Guinea’s deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms, all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea and encouraged its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that provided one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. European traders first arrived in the 16th century, and the French secured colonial rule in the 19th century.
In 1958, Guinea achieved independence from France. Sekou TOURE became Guinea’s first post-independence president; he established a dictatorial regime and ruled until his death in 1984, after which General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. He too established an authoritarian regime and manipulated presidential elections until his death in 2008, when Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and was exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections, and his first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. CONDE won a third term in 2020 after a constitutional change to term limits. In 2021, Col Mamady DOUMBOUYA led another successful military coup, establishing the National Committee for Reconciliation and Development (CNRD), suspending the constitution, and dissolving the government and the legislature. DOUMBOUYA was sworn in as transition president and appointed Mohamed BEAVOGUI as transition prime minister. The National Transition Council (CNT), which acts as the legislative body for the transition, was formed in 2022 and consists of appointed members representing a broad swath of Guinean society.TipVisit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.Definitions and Notes
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone
Geographic coordinates
11 00 N, 10 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 245,857 sq km
land: 245,717 sq km
water: 140 sq km
comparison ranking: total 79
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania
Area comparison map:
Land boundaries
total: 4,046 km
border countries (6): Cote d’Ivoire 816 km; Guinea-Bissau 421 km; Liberia 590 km; Mali 1062 km; Senegal 363 km; Sierra Leone 794 km
Coastline
320 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Terrain
generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior
Elevation
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 472 m
Natural resources
bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt
Land use
agricultural land: 70% (2022 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 5.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 43.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 24.9% (2022 est.)
other: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
949 sq km (2017)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) – 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) – 1,094 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Population distribution
areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season
Geography – note
the Niger and its important tributary, the Milo River, have their sources in the Guinean highlands
People and Society
Population
total: 13,986,179 (2024 est.)
male: 6,985,606
female: 7,000,573
comparison rankings: total 75; female 75; male 75
Nationality
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean
Ethnic groups
Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)
Languages
French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages
note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language
Religions
Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 40.9% (male 2,884,146/female 2,835,794)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 3,846,852/female 3,856,366)
65 years and over: 4% (2024 est.) (male 254,608/female 308,413)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 81.6 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 74.3 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.3 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.7 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 19.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 19.2 years
female: 19.6 years
comparison ranking: total 209
Population growth rate
2.74% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 12
Birth rate
35.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 12
Death rate
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 92
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 89
Population distribution
areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
2.111 million CONAKRY (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
19.9 years (2018 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49
Maternal mortality ratio
553 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 10
Infant mortality rate
total: 47 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 51.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.3 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 21
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 64.6 years (2024 est.)
male: 62.7 years
female: 66.6 years
comparison ranking: total population 206
Total fertility rate
4.78 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 11
Gross reproduction rate
2.36 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
10.9% (2018)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 99.5% of population
rural: 76.9% of population
total: 85.2% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0.5% of population
rural: 23.1% of population
total: 14.8% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
3.8% of GDP (2021)
5% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 90.9% of population
rural: 38.7% of population
total: 58% of population
unimproved:
urban: 9.1% of population
rural: 61.3% of population
total: 42% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
7.7% (2016)
comparison ranking: 158
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 0.33 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.03 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 168
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
16.3% (2018)
comparison ranking: 28
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
68.7% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 17% (2018)
women married by age 18: 46.5% (2018)
men married by age 18: 1.9% (2018)
Education expenditure
1.7% of GDP (2023 est.)
9.3% national budget (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 190
Literacy
total population: 40% (2018 est.)
male: 54% (2018 est.)
female: 28% (2018 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2014)
Environment
Environment – current issues
deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices; water pollution; improper waste disposal
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Climate
generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
Land use
agricultural land: 70% (2022 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 5.8% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 43.5% (2022 est.)
forest: 24.9% (2022 est.)
other: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 38.1% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 37.57 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.)
municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Niger river source (shared with Mali, and Nigeria [m]) – 4,200 km; Gambie (Gambia) river source (shared with Senegal and The Gambia [m]) – 1,094 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Niger (2,261,741 sq km), Senegal (456,397 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 230 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 60 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
226 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: République de Guinée
local short form: Guinée
former: French Guinea
etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea, but the name itself derives from the Tuareg word aginaw, meaning “black people”
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology:
the name derives from konakri, a Susu word meaning “over the water” and referring to the city’s location on a peninsula; it was originally the name of a local village
Administrative divisions
7 administrative regions (régions administratives, singular – région administrative) and 1 governorate (gouvenorat)*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N’Zerekore
Legal system
civil law system based on the French model
Constitution
history: previous 1958, 1990; 2010 and a referendum in 2020, which was suspended on 5 September 2021 via a coup d’état; on 27 September, the Transitional Charter was released, which supersedes the constitution until a new constitution is promulgated
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: na
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Interim President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 1 October 2021)
head of government: Prime Minister Mamadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)
cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments: formerly, the president was directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term) and the prime minister appointed by the president; election last held on 18 October 2020
election results:
2020: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote – Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7%
2015: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote – Alpha CONDE (RPG) 57.8%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 31.4%, other 10.8%
note 1: in 2021, the military arrested and detained the president, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government and legislature
note 2: the transitional government has not announced a new election timetable
Legislative branch
legislature name: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition)
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 81 (all appointed)
electoral system: mixed system
scope of elections: full renewal
most recent election date: 1/22/2022
percentage of women in chamber: 29.6%
expected date of next election: December 2025
note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup in which President CONDE was arrested and detained, the constitution suspended, and the government and People’s National Assembly dissolved; in January 2022, an 81-member Transitional National Council was installed; in February 2024, Guinea’s military leaders dissolved the government
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Cour Suprême (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court – suspended on 5 September 2021
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve 9-year terms until age 65
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d’Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d’Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Première Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts
Political parties
African Congress for Democracy and Renewal or CADRE
Alliance for National Renewal or ARN
Alliance for National Renewal or ARENA
Bloc Liberal or BL
Citizen Generation or GECI
Citizen Party for the Defense of Collective Interests or PCDIC
Democratic Alliance for Renewal or ADR
Democratic National Movement or MND
Democratic Union for Renewal and Progress or UDRP
Democratic Union of Guinea or UDG
Democratic People’s Movement of Guinea or MPDG
Democratic Workers’ Party of Guinea or PDTG
Front for the National Alliance or FAN
Generation for Reconciliation Union and Prosperity or GRUP
Guinea for Democracy and Balance or GDE
Guinean Party for Peaceful Coexistence and Development or PGCD
Guinean Party for Solidarity and Democracy or PGSD
Guinean Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD
Guinean Rally for Development or RGD
Guinean Rally for Unity and Development or RGUD
Guinean Renaissance Party or PGR
Modern Guinea
Movement for Solidarity and Development or MSD
National Committee for Reconciliation and Development
National Front for Development or FND
National Union for Prosperity or UNP
National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN
New Democratic Forces or NFD
New Generation for the Republic or NGR
New Guinea or NG
New Political Generation or NGP
Party for Progress and Change or PPC
Party of Citizen Action through Labor or PACT
Party of Democrats for Hope or PADES
Party of Freedom and Progress or PLP
Party of Hope for National Development or PEDN
Rally for Renaissance and Development or RRD
Rally for the Guinean People or RPG
Rally for the Integrated Development of Guinea or RDIG
Rally for the Republic or RPR
Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG
Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR
Union for the Defense of Republican Interests or UDIR
Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG
Union of Democratic Forces or UFD a or UFDG
Union of Democrats for the Renaissance of Guinea or UDRG
Union of Republican Forces or UFR
Unity and Progress Party or PUP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Fatoumata KABA (since 19 April 2023)
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800
email address and website:
http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/
consulate(s): Los Angelos
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Troy Damian FITRELL (since January 2022)
embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110
telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00
FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://gn.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
2 October 1958 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 2 October (1958)
Flag description
three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red stands for the people’s sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow for the sun, the riches of the earth, and justice; green for the country’s vegetation and unity
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal
National symbol(s)
elephant
National colors
red, yellow, green
National anthem
name: “Liberte” (Liberty)
lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA
note: adopted 1958
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Mount Nimba Strict Nature Reserve
Economy
Economic overview
growing but primarily agrarian West African economy; major mining sector; improving fiscal and debt balances prior to COVID-19; economy increasingly vulnerable to climate change; slow infrastructure improvements; gender wealth and human capital gaps
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$56.892 billion (2023 est.)
$53.297 billion (2022 est.)
$51.261 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 119
Real GDP growth rate
6.74% (2023 est.)
3.97% (2022 est.)
3.9% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 20
Real GDP per capita
$3,900 (2023 est.)
$3,800 (2022 est.)
$3,700 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 187
GDP (official exchange rate)
$22.199 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.1% (2024 est.)
7.8% (2023 est.)
10.5% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 178
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 29.1% (2023 est.)
industry: 26.3% (2023 est.)
services: 36.9% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 204; industry 83; agriculture 12
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 72.9% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 13.6% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 21.9% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: -1.1% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 41.6% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -49% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
rice, cassava, maize, groundnuts, oil palm fruit, plantains, potatoes, fonio, yams, sweet potatoes (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate
10.9% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 13
Labor force
4.534 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 94
Unemployment rate
5.2% (2024 est.)
5.2% (2023 est.)
5.3% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 100
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 7.1% (2024 est.)
male: 6.2% (2024 est.)
female: 8% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 153
Population below poverty line
43.7% (2018 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
29.6 (2018 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 127
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 3.5% (2018 est.)
highest 10%: 23.1% (2018 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
2.24% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.65% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.01% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $1.949 billion (2019 est.)
expenditures: $2.014 billion (2019 est.)
Public debt
37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 137
Taxes and other revenues
16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 121
Current account balance
$2.288 billion (2023 est.)
$3.35 billion (2022 est.)
$4.639 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 44
Exports
$12.008 billion (2023 est.)
$8.898 billion (2022 est.)
$10.266 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 108
Exports – partners
UAE 50%, China 36%, India 8%, Switzerland 1%, Spain 1% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$8.365 billion (2023 est.)
$5.749 billion (2022 est.)
$5.353 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 129
Imports – partners
China 39%, India 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 6%, UAE 4% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$1.887 billion (2023 est.)
$2.11 billion (2022 est.)
$2.183 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 131
Debt – external
$3.764 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 77
Exchange rates
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
9,565.082 (2020 est.)
9,183.876 (2019 est.)
9,011.134 (2018 est.)
9,088.319 (2017 est.)
8,967.927 (2016 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 47.7% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 91%
electrification – rural areas: 21.3%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 1.06 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.624 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 424.356 million kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 77; consumption 138; installed generating capacity 134
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 25.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 74.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
imports: 400 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 32,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
4.505 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 4.504 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 140
Energy consumption per capita
5.235 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 170
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 0 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 221
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 13.8 million (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 102 (2021 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 77
Broadcast media
government maintains control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private TV stations; many privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2022)
Internet country code
.gn
Internet users
percent of population: 27% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total 205
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
3X
Airports
16 (2025)
comparison ranking: 148
Heliports
1 (2025)
comparison ranking: 144
Railways
total: 1,086 km (2017)
standard gauge: 279 km (2017) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 807 km (2017) 1.000-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 2 (2023)
by type: other 2
comparison ranking: total 175
Ports
total ports: 4 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 1
small: 0
very small: 3
ports with oil terminals: 2
key ports: Benti, Conakry, Kamsar, Victoria
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Guinean (or National) Armed Forces (Forces Armées Guinéennes): Army, Air Force, Navy, National Gendarmerie (2024)
note: the National Gendarmerie is overseen by the Ministry of Defense, while the National Police is under the Ministry of Security; the Gendarmerie and National Police share responsibility for internal security, but only the Gendarmerie can arrest police or military officials; Guinea’s military and security forces are sometimes collectively referred to as the Defense and Security Forces
Military expenditures
2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)
2.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 10-12,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Guinean military’s inventory consists almost entirely of Soviet-era weapons and equipment along with small amounts of secondhand material from China, France, Russia, and South Africa (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary and selective conscripted service; 9-12 months of service (2023)
Military – note
the Guinean military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for territorial defense, but also has some domestic security responsibilities and has historically been involved in suppressing public protests; the military has undergone some attempts at reform since 2010, but in 2021 the Army’s special forces led a military overthrow of the government (2024)
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
NA
