Guinea-Bissau

sovereign state in Western Africa

Guinea-Bissau is a country in Africa. It borders Senegal to the north, Guinea to the south. The official language is Portuguese, and the capital is Bissau. About 1,442,000 people live in Guinea-Bissau as of 2006.[4] The country was a Portuguese colony in the 19th century. At that time is was called Portuguese Guinea. It became independent in 1973. In 1974, the name of the country's capital was added so that it would not be confused with the neighboring country Guinea.

Republic of Guinea-Bissau
República da Guiné-Bissau   (in Portuguese)
Emblem of Guinea-Bissau
Emblem
Motto: Portuguese: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso"  
"Unity, Struggle, Progress"
Anthem: Portuguese: "Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada"  
"This is Our Well-Beloved Motherland"
Location of Guinea-Bissau
Capital
and largest city
Bissau
11°52′N 15°36′W / 11.867°N 15.600°W / 11.867; -15.600
Official languagesPortuguese
Recognised national languagesGuinea-Bissau Creole
Other national languages
  • French
  • English
  • Arabic
  • Balanta
  • Jola-Fonyi
  • Fulfulde
  • Fang
  • Bubi
  • Hassaniya Arabic
  • Mandinka
  • Mandjak
  • Mankanya
  • Myene
  • Noon
  • Pulaar
  • Serer
  • Soninke
Ethnic groups
African 99% (includes Balanta 30%
Fula 20%
Manjaca 14%
Mandinga 13%
Papel 7%)
European and mulatto less than 1%
Demonym(s)Bissau-Guinean(s)[1]
GovernmentRepublic
• President
Umaro Sissoco Embaló
Rui Duarte de Barros
LegislatureNational People's Assembly
Independence 
• Declared
24 September 1973
• Recognized
10 September 1974
Area
• Total
36,125 km2 (13,948 sq mi) (136th)
• Water (%)
22.4
Population
• 2010 estimate
1,647,000[2] (148th)
• 2002 census
1,345,479
• Density
44.1/km2 (114.2/sq mi) (154th)
GDP (PPP)2011 estimate
• Total
$1.925 billion[3]
• Per capita
$1,144[3]
GDP (nominal)2011 estimate
• Total
$969 million[3]
• Per capita
$575[3]
Gini (1993)47
high
HDI (2010)0.289
low · 164th
CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
Driving sideright
Calling code245
Internet TLD.gw
Satellite image of Guinea-Bissau
Where Guinea-Bissau is in the World

Regions and sectors change

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions and one autonomous sector. These are divided into thirty-seven sectors. The regions are:

* autonomous sector

References change

  1. "Background Note: Guinea-Bissau". US Department of State. December 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009). "World Population Prospects, Table A.1" (PDF). 2008 revision. United Nations. Retrieved 12 March 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) NB: The preliminary results of the National population census in Guinea-Bissau put the figure at 1,449,230, according to email information by the Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa, Bissau.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Guinea-Bissau". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. Retrieved on 8 October 2007.