Exporting

All the tools and resources you need to export your goods across the world

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian General Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite eventually setting a path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the country's first free, multiparty election. A military mutiny and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in office, YALA was overthrown in a bloodless military coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was reelected, pledging to pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an emergency election held in June 2009, but he passed away in January 2012 from a long-term illness. A military coup in April 2012 prevented Guinea-Bissau's second-round presidential election - to determine SANHA's successor - from taking place. Following mediation by the Economic Community of Western African States, a civilian transitional government assumed power in 2012 and remained until Jose Mario VAZ won a free and fair election in 2014. A long-running dispute between factions in the ruling PAIGC party has brought the government to a political impasse; there have been five prime ministers since August 2015.

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Natural Resources

fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Population - distribution

approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau along the Atlantic coast; the remainder is distributed among the eight other, mainly rural, regions

1565126
Crioulo (lingua franca), Portuguese (official; largely used as a second or third language), Pular (a Fula language), Mandingo
BISSAU (capital) 492,000 (2015)
Conventional long form
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Conventional short form
Guinea-Bissau
Local long form
Republica da Guine-Bissau
Local short form
Guine-Bissau
semi-presidential republic
Name
Bissau
Geographic coordinates
11 51 N, 15 35 W
Time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt
Guinea-Bissau is highly dependent on subsistence agriculture, cashew nut exports, and foreign assistance. Two out of three Bissau-Guineans remain below the absolute poverty line. The legal economy is based on cashews and fishing. Illegal logging and trafficking in narcotics also play significant roles. The combination of limited economic prospects, weak institutions, and favorable geography have made this West African country a way station for drugs bound for Europe.
Inflation
1.694%
External debt stocks
US$ 314,876,000
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
45.5%
Real Interest Rate
4.346%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
10.605%
Current Account Balance
US$ -52,508,821
Labor Force, Total
771,859
Employment in Agriculture
%
Employment in Industry
%
Employment in Services
%
Unemployment Rate
6.53%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 403,641,973
Exports of goods and services
US$ 333,069,593
Total Merchandise Trade
45.49%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 18,344,357
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 37,902,596
rice, corn, beans, cassava (manioc, tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish
agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks
Commodities
fish, shrimp; cashews, peanuts, palm kernels, raw and sawn lumber
Partners
India 63.3%, Nigeria 20.4%, China 5.7%, Togo 5.7% (2015)
Commodities
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products
Partners
Portugal 27.2%, Senegal 12.8%, China 6.5%, Spain 5.5%, Cuba 4.9% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
Business Climate Rating

Our site saves small pieces of text information (cookies) on your device in order to deliver better content and for statistical purposes. By browsing our website you grant us permission to store that information on your device. For more information check our Terms and Conditions.