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PROFILE
Geography
Area (including Bijagos Archipelago): 36,125 sq. km., about the size of Maryland.
Cities: Capital-Bissau. Other cities-Bafata, Gabu, Canchungo, Farim, Cacheu.
Regions: Oio, Tombali, Cacheu, Bolama, Quinara, Biombo, Bafata, Gabu.
Terrain: Coastal plain; savanna in the east.
Climate: Tropical.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective-Bissau-Guinean(s).
Population (July 2010): 1.645 million.
Population growth rate (2009): 2%.
Ethnic groups: Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%, others 16%.
Religions: Indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 40%, Christian 10%.
Languages: Portuguese (official), Creole, French; many indigenous languages-Balanta-Kentohe 26%, Pulaar 18%, Mandjak 12%, Mandinka 11%, Pepel 9%, Biafada 3%, Mancanha 3%, Bidyogo 2%, Ejamat 2%, Mansoanka 1%, Bainoukgunyuno 1%, Nalu 1%, Soninke 1%, Badjara 1%, Bayote 0.5%, Kobiana 0.04%, Cassanga 0.04%, Basary 0.03%.
Education: Years compulsory-4. Literacy (2008)-42.4% of adults.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2009)-99.82 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (2009)-47.9 years.
Work force (2007): 632,700. Agriculture-82%; industry, services, and commerce-13%; government-2%.
Government
Type: Republic, multi-party since 1991.
Independence: September 24, 1973 (proclaimed unilaterally); September 10, 1974 (de jure from Portugal).
Constitution: Adopted 1984. The National Assembly adopted a new constitution in 2001, but it was neither promulgated nor vetoed by the President.
Branches: Executive-president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government) and Council of State, ministers and secretaries of state. Legislature-National Popular Assembly (ANP), 100 members directly elected in 2008. Judicial- Supreme Court and lower courts.
Administrative subdivisions: Autonomous sector of Bissau and eight regions.
Political parties: In the November 2008 parliamentary elections, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won 67 seats; the Social Renovation Party (PRS) won 28 seats; and the Republican Party for Independence and Development won 3 seats. In addition to these three major parties, there are numerous other political parties.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
Economy
GDP (2010): $837 million.
Annual growth rate (2009): 3%.
GDP per capita (2010): $509.
Inflation (2010): 5.7%
Natural resources: Fish and timber. Bauxite and phosphate deposits are not exploited; offshore petroleum.
Agriculture (62% of GDP): Products-cashews, tropical fruits, rice, peanuts, cotton, palm oil. Arable land-11%. Forested- 38%.
Industry (12% of GDP): Cashew processing. Very little industrial capacity remains following the 1998 internal conflict.
Trade (2009): Exports-$114.8 million: cashews ($110.1 million); fish; shrimp; peanuts; palm kernels; sawn lumber. Major markets (2008)-India...