Guinea-Bissau Demographics

What is the population of Guinea-Bissau?

Population	1,927,104
Population Growth Rate	1.95%
Urban Population	43.900000
Population in Major Urban Areas	BISSAU (capital) 423,000
Nationality Noun	Guinean(s)
Ethnic Groups	African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Guinea-Bissau Population Comparison

Guinea-Bissau Health Information

What are the health conditions in Guinea-Bissau?

Life Expectancy at Birth	49.500000
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population	14.77
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births	92.660000
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP	6.3%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population	.07
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population	1
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk	very high
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved	96.100000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	790
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49	14%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	4.37
Obesity - adult prevalence rate	4.9%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved	33.500000
Underweight - percent of children under five years	16.6%

Guinea-Bissau Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Guinea-Bissau?

Life Expectancy at Birth	49.500000
Median Age	19.700000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	14%
Infant Mortality Rate	92.660000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	790
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	4.37

Guinea-Bissau median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population	34
Median Age	19.700000
Population Growth Rate	1.95%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female	1.030000
Age Structure	39.280000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49	14%
Infant Mortality Rate	92.660000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births	790
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman	4.37

Guinea-Bissau Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Guinea-Bissau?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Modern medical facilities are virtually nonexistent in Guinea-Bissau, and travelers should not rely on them. More acceptable levels of medical care are available in Dakar, Senegal; however, as of this writing, there are extremely limited air travel options available between Dakar and Bissau. In addition, malaria, a serious and sometimes fatal disease, is a risk for travelers to Guinea-Bissau. Guinea-Bissau has a high HIV/AIDS infection rate.

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

6.3%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.07

Guinea-Bissau Education

What is school like in Guinea-Bissau?

Literacy - female	27.4%
Literacy - male	58.1%
Literacy - total population	42.4%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)	9.000000

Guinea-Bissau Literacy

Can people in Guinea-Bissau read?

Literacy - female	27.4%
Literacy - male	58.1%
Literacy - total population	42.4%
Literacy Definition	Age 15 and over can read and write

Guinea-Bissau Crime

Is Guinea-Bissau a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Guinea-Bissau is rated high for crime due to the frequency of crimes committed and lack of law enforcement resources and capabilities. Foreigners are primarily the targets of crimes of opportunity to include, petty-theft, pick-pocketing, theft of valuables from vehicles, and minor assaults. In particular, low-level criminal activity occurs in crowded areas such as the Bandim Market and port in central Bissau. Criminals take advantage of foreigners attempting to navigate through the crowded markets. Exercise good personal security practices to reduce the risk of being victimized. Keep a low profile, remain vigilant, and avoid potential conflict situations. Do not wear flashy clothing or jewelry, and be cautious about displaying any amount of currency in public.

To avoid theft do not walk alone in isolated areas, particularly at night, and lock all doors and close all windows when driving. Do not walk on dark streets at night, even in groups. To minimize inconvenience in the event of theft, carry copies, rather than originals, of your passport and other identification documents. While some of the larger hotels may accept credit cards, Bissau is largely a cash based economy and it is therefore recommended that travelers plan for and bring appropriate amounts of currency. Valuables should be stored in hotel safes.

In conjunction with the high crime rate, the poor infrastructure and lack of lighting at night also present a more opportune environment for criminals to exploit. It is recommended to arrange for transportation and limit walking around Bissau at night to reduce the risk of being a victim of a crime. In addition, banditry also occurs with some regularity on the main highways throughout the country after dark. The U.S. Embassy recommends that travel be completed during daylight hours only and, if possible, in convoy.

The unstable security environment and high rates of unemployment strongly influence criminals to go to extreme measures to achieve their goals. While most criminals in Guinea-Bissau seek crimes of opportunity with low risk of confrontation, they are not afraid to exert violence. In many cases, criminal elements in Bissau operate in small, loosely affiliated groups to perpetrate a crime. Criminals use one or two individuals to cause a distraction or remain on lookout, while the others commit the crime.

While violent crime towards foreigners are not common in Guinea-Bissau, the increase in narcotics trafficking has contributed to an increase in criminal activity and aggressive assaults among the local population in more rural areas of Guinea-Bissau.

The Bandim market and other vendors in Bissau offer a wide variety of illicit and counterfeit goods. While the items are widely available, all travelers are urged to not purchase any illicit items to prevent breaking local laws and U.S. laws if brought back to the United States.

Guinea-Bissau Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Guinea-Bissau, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Guinea-Bissau, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

Persons violating Bissau-Guinean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Guinea-Bissau are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Drug trafficking is endemic in Guinea-Bissau.

The United States does not have an agreement with Guinea-Bissau requiring notification of the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are arrested in Guinea-Bissau, you should use whatever means of communication available to alert the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

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