Data at glance of Guinea-Bissau - average on period

History

For much of its history, Guinea-Bissau was under the control of the Mali Empire and the Kaabu Kingdom. In the 16th century, Portugal began establishing trading posts along Guinea-Bissau’s shoreline. Initially, the Portuguese were restricted to the coastline and islands. However, the slave and gold trades were lucrative to local African leaders, and the Portuguese were slowly able to expand their power and influence inland. Starting in the 18th century, the Mali Empire and Kingdom of Kaabu slowly disintegrated into smaller local entities. By the 19th century, Portugal had fully incorporated Guinea-Bissau into its empire. Since gaining independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. VIEIRA's regime suppressed political opposition and purged political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him, but a military mutiny and civil war in 1999 led to VIEIRA's ouster. In 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA. In 2003, a bloodless military coup overthrew YALA and installed businessman Henrique ROSA as interim president. In 2005, VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was then elected president, but he passed away in 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup blocked the second round of the election to replace him, but after mediation from the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power. In 2014, Jose Mario VAZ was elected president in a free and fair election, and in 2019, he became the first president in Guinea-Bissau’s history to complete a full term. Umaro Sissoco EMBALO was elected president in 2019, but he did not take office until 2020 because of a prolonged challenge to the election results.

Environment

Area: 36,125 sq km km2

Climate: tropical; 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: fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Ethnic characteristics

Groups: Balanta 30%, Fulani 30%, Manjaco 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, unspecified smaller ethnic groups 6% (2015 est.)

Languages:

Religions: Muslim 46.1%, folk religions 30.6%, Christian 18.9%, other or unaffiliated 4.4% (2020 est.)

Government

Capital: Bissau

Government type: semi-presidential republic

Executive branch

Chief of state: Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025)

Head of government: Interim Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025)

Legislative branch

Description: People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular) - unicameral

Industries

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

GDP by sector: Agriculture: 36.8% (2024 est.), Industry: 16.6% (2024 est.), Services: 42.1% (2024 est.)

Trade

Export partners: India 66%, Chile 9%, Cote d'Ivoire 5%, Ghana 4%, Netherlands 3% (2023)

Export commodities: coconuts/brazil nuts/cashews, fish, fish oil, processed crustaceans, malt extract (2023)

Import partners: Senegal 28%, Portugal 24%, China 11%, Gambia, The 10%, Pakistan 4% (2023)

Import commodities: refined petroleum, iron bars, rice, plastics, flavored water (2023)

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Defence

Military expenditure: 2024: 1.2% of GDP (2024 est.)