Reuters AlertNet Lite - Guinea-Bissau

PEOPLE

Language
Portuguese is the official language; the crioulo dialect, a mixture of Portugese and African languages, is used as lingua franca. The most common native languages are Mande and Fulah.
Source: New Internationalist World Guide

Population

2009	1.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2009)
2007	1.6 million	U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Population Division (2006)
2006	1.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2005	1.6 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2004	1.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2003	1.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2002	1.5 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2001	1.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)
2000	1.4 million	U.N. DESA (2006)

Future population estimates
3.6 million (2050)
Source: U.N. DESA (2009)

Ethnic groups
Balante 27 percent, Fulani 23 percent, Malinke 12 percent. There are also Mandyako, Pepel and other minorities.
Source: NI World Guide

Religion
Around two thirds practice traditional African religions; nearly one third are Muslim and there is a small Catholic community.
Source: NI World Guide

Percentage urban population

2007	29.7 percent	U.N. DESA - World Urbanisation Prospects 2005
2006	29.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2005	29.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2004	29.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2003	29.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2002	29.6 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2001	29.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)
2000	29.7 percent	U.N. DESA (2005)

Year women granted right to vote
1977
Source: U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report
Where two figures are shown, the first refers to a partial recognition of the right to vote and the second to the year women received the right to vote on a universal and equal basis.

Net percentage of girls enrolled in primary education
No data available (2005)

Percentage of population under 15

2005	47.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	47.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	47.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	47.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.9 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

USEFUL INFORMATION

Time zone
GMT

Climate description
Tropical with one rainy season January-October; temperatures high year round but slightly cooler December-April when rain is infrequent.

Currency
CFA Franc

Telephone dialling code
(+) 245

Driving (left/right)
Right

STANDARD OF LIVING

Average life expectancy

2005	45.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	44.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	44.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	45.3 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	45.0 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	44.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - male

2005	44.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	43.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	43.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	43.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	43.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	43.4 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Life expectancy - female

2005	47.5 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	46.8 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	46.7 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	46.2 years	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Infant mortality

2007	118 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	119 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	124 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	126 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	126 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	130 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	130 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	132 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Child mortality - deaths before the age of five

2007	198 per 1,000 live births	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2006	200 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
2005	200 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
2004	203 per 1,000 live births	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
2003	204 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	215 per 1,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Births attended by skilled personnel

1997-2005	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1996-2004	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1995-2003	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	35 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Maternal mortality

2005	1100 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2000	1100 per 100,000 live births	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006

Human development index (HDI rank)

2005	175	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2004	173	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2003	172	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2002	172	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2001	166	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	167	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of children under weight for age (under age 5)

2000-2007	19 percent	U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) - State of the World's Children 2009
2000-2006	19 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2008
1996-2005	25 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2007
1996-2004	25 percent	UNICEF - State of the World's Children 2006
1995-2003	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
1995-2002	25 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1995-2001	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
1995-2000	23 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Percentage of undernourished population

2003-2005	32 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2008
2002-2004average	39 percent	U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) 2006
2001-2003average	37 percent	FAO 2006

Food intake falls below the minimum requirement.

Population with access to improved water

2006	57 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	59 percent	UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) 2006
2002	59 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	56 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Population with access to improved sanitation

2006	33 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2008
2004	35 percent	UNICEF and WHO 2006
2002	34 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2000	56 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004

Literacy - average

2004	No data available percent
2003	39.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	39.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	38.5 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - male

2004	No data available percent
2003	55.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	55.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	54.4 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Literacy - female

2004	No data available percent
2003	24.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	24.7 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003
2000	23.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2002

Landlines telephones

2008	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	5 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	8 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	7 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	9 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Cellular telephone subscribers

2008	318 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	192 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	104 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	67 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	27 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	1 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	No data available per 1,000 people
2001	No data available per 1,000 people
2000	No data available per 1,000 people

Internet users

2008	21 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2007	20 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2006	19 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2005	18 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2004	17 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2003	13 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2002	10 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2001	3 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009
2000	2 per 1,000 people	ITU 2009

Transparency International corruption ranking (Scale: 1 = least corrupt, >175 = most corrupt)

2008	158 (joint)	Transparency International 2008
2007	147 (joint)	Transparency International 2007
2006	Not ranked

Signatory of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment for the crime of Genocide
No (1948)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Signed but not yet ratified (1984)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

Signatory of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Yes (1989)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report

ECONOMY & AID

Percentage of population living on less than US$1 a day
No data available percent

GNI per capita, Atlas method

2007	200 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	180 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	180 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	150 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	130 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	130 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	140 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	160 current US$	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

The purpose of the Atlas conversion factor is to reduce the impact of exchange rate fluctuations in a cross-country comparison of national incomes. The Atlas conversion factor for any year is the average of a country's exchange rate (or alternative conversion factor) for that year and its exchange rates for the two preceding years.

GDP

2007	0.4 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	0.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	0.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	0.3 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	0.2 current US$ billions	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Annual GDP growth

2006	4.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2005	3.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2004	2.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2003	0.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2002	-7.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2001	0.2 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008
2000	7.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2008

Annual inflation

2007	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2006	-0.5 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2005	7.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2004	2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2003	-2.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2002	3.6 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2001	-5.1 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009
2000	3.3 percent	World Bank Data Profile Tables 2009

Share of income or consumption (poorest 10 percent)
2.1 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

Share of income or consumption (richest 10 percent)
39.3 (latest available year)
Source: UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008

HEALTH

Physicians

2000-2004	12 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
1990-2004	12 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
1990-2003	17 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1990-2002	17 per 100,000 people	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage HIV+ (adults aged 15-49)

2007	1.8 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2006	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2005	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2004	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008
2003	1.9 percent	U.N. Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 2008

Malaria
Risk from P.falciparum throughout the year in the whole country. Resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported.
Source: WHO

TB cases

2007	220 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2006	216 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2005	211 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2004	207 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2003	203 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2002	199 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2001	195 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009
2000	192 per 100,000 people	WHO 2009

CONFLICT & MIGRATION

Number of refugees originating here

2008	1065	UNHCR
2007	1028	UNHCR
2006	1004	Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
2005	1050	UNHCR
2004	1018	UNHCR
2003	975	UNHCR
2002	986	UNHCR
2001	927	UNHCR
2000	886	UNHCR

Number of refugees residing here

2008	7884	UNHCR
2007	7860	UNHCR
2006	7804	UNHCR
2005	7616	UNHCR
2004	7536	UNHCR
2003	7551	UNHCR
2002	7639	UNHCR
2001	7332	UNHCR
2000	7587	UNHCR

Number of internally displaced people\Estimate

	No data available

No data available

Landmine casualties per year

2004	30	Landmine Monitor Report 2005
2003	12	Landmine Monitor Report 2004

Casualty figures may include both civilians and military personnel injured or killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Signatory to landmine convention?
Yes (1997)
Source: Landmine Monitor Report

Percentage of GDP spent on military
No data available percent (2004)

Percentage of GDP spent on education

2002-2005	No data available percent
2002-2004	No data available percent
1999-2001	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
1998-2000	2.1 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003

Percentage of GDP spent on health

2004	1.3 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2007/2008
2003-2004	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2006
2002	3.0 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2005
2001	3.2 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2004
2000	2.6 percent	UNDP - Human Development Report 2003