Guinea Bissau Location:
11°52'N, 15°36'W
Guinea Bissau Geography:
At 13,945 sq mi. (36,120 km2), Guinea-Bissau is nearly identical in size to Taiwan, and somewhat larger than the US state of Maryland. This small, tropical country lies at a low altitude; its highest point is 984 feet (300 m). The interior is savanna, and the coastline is swampy plain. Its monsoon-like rainy season alternates with periods of hot, dry harmattan winds blowing from the Sahara. The Bijagos Archipelago extends out to sea.
Guinea Bissau People:
Population
- July 2005 estimate 1,586,000 (148th)
- 2002 census 1,345,479
- Density 44 /km2 (154th)
114 /sq mi
Guinea Bissau Government:
Government Republic
- President João Bernardo Vieira
- Prime Minister Martinho Ndafa Kabi
Guinea Bissau Economy:
Guinea-Bissau gained its independence from Portugal in 1974 after a protracted liberation war that brought tremendous damages to the country’s economic infrastructure. The civil war that took place in 1998 and 1999 and a military coup in September 2003 again disrupted economic activity, leaving a substantial part of the economic and social infrastructure in ruins and intensifying the already widespread poverty. Following the parliamentary elections in March 2004 and presidential elections in July 2005, the country is trying to recover from the long period of instability despite a still-fragile political situation.
Guinea-Bissau is one of the world's poorest countries, with more than two-thirds of its population living below the poverty line. The economy depends mainly on agriculture and fishing, and cashew nuts are its major exports. A long period of political instability has resulted in depressed economic activity, deteriorating social conditions, and increased macroeconomic imbalances. The key challenges for the country in the period ahead will be to restore fiscal discipline, rebuild public administration, improve the climate for private investment, and promote economic diversification.
Guinea Bissau More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_Bissau | 
