Guinea-Bissau

**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. 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 (which was called French Guinea, and became independent in 1958). Equatorial Guinea is another country in Africa with Guinea in its name. It lies further east, between Cameroon and Gabon.

Even though the official language of Guinea-Bissau is Portuguese, only about 35 percent of the people speak it. Most of the people speak a creole language, based on Portuguese, called Guinea-Bissau Creole. More than a quarter of the population of the country live in its capital.

Since its independence, Guinea-Bissau has seen many military-led governments. Its last war was the Guinea-Bissau Civil War, fough in 1998/1999. Since its indpendence, there were some democratic elections. These never led to a lasting democracy, though. Guinea-Bissau has had seversl authoritarian governments.

Corruption is common. Civil rights abuses are widespread. Guinea-Bissau is among the poorest countries in the world. There is almost no industry, most people live from farming. There are almost no exports, the only goods widely expoered are cashew nuts.

History: The leader of the country, fell from power because of the 2025 Guinea-Bissau coup d'état.

## Regions and sectors

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions and one autonomous sector. These are divided into thirty-seven sectors. The regions are:
- Bafatá
- Biombo
- Bissau*
- Bolama
- Cacheu
- Gabu
- Oio
- Quinara
- Tombali
<small>* autonomous sector</small>

## Infobox (country)

- **native name**: _República da Guiné-Bissau_ <small></small>
- **conventional long name**: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
- **common name**: Guinea-Bissau
- **demonym**: Bissau-Guinean(s)
- **image flag**: Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg
- **image coat**: Coat of arms of Guinea-Bissau.svg
- **symbol type**: Emblem
- **image map**: LocationGuineaBissau.svg
- **national motto**:
<small>_"Unity, Struggle, Progress"_</small>
- **national anthem**:
<small>_"This is Our Well-Beloved Motherland"_</small>
- **official languages**: Portuguese language, Portuguese
- **national languages**: Guinea-Bissau Creole
- **languages type**: Other national languages
- **ethnic groups**: African 99% (includes Balanta 30%
Fula 20%
Manjaca 14%
Mandinga 13%
Papel 7%)
European and mulatto less than 1%
- **capital**: Bissau
- **largest city**: capital
- **government type**: Republic
- **leader title1**: President of Guinea-Bissau, Transitional President
- **leader name1**: Horta Inta-A Na Man
- **leader title2**: List of heads of government of Guinea-Bissau, Prime Minister
- **leader name2**: Ilídio Vieira Té
- **legislature**: National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau, National People's Assembly
- **area rank**: 136th
- **area km2**: 36,125
- **area sq mi**: 13,948
- **percent water**: 22.4
- **population estimate**: 2,080,000
- **population estimate year**: 2023
- **population estimate rank**: 150th
- **population census**: 1,345,479
- **population census year**: 2002
- **population density km2**: 44.1
- **population density sq mi**: 115.5
- **population density rank**: 154th
- **gdp ppp**: $6.620 billion
- **gdp ppp year**: 2025
- **gdp ppp rank**: 172th
- **gdp ppp per capita**: $3,280
- **gdp ppp per capita rank**: 168th
- **gdp nominal**: $2.270 billion
- **gdp nominal year**: 2025
- **gdp nominal rank**: 174th
- **gdp nominal per capita**: $1,130
- **sovereignty type**: Guinea-Bissau War of Independence, Independence
- **sovereignty note**: from Portugal
- **established date1**: 24 September 1973
- **established event1**: Declared
- **established date2**: 10 September 1974
- **established event2**: Recognized
- **hdi**: 0.289
- **hdi rank**: 164th
- **hdi year**: 2010
- **gini**: 47
- **gini year**: 1993
- **currency**: West African CFA franc
- **currency code**: XOF
- **time zone**: GMT
- **utc offset**: +0
- **drives on**: right
- **cctld**: .gw
- **calling code**: 245