The Information Technology Landscape In 
The Republic of Guinea

About Guinea

Location       Population   Economy   Culture

Location:
Guinea is located in West Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.  It is bordered in the north by Senegal and Guinea Bissau, in the east by Mali and Cote D'Ivore and in the south by Liberia and Sierra Leone.  It stretches from latitudes 7 degrees north to 13 degrees north, and longitude 8 degrees west to 15 degrees west.  Guinea covers about 245,857 square kilometer and is divided into four regions: the coast of lower Guinea; the central, ountainous Fouta Djalon; the savanna of upper Guinea; and the forest in the southeast.  The capital of the country is Conakry.  Please click on the  map to view a detailed map of guinea, its different regions and its bordering countries.

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Population:
Guinea has a population of 7,538,953 (July 1999 est.) structured as follows: 0-14 years: 44% (male 1,640,158; female 1,653,184), 15-64 years: 54% (male 1,974,849; female 2,068,221), and 65 years and over: 2% (male 83,859; female 118,682) (1999 est.).  The population growth rate is  0.82% (1999 est.).  The country has three main ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller tribes 10%.  The main religion is Islam (85%), followed by Christianism (8%) and ind indigenous beliefs 7%. (www.bouba.com)

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Economy:
Guinea had a GDP of $8.8 billion as of 1998, with a growth rate of 4.9% and a per capita of $1,180.  The GDP compostion by sector is as follows: 24% in agriculture, 31% in industry and 45% in services.  The inflation rate for the same year was at 3.5%.  The main agricultural products that the country exports are:  rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber. On the other hand, exports consists of commodities such as petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs.

Guinea is one of the richest African countries in natural resources.  It possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources. Natural resources include bauxite, iron, ore, diamonds, gold, water power, uranium and fisheries.  Guinea possesses an estimated one-third of the world's proven reserves of bauxite, more than 1.8 billion metric tons (MT) of high-grade iron ore, significant diamond and gold deposits, and undetermined quantities of uranium. Guinea has considerable potential for growth in the agricultural and fishing sectors. Soil, water, and climatic conditions provide opportunities for large-scale irrigated farming and agricultural industry. Possibilities for investment and commercial activities exist in all these areas, but Guinea's poorly developed infrastructure continues to present obstacles to investment projects. Diamonds are also being mined and exported
on a large scale.

The agricultural sector employs 80% of the work force.  The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1998.
Labor force by occupation: agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 11%, services 5.4%, civil service 3.6%

Culture:
Guinea has a very rich culture. It has four main ethnic groups. Peuls (Foulah or Foulani), who inhabit the mountainous Fouta
Djallon; Malikes (or Mandingos), in the savanna regions; Soussous in the coastal areas; and Forestal tribes in the forest regions.

The National Dance Company of the Republic of Guinea is universally recognized as being Africa's foremost touring ensemble.  Les Ballets African of Guinea has indeed been described by the New York Daily News as "A bolt of joy from Africa...They supply enough energy to light up a city" and according the New York Times "There is sweetness and merriment to their performance that is wholly beleivable". (Pan African Arts Management (PAAM).

(courtsey of PAAM)
                     

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Last updated: 12/19/99