Discover Fascinating Guinea Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Guinea.

Guinea

Background

๐ŸŒ Exploring the Rich History of Guinea! ๐ŸŒ

Did you know that before Europeans landed in the 16th century, the region now known as Guinea was ruled by various kingdoms? ๐Ÿฐ That's right! ๐Ÿฐ Additionally, Islam found its way to Guinea in the 11th century, which has shaped much of the culture and society we see today.

๐Ÿ’ช 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! ๐Ÿ˜Š

Year of Independence from France

1958

Introduction of Islam

11th century

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿช™โœจ Guinea's Treasure Trove of Exports! โœจ๐Ÿช™ Did you know that Guinea is rich in natural resources? Their export market is bustling with valuable commodities! Hereโ€™s what theyโ€™re 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!๐Ÿฅฅ๐Ÿฅœ
  • Cocoa Beans: The magic behind our favorite chocolates! ๐Ÿซ
  • Fish: Fresh catches making waves in the global market! ๐ŸŽฃ

These exports show just how diverse Guinea's economy is and highlight the natural wealth of this amazing country! ๐ŸŒ

Major exports from Guinea

Gold, Aluminum Ore, Coconuts/Brazil Nuts/Cashews, Cocoa Beans, Fish

Exports - partners

๐Ÿ›ณ๏ธ Let's sail into the world of Guinea's exports! In 2022, Guinea had some important trade partners that helped boost its economy. ๐ŸŒ Check out these numbers:

  • China: 37% of Guinea's exports went here! ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • India: A solid 27% of exports were shipped off to India! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE): 25% headed to the UAE! ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Switzerland: A smaller share, at 3% of exports. ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ญ
  • Spain: The smallest partner, with 2% of exports. ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ

Itโ€™s clear that China, India, and the UAE are the big players in Guinea's export game! ๐Ÿ“ˆ

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

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ผ The capital of Guinea is Conakry! This vibrant city is where the heart of Guinea beats. Itโ€™s an important hub for politics, culture, and trade. ๐Ÿ™๏ธ

Imports - commodities

Guinea imports a variety of important commodities to support its economy and meet the needs of its people. Hereโ€™s a fun snapshot of the goods flowing into Guinea in 2022:

  • Refined Petroleum: This is essential for transportation and industry. โ›ฝ
  • Rice: A staple food that helps keep the nation fed. ๐Ÿš
  • Garments: Clothing imports play a big role in fashion and industry! ๐Ÿ‘—๐Ÿงฅ
  • Plastic Products: From containers to toys, these are central to daily life. ๐Ÿงด๐Ÿงธ
  • Wheat: Crucial for making bread and other foods. ๐Ÿž

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

๐ŸŒก๏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. ๐Ÿ’ง 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

๐Ÿ›๏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! ๐Ÿ“…

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! ๐Ÿ›๏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

๐ŸŒ Guinea is rich in natural resources! Hereโ€™s 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. ๐Ÿ’Ž
  • Gold: Precious metal loved by many. ๐Ÿ’ฐ
  • Uranium: Important for energy production.
  • Hydropower: Source of renewable energy that powers homes.
  • Fish: A bountiful source of nutrition and delicious meals! ๐ŸŸ
  • Salt: An essential mineral found naturally.

With such a variety of resources, Guinea has a bright future ahead! โœจ

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Guinea's Economy Overview ๐ŸŒพ

Guinea has a growing but primarily agrarian economy that relies heavily on agriculture and a major mining sector. ๐Ÿชจ The country was showing improvements in fiscal and debt balances before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. ๐Ÿ“ˆ

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 ๐Ÿšง, which can hinder economic growth and development. ๐Ÿ—๏ธ

There are also significant gender wealth and human capital gaps, indicating that not all citizens have equal opportunities to thrive. ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€๐ŸŒพ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸŒพ

Overall, while there are positive trends in Guinea's economy, many challenges remain for it to fully realize its potential! ๐Ÿ“Š

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! ๐ŸŒโœจ 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. ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ๐Ÿค

Government Structure

Presidential Republic

Ethnic groups

Guinea is a vibrant country with a rich tapestry of ethnic groups! ๐ŸŒ Let's take a look at the major groups that make up the population:

  • Fulani (Peuhl): 33.4% ๐Ÿ„
  • Malinke: 29.4% โœ‹
  • Susu: 21.2% ๐ŸŽ‰
  • Guerze: 7.8% ๐ŸŒฟ
  • Kissi: 6.2% ๐Ÿƒ
  • Toma: 1.6% ๐ŸŒผ
  • Other/Foreign: 0.4% ๐ŸŒ

This diverse mix makes Guinea a unique and colorful place to live and visit! ๐ŸŽˆ

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! ๐ŸŒ Hereโ€™s the breakdown of what people believe in as of 2018:

  • Muslim: 85.2% ๐Ÿ•‹
  • Christian: 13.4% โ›ช
  • Animist: 0.2% ๐ŸŒฟ
  • None: 1.2% ๐Ÿšซ

As you can see, a huge majority of the population practices Islam, making it the predominant religion in the country. ๐Ÿ•Œ

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 ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท, but that's not all! There are also several vibrant native languages like Pular, Maninka, and Susu. ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฌ It's fascinating to see how diverse and rich Guinea's language landscape is, reflecting the country's cultural heritage! ๐ŸŒˆโœจ

Official Language

French

Native Languages

Pular, Maninka, Susu, Other

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ Guinea gets its imports from various countries! Here's a breakdown of where Guinea's goods come from in 2022:

  • China: 37% ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • India: 10% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ
  • Netherlands: 8% ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ
  • UAE: 4% ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Belgium: 4% ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ช

As you can see, China is the biggest partner for imports, making up more than a third of the total! ๐Ÿ“Š

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

๐Ÿ“Š 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! ๐ŸŒโœจ

Total Population

13,986,179

Area

Area of Guinea ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ผ

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? ๐ŸŒ

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)

โœจ Let's take a closer look at Guinea's Real GDP over the past few years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ 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. ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Guinea's Real GDP Over Time (PPP)

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿ’ฐ In Guinea, a West African nation, the Real GDP per capita has shown an uplift over the last few years! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Hereโ€™s 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! ๐ŸŒ 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

๐Ÿ“ˆ 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! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ

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

๐Ÿ“ˆ 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? ๐ŸŽข

2022 Exports

$8.898 billion

2021 Exports

$10.266 billion

2020 Exports

$8.996 billion

Guinea's Exports Over Time

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“ˆ 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! ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

Projected Population Growth Rate for 2024

2.74%