Guinea-Bissau

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Republic of Guinea-Bissau
República da Guiné-Bissau   (Portuguese)
Flag Emblem
Motto: Portuguese: "Unidade, Luta, Progresso"  
"Unity, Struggle, Progress"
Anthem: Portuguese: "Esta é a Nossa Pátria Bem Amada"  
"This is Our Well-Beloved Motherland"
Capital
and largest city
Bissau
11°52′N 15°36′W / 11.867°N 15.6°W / 11.867; -15.6
Official languages Portuguese
Recognised regional languages Crioulo
Ethnic groups African 99% (includes Balanta 30%
Fula 20%
Manjaca 14%
Mandinga 13%
Papel 7%)
European and mulatto less than 1%
Demonym Bissau-Guinean(s)[1]
Government Republic
 -  President José Mário Vaz
 -  Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira
Legislature National People's Assembly
Independence from Portugal
 -  Declared 24 September 1973 
 -  Recognized 10 September 1974 
Area
 -  Total 36,125 km2 (136th)
13,948 sq mi
 -  Water (%) 22.4
Population
 -  2010 estimate 1,647,000[2] (148th)
 -  2002 census 1,345,479
 -  Density 44.1/km2 (154th)
115.5/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $1.925 billion[3]
 -  Per capita $1,144[3]
GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate
 -  Total $969 million[3]
 -  Per capita $575[3]
Gini (1993) 47
high
HDI (2010) 0.289
low · 164th
Currency West African CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
Drives on the right
Calling code 245
Internet TLD .gw
Satellite image of Guinea-Bissau
Where Guinea-Bissau is in the World

Guinea-Bissau is a country in Africa. The official language is Portuguese, and the capital is Bissau. About 1,442,000 people live in Guinea-Bissau as of 2006.[4] 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.

Regions and sectors[change | change source]

Guinea-Bissau is divided into 8 regions and one autonomous sector. These are divided into thirty-seven sectors. The regions are:

* autonomous sector


References[change | change source]

  1. "Background Note: Guinea-Bissau". US Department of State. December, 2009. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5454.htm. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  2. Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division (2009) (PDF). World Population Prospects, Table A.1. 2008 revision. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wpp2008/wpp2008_text_tables.pdf. Retrieved 12 March 2009. NB: The preliminary results of the National population census in Guinea-Bissau put the figure at 1,449,230, according to email information by the Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa, Bissau.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Guinea-Bissau". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2012/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2009&ey=2012&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=654&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=36&pr.y=17. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  4. Retrived on 8 October 2007.