Economy - overview:
Guinea is a poor country of approximately 12.9 million people in 2016 that possesses the world's largest reserves of bauxite and largest untapped high-grade iron ore reserves, as well as gold and diamonds. In addition, Guinea has fertile soil, ample rainfall, and is the source of several West African rivers, including the Senegal, Niger, and Gambia. Guinea's hydro potential is enormous and the country could be a major exporter of electricity. The country also has tremendous agriculture potential. Gold, bauxite, and diamonds are Guinea’s main exports. International investors have shown interest in Guinea's unexplored mineral reserves, which have the potential to propel Guinea's future growth.

Following the death of long-term President Lansana CONTE in 2008 and the coup that followed, international donors, including the G-8, the IMF, and the World Bank, significantly curtailed their development programs in Guinea. However, the IMF approved a 3-year Extended Credit Facility arrangement in 2012, following the December 2010 presidential elections. In September 2012, Guinea achieved Heavily Indebted Poor Countries completion point status. Future access to international assistance and investment will depend on the government’s ability to be transparent, combat corruption, reform its banking system, improve its business environment, and build infrastructure. In April 2013, the government amended its mining code to reduce taxes and royalties. In 2014, Guinea complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts. Guinea completed its program with the IMF in October 2016 even though some targeted reforms have been delayed. Currently Guinea is negotiating a new IMF program which will be based on Guinea’s new five-year economic plan, focusing on the development of higher value-added products, including from the agro-business sector and development of the rural economy.

Political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, low international commodity prices, and an enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency are factors that could impact Guinea’s future growth. Economic recovery will be a long process while the government adjusts to lower inflows of international donor aid following the surge of Ebola-related emergency support. Ebola stalled promising economic growth in the 2014-15 period and impeded several projects, such as offshore oil exploration and the Simandou iron ore project. The economy, however, grew by 6.6% in 2016 and 6.7% in 2017, mainly due to growth from bauxite mining and thermal energy generation as well as the resiliency of the agricultural sector. The 240-megawatt Kaleta Dam, inaugurated in September 2015, has expanded access to electricity for residents of Conakry. An combined with fears of Ebola virus, continue to undermine Guinea's economic viability.

Guinea’s iron ore industry took a hit in 2016 when investors in the Simandou iron ore project announced plans to divest from the project. In 2017, agriculture output and public investment boosted economic growth, while the mining sector continued to play a prominent role in economic performance.

Successive governments have failed to address the country's crumbling infrastructure. Guinea suffers from chronic electricity shortages; poor roads, rail lines and bridges; and a lack of access to clean water - all of which continue to plague economic development. The present government, led by President Alpha CONDE, is working to create an environment to attract foreign investment and hopes to have greater participation from western countries and firms in Guinea's economic development.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$27.97 billion (2017 est.)
$25.84 billion (2016 est.)
$23.39 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 138
[see also: GDP country ranks ]

GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.25 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP (official exchange rate) country ranks ]

GDP - real growth rate:
8.2% (2017 est.)
10.5% (2016 est.)
3.8% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 8
[see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ]

GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,200 (2017 est.)
$2,000 (2016 est.)
$1,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 205
[see also: GDP - per capita country ranks ]

Gross national saving:
5.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
-6.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
-5.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 176
[see also: Gross national saving country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - household consumption country ranks ]
government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - government consumption country ranks ]
investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in fixed capital country ranks ]
investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - investment in inventories country ranks ]
exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - exports of goods and services country ranks ]
imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by end use - imports of goods and services country ranks ]

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 32.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - industry country ranks ]
services: 48.1% (2017 est.)
[see also: GDP - composition, by sector of origin - services country ranks ]

Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, palm kernels, cocoa, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, potatoes, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Industries:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing

Industrial production growth rate:
11% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 9
[see also: Industrial production growth rate country ranks ]

Labor force:
5.558 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 75
[see also: Labor force country ranks ]

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 76%
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - agriculture country ranks ]
industry: 24% (2006 est.)
[see also: Labor force - by occupation - industry country ranks ]

Unemployment rate:
2.7% (2017 est.)
2.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 28
[see also: Unemployment rate country ranks ]

Population below poverty line:
47% (2006 est.)
[see also: Population below poverty line country ranks ]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10% country ranks ]
highest 10%: 30.3% (2007)
[see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ]

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.4 (2007)
40.3 (1994)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 72
[see also: Distribution of family income - Gini index country ranks ]

Budget:
revenues: 1.7 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - revenues country ranks ]
expenditures: 1.748 billion (2017 est.)
[see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ]

Taxes and other revenues:
16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 178
[see also: Taxes and other revenues country ranks ]

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 61
[see also: Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) country ranks ]

Public debt:
37.9% of GDP (2017 est.)
41.8% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 137
[see also: Public debt country ranks ]

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.9% (2017 est.)
8.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 200
[see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ]

Central bank discount rate:
22.25% (31 December 2005)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 2
[see also: Central bank discount rate country ranks ]

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
22.2% (31 December 2017 est.)
22.2% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 10
[see also: Commercial bank prime lending rate country ranks ]

Stock of narrow money:
$1.84 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 135
[see also: Stock of narrow money country ranks ]

Stock of broad money:
$1.84 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 144
[see also: Stock of broad money country ranks ]

Stock of domestic credit:
$1.762 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.931 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 157
[see also: Stock of domestic credit country ranks ]

Market value of publicly traded shares:
NA
[see also: Market value of publicly traded shares country ranks ]

Current account balance:
-$705 million (2017 est.)
-$2.705 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 128
[see also: Current account balance country ranks ]

Exports:
$3.514 billion (2017 est.)
$1.954 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 123
[see also: Exports country ranks ]

Exports - partners:
China 35.8%, Ghana 20.1%, UAE 11.6%, India 4.3% (2017)

Exports - commodities:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Imports:
$4.799 billion (2017 est.)
$4.43 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 133
[see also: Imports country ranks ]

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.2%, China 13.2%, India 11.8%, Belgium 10%, France 6.9%, UAE 4.5% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 165
[see also: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold country ranks ]

Debt - external:
$1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 160
[see also: Debt - external country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$3.174 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.391 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 114
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - at home country ranks ]

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$1.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$69.19 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): 118
[see also: Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad country ranks ]

Exchange rates:
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -
9,230 (2017 est.)
9,085 (2016 est.)
9,085 (2015 est.)
7,485.5 (2014 est.)
7,014.1 (2013 est.)