Data at glance of Guinea - average on period

History

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.

Environment

Area: 245,857 sq km km2

Climate: generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Natural resources: bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Ethnic characteristics

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:

Religions: Muslim 85.2%, Christian 13.4%, animist 0.2%, none 1.2% (2018 est.)

Government

Capital: Conakry

Government type: presidential republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: President Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA (since 17 January 2026)

Head of government: Prime Minister Amadou Oury BAH (since 27 February 2024)

Legislative branch

Description: Transitional National Council (Conseil national de transition) - unicameral

Industries

bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 29.6% (2024 est.), Industry: 25.3% (2024 est.), Services: 37.5% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: UAE 50%, China 36%, India 8%, Switzerland 1%, Spain 1% (2023)

Export commodities: gold, aluminum ore, cocoa beans, crude petroleum, coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews (2023)

Import partners: China 39%, India 9%, Netherlands 7%, Belgium 6%, UAE 4% (2023)

Import commodities: refined petroleum, rice, garments, construction vehicles, cars (2023)

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 2.1% of GDP (2024 est.)