Flag of Guinea-Bissau
República da Guiné-Bissau
- The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (English)
- Capital City » Bissau (located on the Atlantic coast » Wikipedia)
- Current Time and Date (UTC 0)
- Weather
Facts
- Population » 2 million (2023 est)
- approximately one-fifth of the population lives in the capital city of Bissau
- ~ 60% of the population is under 25 (2020)
- Languages » Portuguese (Official), Portuguese-based Creole (more common)
- Religions » Muslim (46.1%), Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity
- Life expectancy » 47 years (men), 50 years (women)
- Currency » CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc
Geography
- Area » 36,125 sq km (13,948 sq miles)
- Swampy along its western coast and low-lying inland
- Land border countries are Guinea to the south and Senegal to the north.
- Atlantic Ocean coastline of 350 km
- Highest elevation » Dongol Ronde @ 277 m
Map of Guinea-Bissau regions (Source » Wikimedia, 2023)
Maps
Climate
- Generally hot and humid (tropical)
- Monsoon-type rainy season from June to November
- Dry season from December to May
Tourism
- Wikivoyage
- Visa for Guinea-Bissau can be applied for in Senegal while travelling.
Overland
- Roadways » 4,400 km (2018)
- Paved » 450 km
- Unpaved » 4,000 km
Map of Guinea-Bissau (Source » France)
Safety and Security
- Political instability, civil unrest, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, thriving drug and child trafficking
- Last attempted coup d’etat took place in February 2022
- Transit for South American cocaine en route to Europe
- Violent crime targeting foreigners is not common
- Foreigners are targeted in crowded areas, markets, and on exiting the Bissau airport, for crimes of opportunity » pickpocketing, theft, …
- The capital city Bissau was declared mine-free in 2006, however unexploded landmines continue to present a hazard in other regions, particularly in the regions of Bafatá, Biombo, Oio, Quinara and Tombali.
- Drive on well-travelled roads and not off well-used paths, especially in rural areas in the interior of the country.
Government Travel Advice
- Canada
- Canadians can obtain consular assistance from the Embassy of Canada to Senegal, in Dakar.
- France
- New Zealand
- UK
- USA
Note » There exists limited foreign diplomatic presence in Guinea-Bissau.
Health
- Modern medical facilities are limited, including in the capital Bissau.
- Major infectious diseases risk is high (2023)
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria, dengue fever, schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases: rabies
Travelling Forward
- While travelling through Guinea-Bissau, Tourist Visa for Cote d’Ivoire can be applied for at consulate in Bissau.
Notes
- Guinea-Bissau has one of the lowest GDP in all of Africa (extremely poor, +65% living below the poverty line)
- Weak economy, high unemployment, rampant corruption, widespread poverty, thriving drug and child trafficking
- National Holiday » Independence Day (from Portugal in 1973) observed 24 September
- Guinea-Bissau was the only country in West Africa to have fought its way to independence.
Media
- Televisao da Guine-Bissau (TGB) (Wikipedia)
- Radio e Televisao de Portugal Africa (Wikipedia)
- National Broadcasting of Guinea-Bissau (Radio station » Wikipedia)
- France24
- Reporters without Borders
- BBC
Resources
This page was updated June 1, 2023