NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Republic of Guinea
Republique de Guinee
former: French Guinea
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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Independent from France since 1958, Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Lansana CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998. Unrest in Sierra Leone has spilled over into Guinea, threatening stability and creating a humanitarian emergency. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone |
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Geographic coordinates:
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11 00 N, 10 00 W |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 245,857 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Oregon |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,399 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km |
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Coastline:
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320 km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds |
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Terrain:
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generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m |
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Natural resources:
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bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish |
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Land use:
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arable land: 3.6%
permanent crops: 2.44% other: 93.96% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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950 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season |
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Environment - current issues:
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deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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7,775,065 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 42.8% (male 1,660,795; female 1,669,850)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 2,067,991; female 2,165,625) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 86,968; female 123,836) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.23% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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39.49 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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17.24 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of civil war in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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127.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 46.28 years
female: 48.82 years (2002 est.) male: 43.81 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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5.32 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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1.54% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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55,000 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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5,600 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10% |
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Religions:
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Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7% |
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Languages:
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French (official), each ethnic group has its own language |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9% male: 49.9% female: 21.9% (1995 est.) |