Guinea, officially the Social Secular Democratic Republic of Guinea (French: République démocratique, laïque et sociale de Guinée), is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea (Guinée française), it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry or SDR Guinea to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau and the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. It has a population of 10,057,975 and an area of 246,000 square kilometres (94,981 sq mi). Forming a crescent as it curves from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean toward the east and the south, it shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Mali, and its southern border with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d’Ivoire. The sources of the Niger River, Gambia River, and Senegal River are all found in the Guinea Highlands.
Conakry is Guinea’s capital, largest city, and economic centre. Other major cities in the country include Kankan, Nzérékoré, Kindia, Labe, Guéckédou, Mamou and Boke.
Guinea Country Information
Capital
and largest city Conakry
9°31′N 13°42′W
Official languages French
Vernacular
languages
Fula
Mandinka
Susu
Ethnic groups
40% Fula (Peuhl)
30% Mandingo (Malinke)
20% Susu (Soussou)
10% others
Demonym Guinean
Government Presidential republic
– President Alpha Condé
– Prime Minister Mohamed Said Fofana
Legislature National Assembly
Independence
– from France 2 October 1958
Area
– Total 245,857 km2 (78th)
94,926 sq mi
– Water (%) negligible
Population
– July 2009 estimate 10,057,975 (81st)
– 1996 census 7,156,407
– Density 40.9/km2
106.1/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2011 estimate
– Total $11.464 billion
– Per capita $1,082
GDP (nominal) 2011 estimate
– Total $5.212 billion
– Per capita $492
Gini (1994) 40.3 (medium)
HDI (2010) Increase 0.340 (low / 156th)
Currency Guinean franc (GNF)
Time zone (UTC+0)
Drives on the right
Calling code +224
Internet TLD .gn