Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958.

Lansana Conte came to power in 1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou Toure.

Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. Conte (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government.

He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Guinea has maintained its internal stability despite spillover effects from conflict in Sierra Leone and Liberia. As those countries have rebuilt, Guinea's own vulnerability to political and economic crisis has increased.

In 2006, declining economic conditions and popular dissatisfaction with corruption and bad governance prompted two massive strikes that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 9,947,814 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 44.3% (male 2,226,414/female 2,183,153) 15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,611,833/female 2,610,773) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 138,392/female 177,249) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 17.7 years male: 17.5 years female: 17.9 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 2.62% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 41.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 15.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.781 male(s)/female total population: 1.001 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 88.58 deaths/1,000 live births male: 93.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 83.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 49.65 years male: 48.5 years female: 50.84 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 5.75 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 3.2% (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 140,000 (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: 9,000 (2003 est.)

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Major infectious diseases: degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2007)

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Nationality: noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean

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Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

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Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

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Languages: French (official); note - each ethnic group has its own language

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 29.5% male: 42.6% female: 18.1% (2003 est.)

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country has almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over 70% of exports. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Investor confidence has been sapped by rampant corruption, a lack of electricity and other infrastructure, a lack of skilled workers, and the political uncertainty due to the failing health of President Lansana CONTE. Guinea is trying to reengage with the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003, and is working closely with technical advisors from the U.S. Treasury Department, the World Bank and IMF, seeking to return to a fully funded program. Growth rose slightly in 2006, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $19.87 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $3.744 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 2.2% (2006 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $2,100 (2006 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.7% industry: 36.1% services: 40.2% (2006 est.)

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Labor force: 3.7 million (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76% industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)

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Unemployment rate: NA%

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Population below poverty line: 47% (2006 est.)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 1.9% highest 10%: 41% (2006)

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Distribution of family income - Gini index: 38.1 (2006)

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 29% (2006 est.)

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Investment (gross fixed): 17.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

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Budget: revenues: $342.3 million expenditures: $556.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)

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Agriculture - products: rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

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Industries: bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron; alumina refining; light manufacturing, and agricultural processing

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Industrial production growth rate: NA%

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Electricity - production: 840 million kWh note: excludes electricity generated at interior mining sites (2006)

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Electricity - consumption: 832.9 million kWh (2006)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2006)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2006)

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Oil - production: 0 bbl/day (2006 est.)

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Oil - consumption: 9,650 bbl/day (2006 est.)

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Oil - exports: NA

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Oil - imports: NA

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Oil - proved reserves: 0 bbl

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Natural gas - production: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Current account balance: -$344 million (2006 est.)

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Exports: $615.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Exports - commodities: bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

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Exports - partners: South Korea 13%, Russia 11.1%, Ukraine 9.2%, Spain 7.7%, France 7.4%, US 7.4%, Germany 5.2%, Ireland 4.9% (2006)

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Imports: $730 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

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Imports - commodities: petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

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Imports - partners: China 8.5%, France 7.9%, Netherlands 4.7%, Belgium 4.3% (2006)

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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $60.2 million (2006 est.)

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Debt - external: $3.02 billion (2006 est.)

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Economic aid - recipient: $212.2 million (2006)

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Currency (code): Guinean franc (GNF)

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Exchange rates: Guinean francs per US dollar - 5,350 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002)

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Fiscal year: calendar year