Guinea People - 2021

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Population

12,877,894 (July 2021 est.)

Nationality

noun: Guinean(s)

adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups

Fulani (Peuhl) 33.4%, Malinke 29.4%, Susu 21.2%, Guerze 7.8%, Kissi 6.2%, Toma 1.6%, other/foreign 0.4% (2018 est.)

Languages

French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages

note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language

Religions

Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.)

Demographic profile

Guinea’s strong population growth is a result of declining mortality rates and sustained elevated fertility. The population growth rate was somewhat tempered in the 2000s because of a period of net outmigration. Although life expectancy and mortality rates have improved over the last two decades, the nearly universal practice of female genital cutting continues to contribute to high infant and maternal mortality rates. Guinea’s total fertility remains high at about 5 children per woman because of the ongoing preference for larger families, low contraceptive usage and availability, a lack of educational attainment and empowerment among women, and poverty. A lack of literacy and vocational training programs limit job prospects for youths, but even those with university degrees often have no option but to work in the informal sector. About 60% of the country’s large youth population is unemployed.

Tensions and refugees have spilled over Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. During the 1990s Guinea harbored as many as half a million refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia, more refugees than any other African country for much of that decade. About half sought refuge in the volatile "Parrot’s Beak" region of southwest Guinea, a wedge of land jutting into Sierra Leone near the Liberian border. Many were relocated within Guinea in the early 2000s because the area suffered repeated cross-border attacks from various government and rebel forces, as well as anti-refugee violence.

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.2% (male 2,601,221/female 2,559,918)

15-24 years: 19.32% (male 1,215,654/female 1,204,366)

25-54 years: 30.85% (male 1,933,141/female 1,930,977)

55-64 years: 4.73% (male 287,448/female 305,420)

65 years and over: 3.91% (male 218,803/female 270,492) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 85.2

youth dependency ratio: 79.7

elderly dependency ratio: 5.5

potential support ratio: 18.3 (2020 est.)

Median age

total: 19.1 years

male: 18.9 years

female: 19.4 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

2.76% (2021 est.)

Birth rate

35.86 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate

8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population distribution

areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization

urban population: 37.3% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Major urban areas - population

1.991 million CONAKRY (capital) (2021)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 years (2018 est.)

note: median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality rate

576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 50.99 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 55.83 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 46 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.53 years

male: 61.7 years

female: 65.42 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.89 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

10.9% (2018)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 97.9% of population

rural: 69.8% of population

total: 79.9% of population

unimproved: urban: 2.1% of population

rural: 27.6% of population

total: 20.1% of population (2017 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

3.9% (2018)

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density

0.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 85.6% of population

rural: 34.8% of population

total: 53% of population

unimproved: urban: 14.4% of population

rural: 65.2% of population

total: 47% of population (2017 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.4% (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

110,000 (2020 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

3,300 (2020 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact diseases: schistosomiasis

animal contact diseases: rabies

aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016)

note: on 14 February 2021, the Guinea government declared an outbreak of Ebola in N'Zerekore; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Travel Advisory recommending travelers avoid non-essential travel to Guinea; travelers to this area could be infected with Ebola if they come into contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids; travelers should seek medical care immediately if they develop fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhea, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising during or after travel

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

7.7% (2016)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

16.3% (2018)

Education expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2018)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 30.4%

male: 38.1%

female: 22.8% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years

male: 10 years

female: 8 years (2014)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 1%

male: 1.5%

female: 0.6% (2012 est.)

NOTE: The information regarding Guinea on this page is re-published from the 2021 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Guinea 2021 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Guinea 2021 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.