Travelling Club - Guinea-Bissau

Fact Sheet: Guinea-Bissau

• Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal
• Geographic coordinates: 12 00 N, 15 00 W
• Area: total: 36,120 sq km
• Climate: tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds
• Terrain: mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east
• Natural hazards: hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires
• Population: 1,442,029 (July 2006 est.)
• Ethnic groups: African 99% (includes Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%
• Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%
• Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages
• Government type: republic
• Capital: name: Bissau
• Currency code: Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States
• Exchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001)
• Internet country code: .gw
• Airports: 28 (2006)