports
$8.898 billion
2021 Exports
$10.266 billion
2020 Exports
$8.996 billion
Guinea's Exports Over Time
Population growth rate
๐๐ Did you know that Guinea's population is expected to grow at an impressive rate of 2.74% in 2024? This means more people, more vibrant communities, and lots of new opportunities! ๐ฑ๐
Projected Population Growth Rate for 2024
2.74%