Country
Countries A-Z
Guinea-Bissau
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
República da Guiné-Bissau
Note: Malam Bacai SANHÁ (African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde) was elected president in runoff balloting July 26, 2009, with 63.5 percent of the vote. He was sworn in for a five-year term on September 8.
Political Status: Achieved independence from Portugal on September 10, 1974; under rule of Revolutionary Council following coup of November 14, 1980; new constitution of May 16, 1984, amended on May 4, 1991; military control imposed following coup of May 8, 1999; present constitution promulgated July 7, 1999, under direction of military junta.
Area: 13,948 sq. mi. (36,125 sq. km.).
Population: 983,367 (1991C); 1,745,000 (2008E).
Major Urban Center (2005E): BISSAU (247,000).
Official Language: Portuguese (several local languages are also spoken).
Monetary Unit: CFA Franc (official rate December 1, ...