Cote d'Ivoire vs. Guinea
Introduction
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Various small kingdoms ruled the area of Cote d'Ivoire between the 15th and 19th centuries, when European explorers arrived and then began to expand their presence. In 1844, France established a protectorate. During this period, many of these kingdoms and tribes fought to maintain their cultural identities - some well into the 20th century. For example, the Sanwi kingdom - originally founded in the 17th century - tried to break away from Cote d'Ivoire and establish an independent state in 1969. After becoming independent in 1960, Cote d'Ivoire took advantage of close ties with France, cocoa production and export, and foreign investment to become one of the most prosperous states in West Africa. In December 1999, however, a military coup overthrew the government. In late 2000, junta leader Robert GUEI held rigged elections and declared himself the winner. Popular protests forced him to step aside and Laurent GBAGBO was elected. In September 2002, Ivoirian dissidents and members of the military launched a failed coup that developed into a civil war. In 2003, a cease-fire resulted in rebels holding the north, the government holding the south, and peacekeeping forces occupying a buffer zone in the middle. In March 2007, President GBAGBO and former rebel leader Guillaume SORO signed an agreement in which SORO joined GBAGBO's government as prime minister. The two agreed to reunite the country by dismantling the buffer zone, integrating rebel forces into the national armed forces, and holding elections. In November 2010, Alassane Dramane OUATTARA won the presidential election, but GBAGBO refused to hand over power, resulting in five months of violent conflict. In April 2011, after widespread fighting, GBAGBO was formally forced from office by armed OUATTARA supporters and UN and French forces. In 2015, OUATTARA won a second term. In October 2020, OUATTARA won a controversial third presidential term, despite a two-term limit in the Ivoirian constitution. In March 2021, the International Criminal Court in The Hague ruled on a final acquittal for GBAGBO, who was on trial for crimes against humanity.
| Guinea's deep Muslim heritage arrived via the neighboring Almoravid Empire in the 11th century. Following Almoravid decline, Guinea existed on the fringe of several African kingdoms all competing for regional dominance. In the 13th century, the Mali Empire took control of Guinea, encouraging its already growing Muslim faith. After the fall of the West African empires, various smaller kingdoms controlled Guinea. In the 18th century, Fulani Muslims established an Islamic state in central Guinea that represents one of the earliest examples of a written constitution and alternating leadership. While European traders first arrived in the 16th century, it was the French who secured colonial rule in the 19th century. In 1958, Guinea became independent from France, and Sekou TOURE established an authoritarian regime. TOURE ruled until his death in 1984. After TOURE's death, General Lansana CONTE staged a coup and seized the government. CONTE organized and won presidential elections in 1993, 1998, and 2003. Upon CONTE's death in December 2008, Captain Moussa Dadis CAMARA led a military coup, seized power, and suspended the constitution. In September 2009, presidential guards opened fire on an opposition rally, killing more than 150 people. In early December 2009, CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and exiled to Burkina Faso. In 2010 and 2013 respectively, the country held its first free and fair presidential and legislative elections. Alpha CONDE won the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections. CONDE's first cabinet was the first all-civilian government in Guinean history. In March 2020, Guinea passed a constitutional referendum that extended presidential terms and reset CONDE's term count, and later that year, Alpha CONDE won a controversial third presidential term. CONDE's current term will end in 2026. |
Geography
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone |
| Geographic coordinates | 8 00 N, 5 00 W | 11 00 N, 10 00 W |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 322,463 sq km land: 318,003 sq km water: 4,460 sq km | total: 245,857 sq km land: 245,717 sq km water: 140 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly larger than New Mexico | slightly smaller than Oregon; slightly larger than twice the size of Pennsylvania |
| Land boundaries | total: 3,458 km border countries (5): Burkina Faso 545 km, Ghana 720 km, Guinea 816 km, Liberia 778 km, Mali 599 km | total: 4,046 km border countries (6): Cote d'Ivoire 816 km, Guinea-Bissau 421 km, Liberia 590 km, Mali 1062 km, Senegal 363 km, Sierra Leone 794 km |
| Coastline | 515 km | 320 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October) | generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds |
| Terrain | mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest | generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Monts Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m mean elevation: 250 m | highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 472 m |
| Natural resources | petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower | bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt |
| Land use | agricultural land: 64.8% (2018 est.) arable land: 9.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 14.2% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 41.5% (2018 est.) forest: 32.7% (2018 est.) other: 2.5% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 58.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 11.8% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.8% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 43.5% (2018 est.) forest: 26.5% (2018 est.) other: 15.4% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 730 sq km (2012) | 950 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible | hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season |
| Environment - current issues | deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage, and from industrial, mining, and agricultural effluents | deforestation; inadequate potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices lead to environmental damage; water pollution; improper waste disposal |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note | most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated | the Niger and its important tributary the Milo River have their sources in the Guinean highlands |
| Total renewable water resources | 84.14 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 226 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | the population is primarily located in the forested south, with the highest concentration of people residing in and around the cities on the Atlantic coast; most of the northern savanna remains sparsely populated with higher concentrations located along transportation corridors as shown in this population distribution map | areas of highest density are in the west and south; interior is sparsely populated as shown in this population distribution map |
Demographics
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,088,455 (July 2021 est.) note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected | 12,877,894 (July 2021 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 38.53% (male 5,311,971/female 5,276,219) 15-24 years: 20.21% (male 2,774,374/female 2,779,012) 25-54 years: 34.88% (male 4,866,957/female 4,719,286) 55-64 years: 3.53% (male 494,000/female 476,060) 65 years and over: 2.85% (male 349,822/female 433,385) (2020 est.) | 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.) |
| Median age | total: 20.3 years male: 20.3 years female: 20.3 years (2020 est.) | total: 19.1 years male: 18.9 years female: 19.4 years (2020 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 2.21% (2021 est.) | 2.76% (2021 est.) |
| Birth rate | 28.67 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 35.86 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Death rate | 7.75 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 1.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.) | 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.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 57.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.83 deaths/1,000 live births female: 49.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.) | 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: 61.8 years male: 59.62 years female: 64.05 years (2021 est.) | total population: 63.53 years male: 61.7 years female: 65.42 years (2021 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 3.6 children born/woman (2021 est.) | 4.89 children born/woman (2021 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate | 2.1% (2020 est.) | 1.4% (2020 est.) |
| Nationality | noun: Ivoirian(s) adjective: Ivoirian | noun: Guinean(s) adjective: Guinean |
| Ethnic groups | Akan 28.9%, Voltaique or Gur 16.1%, Northern Mande 14.5%, Kru 8.5%, Southern Mande 6.9%, unspecified 0.9%, non-Ivoirian 24.2% (2014 est.) | 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.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | 380,000 (2020 est.) | 110,000 (2020 est.) |
| Religions | Muslim 42.9%, Catholic 17.2%, Evangelical 11.8%, Methodist 1.7%, other Christian 3.2%, animist 3.6%, other religion 0.5%, none 19.1% (2014 est.) note: the majority of foreign migrant workers are Muslim (72.7%) and Christian (17.7%) | Muslim 89.1%, Christian 6.8%, animist 1.6%, other 0.1%, none 2.4% (2014 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths | 13,000 (2020 est.) | 3,300 (2020 est.) |
| Languages | French (official), 60 native dialects of which Dioula is the most widely spoken major-language sample(s): The World Factbook, une source indispensable d'informations de base. (French) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. | French (official), Pular, Maninka, Susu, other native languages note: about 40 languages are spoken; each ethnic group has its own language |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47.2% male: 53.7% female: 40.5% (2018) | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 30.4% male: 38.1% female: 22.8% (2015) |
| Major infectious diseases | degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies respiratory diseases: meningococcal meningitis | 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 |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) | total: 11 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2017) | total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2014) |
| Education expenditures | 3.3% of GDP (2018) | 2.3% of GDP (2018) |
| Urbanization | urban population: 52.2% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) | urban population: 37.3% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.64% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) |
| Drinking water source | improved: urban: 90.4% of population rural: 67.8% of population total: 79.2% of population unimproved: urban: 9.6% of population rural: 32.2% of population total: 20.8% of population (2017 est.) | 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.) |
| Sanitation facility access | improved: urban: 75.9% of population rural: 32.7% of population total: 54.5% of population unimproved: urban: 24.1% of population rural: 67.3% of population total: 45.5% of population (2017 est.) | 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.) |
| Major cities - population | 231,000 YAMOUSSOUKRO (capital) (2018), 5.355 million ABIDJAN (seat of government) (2021) | 1.991 million CONAKRY (capital) (2021) |
| Maternal mortality rate | 617 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) | 576 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.) |
| Children under the age of 5 years underweight | 12.8% (2016) | 16.3% (2018) |
| Health expenditures | 4.2% (2018) | 3.9% (2018) |
| Physicians density | 0.23 physicians/1,000 population (2014) | 0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2016) |
| Obesity - adult prevalence rate | 10.3% (2016) | 7.7% (2016) |
| Mother's mean age at first birth | 19.6 years (2011/12 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 | 19.9 years (2018 est.) note: median age at first birth among women 20-49 |
| Demographic profile | Cote d'Ivoire's population is likely to continue growing for the foreseeable future because almost 60% of the populace is younger than 25, the total fertility rate is holding steady at about 3.5 children per woman, and contraceptive use is under 20%. The country will need to improve education, health care, and gender equality in order to turn its large and growing youth cohort into human capital. Even prior to 2010 unrest that shuttered schools for months, access to education was poor, especially for women. As of 2015, only 53% of men and 33% of women were literate. The lack of educational attainment contributes to Cote d'Ivoire's high rates of unskilled labor, adolescent pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS prevalence. Following its independence in 1960, Cote d'Ivoire's stability and the blossoming of its labor-intensive cocoa and coffee industries in the southwest made it an attractive destination for migrants from other parts of the country and its neighbors, particularly Burkina Faso. The HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY administration continued the French colonial policy of encouraging labor immigration by offering liberal land ownership laws. Foreigners from West Africa, Europe (mainly France), and Lebanon composed about 25% of the population by 1998. Ongoing economic decline since the 1980s and the power struggle after HOUPHOUET-BOIGNY's death in 1993 ushered in the politics of "Ivoirite," institutionalizing an Ivoirian identity that further marginalized northern Ivoirians and scapegoated immigrants. The hostile Muslim north-Christian south divide snowballed into a 2002 civil war, pushing tens of thousands of foreign migrants, Liberian refugees, and Ivoirians to flee to war-torn Liberia or other regional countries and more than a million people to be internally displaced. Subsequently, violence following the contested 2010 presidential election prompted some 250,000 people to seek refuge in Liberia and other neighboring countries and again internally displaced as many as a million people. By July 2012, the majority had returned home, but ongoing inter-communal tension and armed conflict continue to force people from their homes. | 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. |
| Contraceptive prevalence rate | 23.3% (2018) | 10.9% (2018) |
| Dependency ratios | total dependency ratio: 79.8 youth dependency ratio: 74.6 elderly dependency ratio: 5.2 potential support ratio: 19.3 (2020 est.) | total dependency ratio: 85.2 youth dependency ratio: 79.7 elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 potential support ratio: 18.3 (2020 est.) |
Government
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Country name | conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire local short form: Cote d'Ivoire former: Ivory Coast etymology: name reflects the intense ivory trade that took place in the region from the 15th to 17th centuries note: pronounced coat-div-whar | conventional long form: Republic of Guinea conventional short form: Guinea local long form: Republique de Guinee local short form: Guinee former: French Guinea etymology: the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel |
| Government type | presidential republic | presidential republic |
| Capital | name: Yamoussoukro (legislative capital), Abidjan (administrative capital); note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the administrative capital as well as the officially designated economic capital; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan geographic coordinates: 6 49 N, 5 16 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: Yamoussoukro is named after Queen YAMOUSSOU, who ruled in the village of N'Gokro in 1929 at the time of French colonization; the village was renamed Yamoussoukro, the suffix "-kro" meaning "town" in the native Baoule language; Abidjan's name supposedly comes from a misunderstanding; tradition states that an old man carrying branches met a European explorer who asked for the name of the nearest village; the man, not understanding and terrified by this unexpected encounter, fled shouting "min-chan m'bidjan," which in the Ebrie language means: "I return from cutting leaves"; the explorer, thinking that his question had been answered, recorded the name of the locale as Abidjan; a different version has the first colonists asking native women the name of the place and getting a similar response | name: Conakry geographic coordinates: 9 30 N, 13 42 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: according to tradition, the name derives from the fusion of the name "Cona," a Baga wine and cheese producer who lived on Tombo Island (the original site of the present-day capital), and the word "nakiri," which in Susu means "the other bank" or "the other side"; supposedly, Baga's palm grove produced the best wine on the island and people traveling to sample his vintage, would say: "I am going to Cona, on the other bank (Cona-nakiri)," which over time became Conakry |
| Administrative divisions | 12 districts and 2 autonomous districts*; Abidjan*, Bas-Sassandra, Comoe, Denguele, Goh-Djiboua, Lacs, Lagunes, Montagnes, Sassandra-Marahoue, Savanes, Vallee du Bandama, Woroba, Yamoussoukro*, Zanzan | 7 regions administrative and 1 gouvenorat*; Boke, Conakry*, Faranah, Kankan, Kindia, Labe, Mamou, N'Zerekore |
| Independence | 7 August 1960 (from France) | 2 October 1958 (from France) |
| National holiday | Independence Day, 7 August (1960) | Independence Day, 2 October (1958) |
| Constitution | history: previous 1960, 2000; latest draft completed 24 September 2016, approved by the National Assembly 11 October 2016, approved by referendum 30 October 2016, promulgated 8 November 2016 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or by Parliament; consideration of drafts or proposals requires an absolute majority vote by the parliamentary membership; passage of amendments affecting presidential elections, presidential term of office and vacancies, and amendment procedures requires approval by absolute majority in a referendum; passage of other proposals by the president requires at least four-fifths majority vote by Parliament; constitutional articles on the sovereignty of the state and its republican and secular form of government cannot be amended; amended 2020 | history: previous 1958, 1990; latest promulgated 19 April 2010, approved 7 May 2010 amendments: proposed by the National Assembly or by the president of the republic; consideration of proposals requires approval by simple majority vote by the Assembly; passage requires approval in referendum; the president can opt to submit amendments directly to the Assembly, in which case approval requires at least two-thirds majority vote; revised in 2020 |
| Legal system | civil law system based on the French civil code; judicial review of legislation held in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court | civil law system based on the French model |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age; universal | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch | chief of state: President Alassane Dramane OUATTARA (since 4 December 2010); Vice President (vacant); note - Vice President Daniel Kablan DUNCAN resigned 8 July 2020; note - the 2016 constitution calls for the establishment of the position of vice-president head of government: Prime Minister Patrick ACHI (since 10 March 2021); note - ACHI was acting prime minister from 8-10 March 2021 and became prime minister upon former Prime Minister Hamed BAKAYOKO's death on 10 March 2021 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a single renewable 5-year term ; election last held on 31 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); vice president elected on same ballot as president; prime minister appointed by the president; note - because President OUATTARA promulgated the new constitution during his second term, he has claimed that the clock is reset on term limits, allowing him to run for up to two additional terms election results: Alassane OUATTARA reelected president; percent of vote - Alassane OUATTARA (RDR) 94.3%, Kouadio Konan BERTIN (PDCI-RDA) 2.0%, other 3.7% | chief of state: President Alpha CONDE (since 21 December 2010) note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup by a National Committee of Rally and Development that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government head of government: Prime Minister Ibrahima FOFANA (since 22 May 2018) note: on 5 September 2021, Col. Mamady DOUMBOUYA led a military coup by a National Committee of Rally and Development that arrested President CONDE, suspended the constitution, and dissolved the government cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 18 October 2020 (next to be held in October 2025); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alpha CONDE reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Alpha CONDE (RPG) 59.5%, Cellou Dalein DIALLO (UFDG) 33.5%, other 7% |
| Legislative branch | description: bicameral Parliament consists of: Senate or Senat (99 seats; 66 members indirectly elected by the National Assembly and members of municipal, autonomous districts, and regional councils, and 33 members appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly (255 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - first ever held on 25 March 2018 (next to be held in 2023) National Assembly - last held on 6 March 2021 (next to be held in 2026) election results: Senate - percent by party NA; seats by party - RHDP 50, independent 16; composition - men 80, women 19, percent of women 19.2% National Assembly - percent of vote by party - RHDP 49.18%, PDCI-RRA-EDS 16.53%, DPIC 6.01%, TTB 2.017% IPF 1.96% seats by party - RHDP, 137, PDCI-RRA-EDS 50, DPIC 23, TTB 8, IPF 2; composition - men 217, women 32, percent of women 13%; note - total Parliament percent of women 32% | description: unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; 76 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote and 38 directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: last held on 21 March 2020 (next to be held 1 March 2027) election results: In parliamentary elections, the Rally of the Guinean People-Rainbow wins 57.5% of the vote (79 of 114 seats), the Democratic Union of Guinea 5.3% (4), the Democratic Popular Movement of Guinea 4.1% (3), and the New Democratic Forces 2.8% (3). Turnout is 58.0%. |
| Judicial branch | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Judicial, Audit, Constitutional, and Administrative Chambers; consists of the court president, 3 vice presidents for the Judicial, Audit, and Administrative chambers, and 9 associate justices or magistrates) judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the Superior Council of the Magistrature, a 7-member body consisting of the national president (chairman), 3 "bench" judges, and 3 public prosecutors; judges appointed for life subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal (organized into civil, criminal, and social chambers); first instance courts; peace courts | highest courts: Supreme Court or Cour Supreme (organized into Administrative Chamber and Civil, Penal, and Social Chamber; court consists of the first president, 2 chamber presidents, 10 councilors, the solicitor general, and NA deputies); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 members) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court first president appointed by the national president after consultation with the National Assembly; other members appointed by presidential decree; members serve until age 65; Constitutional Court member appointments - 2 by the National Assembly and the president of the republic, 3 experienced judges designated by their peers, 1 experienced lawyer, 1 university professor with expertise in public law designated by peers, and 2 experienced representatives of the Independent National Institution of Human Rights; members serve single 9-year terms subordinate courts: Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; High Court of Justice or Cour d'Assises; Court of Account (Court of Auditors); Courts of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance); labor court; military tribunal; justices of the peace; specialized courts |
| Political parties and leaders | Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire or PDCI [Henri Konan BEDIE] Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [former pres. Laurent GBAGBO] Liberty and Democracy for the Republic or LIDER [Mamadou KOULIBALY] Movement of the Future Forces or MFA [Innocent Augustin ANAKY KOBENA] Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and Peace or RHDP [Alassane OUATTARA] (alliance includes MFA, PDCI, RDR, UDPCI, UPCI) Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Henriette DIABATE] Union for Cote d'Ivoire or UPCI [Gnamien KONAN] Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire or UDPCI [Albert Toikeusse MABRI] | Bloc Liberal or BL [Faya MILLIMONO] National Party for Hope and Development or PEDN [Lansana KOUYATE] Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE] Union for the Progress of Guinea or UPG Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Cellou Dalein DIALLO] Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE] Ruling party
Opposition parties
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| International organization participation | ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, Union Latina, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO | ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Mamadou HAIDARA (since 28 March 2018) chancery: 2424 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300 FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444 email address and website: info@ambacidc.org https://ambaciusa.org/# | chief of mission: Ambassador Kerfalla YANSANE (since 24 January 2018) chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300 FAX: [1] (202) 986-3800 email address and website: http://guineaembassyusa.org/en/welcome-to-the-embassy-of-guinea-washington-usa/ |
| Diplomatic representation from the US | chief of mission: Ambassador Richard K. BELL (since 10 October 2019) embassy: B.P. 730 Abidjan Cidex 03 mailing address: 2010 Abidjan Place, Washington DC 20521-2010 telephone: [225] 27-22-49-40-00 FAX: [225] 27-22-49-43-23 email address and website: AbjAmCit@state.gov https://ci.usembassy.gov/ | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Steven KOUTSIS (since September 2020) embassy: Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry mailing address: 2110 Conakry Place, Washington DC 20521-2110 telephone: [224] 65-10-40-00 FAX: [224] 65-10-42-97 email address and website: ConakryACS@state.gov https://gn.usembassy.gov/ |
| Flag description | three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; orange symbolizes the land (savannah) of the north and fertility, white stands for peace and unity, green represents the forests of the south and the hope for a bright future note: similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France | three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; red represents the people's sacrifice for liberation and work; yellow stands for the sun, for the riches of the earth, and for justice; green symbolizes the country's vegetation and unity note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the reverse of those on the flags of neighboring Mali and Senegal |
| National anthem | name: "L'Abidjanaise" (Song of Abidjan) lyrics/music: Mathieu EKRA, Joachim BONY, and Pierre Marie COTY/Pierre Marie COTY and Pierre Michel PANGO note: adopted 1960; although the nation's capital city moved from Abidjan to Yamoussoukro in 1983, the anthem still owes its name to the former capital | name: "Liberte" (Liberty) lyrics/music: unknown/Fodeba KEITA note: adopted 1958 |
| International law organization participation | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction | accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
| National symbol(s) | elephant; national colors: orange, white, green | elephant; national colors: red, yellow, green |
| Citizenship | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Cote d'Ivoire dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years | citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Guinea dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: na |
Economy
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Economy - overview | For the last 5 years Cote d'Ivoire's growth rate has been among the highest in the world. Cote d'Ivoire is heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, which engage roughly two-thirds of the population. Cote d'Ivoire is the world's largest producer and exporter of cocoa beans and a significant producer and exporter of coffee and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and to climatic conditions. Cocoa, oil, and coffee are the country's top export revenue earners, but the country has targeted agricultural processing of cocoa, cashews, mangoes, and other commodities as a high priority. Mining gold and exporting electricity are growing industries outside agriculture. Following the end of more than a decade of civil conflict in 2011, Cote d'Ivoire has experienced a boom in foreign investment and economic growth. In June 2012, the IMF and the World Bank announced $4.4 billion in debt relief for Cote d'Ivoire under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative. | 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) | $134.048 billion (2019 est.) $126.185 billion (2018 est.) $118.051 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $32.72 billion (2019 est.) $30.985 billion (2018 est.) $29.176 billion (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - real growth rate | 7.8% (2017 est.) 8.3% (2016 est.) 8.8% (2015 est.) | 8.2% (2017 est.) 10.5% (2016 est.) 3.8% (2015 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP) | $5,213 (2019 est.) $5,033 (2018 est.) $4,831 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2017 dollars | $2,562 (2019 est.) $2,496 (2018 est.) $2,418 (2017 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: 20.1% (2017 est.) industry: 26.6% (2017 est.) services: 53.3% (2017 est.) | agriculture: 19.8% (2017 est.) industry: 32.1% (2017 est.) services: 48.1% (2017 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | 39.5% (2018 est.) | 43.7% (2018 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: 2.2% highest 10%: 31.8% (2008) | lowest 10%: 2.7% highest 10%: 30.3% (2007) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | -1.1% (2019 est.) 0.3% (2018 est.) 0.6% (2017 est.) | 9.4% (2019 est.) 9.8% (2018 est.) 8.9% (2017 est.) |
| Labor force | 8.747 million (2017 est.) | 5.558 million (2017 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture: 68% (2007 est.) | agriculture: 76% industry: 24% (2006 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | 9.4% (2013 est.) | 2.7% (2017 est.) 2.8% (2016 est.) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index | 41.5 (2015 est.) 36.7 (1995) | 33.7 (2012 est.) 40.3 (1994) |
| Budget | revenues: 7.749 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 9.464 billion (2017 est.) | revenues: 1.7 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 1.748 billion (2017 est.) |
| Industries | foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, gold mining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity | bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing |
| Industrial production growth rate | 4.2% (2017 est.) | 11% (2017 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | yams, cassava, cocoa, oil palm fruit, sugar cane, rice, plantains, maize, cashew nuts, rubber | rice, cassava, groundnuts, maize, oil palm fruit, fonio, plantains, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, vegetables |
| Exports | $16.326 billion (2018 est.) $16.274 billion (2017 est.) | $5.041 billion (2019 est.) $5.073 billion (2018 est.) $4.733 billion (2017 est.) |
| Exports - commodities | cocoa beans, gold, rubber, refined petroleum, crude petroleum (2019) | aluminum, gold, bauxite, diamonds, fish, cashews (2019) |
| Exports - partners | Netherlands 10%, United States 6%, France 6%, Spain 5%, Malaysia 5%, Switzerland 5%, Germany 5%, Vietnam 5% (2019) | United Arab Emirates 39%, China 36%, India 6% (2019) |
| Imports | $14.248 billion (2018 est.) $13.486 billion (2017 est.) | $7.924 billion (2019 est.) $8.76 billion (2018 est.) $7.317 billion (2017 est.) |
| Imports - commodities | crude petroleum, rice, frozen fish, refined petroleum, packaged medicines (2019) | rice, refined petroleum, packaged medicines, delivery trucks, cars (2019) |
| Imports - partners | China 18%, Nigeria 13%, France 11% (2019) | China 39%, India 8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019) |
| Debt - external | $13.07 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $11.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $1.458 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Exchange rates | Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 594.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) | Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar - 9,953 (2020 est.) 9,542.5 (2019 est.) 9,092 (2018 est.) 7,485.5 (2014 est.) 7,014.1 (2013 est.) |
| Fiscal year | calendar year | calendar year |
| Public debt | 47% of GDP (2017 est.) 47% of GDP (2016 est.) | 37.9% of GDP (2017 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2016 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold | $6.257 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $4.935 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $331.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) $383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) |
| Current Account Balance | -$1.86 billion (2017 est.) -$414 million (2016 est.) | -$705 million (2017 est.) -$2.705 billion (2016 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate) | $42.498 billion (2018 est.) | $13.55 billion (2019 est.) |
| Ease of Doing Business Index scores | Overall score: 60.7 (2020) Starting a Business score: 93.7 (2020) Trading score: 52.4 (2020) Enforcement score: 57.6 (2020) | Overall score: 49.4 (2020) Starting a Business score: 84.5 (2020) Trading score: 47.8 (2020) Enforcement score: 53.9 (2020) |
| Taxes and other revenues | 19.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | 16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) | -4.2% (of GDP) (2017 est.) | -0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.) |
| Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 | total: 5.5% male: 4.7% female: 6.5% (2017 est.) | total: 1% male: 1.5% female: 0.6% (2012 est.) |
| GDP - composition, by end use | household consumption: 61.7% (2017 est.) government consumption: 14.9% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 22.4% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.3% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 30.8% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -30.1% (2017 est.) | household consumption: 80.8% (2017 est.) government consumption: 6.6% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 18.5% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 21.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -36.9% (2017 est.) |
| Gross national saving | 15.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 17.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 19.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | 4.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 2.7% of GDP (2018 est.) 11.4% of GDP (2017 est.) |
Energy
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity - production | 9.73 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 598 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption | 6.245 billion kWh (2016 est.) | 556.1 million kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - exports | 872 million kWh (2015 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - imports | 19 million kWh (2016 est.) | 0 kWh (2016 est.) |
| Oil - production | 52,000 bbl/day (2018 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2018 est.) |
| Oil - imports | 62,350 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - exports | 26,700 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves | 100 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves | 28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.) | 0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.) |
| Natural gas - production | 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption | 2.322 billion cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports | 0 cu m (2017 est.) | 0 cu m (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - installed generating capacity | 1.914 million kW (2016 est.) | 550,000 kW (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from fossil fuels | 60% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | 33% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) |
| Electricity - from hydroelectric plants | 40% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 67% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from nuclear fuels | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Electricity - from other renewable sources | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) | 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - production | 69,360 bbl/day (2017 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2017 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - consumption | 51,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | 19,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - exports | 31,450 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 0 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Refined petroleum products - imports | 7,405 bbl/day (2015 est.) | 18,460 bbl/day (2015 est.) |
| Electricity access | electrification - total population: 76% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 99% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 51% (2019) | electrification - total population: 46% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 84% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 24% (2019) |
Telecommunications
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Telephones - main lines in use | total subscriptions: 271,724 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1.01 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular | total subscriptions: 37,376,603 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 139.16 (2019 est.) | total subscriptions: 12.873 million subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 105.63 (2019 est.) |
| Internet country code | .ci | .gn |
| Internet users | total: 12,295,204 percent of population: 46.82% (July 2018 est.) | total: 2,133,974 percent of population: 18% (July 2018 est.) |
| Telecommunication systems | general assessment: Côte d'Ivoire telecom systems continue to benefit from strong economic growth; fixed-line, Internet, and broadband sectors remain underdeveloped; mobile sector is strong; progress in national backbone network and connection to submarine cable that will increase Internet bandwidth; country is poised to develop broadband market and digital economy; government further tightened SIM card registration rules (2020) (2020) domestic: less than 1 per 100 fixed-line, with multiple mobile-cellular service providers competing in the market, usage has increased to about 145 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 225; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, ACE, MainOne, and WACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and South and West Africa; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments | general assessment: Guinea's mobile subscribership growing through investment of South African telecom operators and Chinese Huawei management; m-transactions supported commerce; broadband still limited and expensive though submarine cable and IXP improved reliability of infrastructure; 4G Wi-Fi in the capital; National Backbone Network will connect regional administrative centers; ECOWAS countries to launch free roaming; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2021) (2020)domestic: there is national coverage and Conakry is reasonably well-served; coverage elsewhere remains inadequate but is improving; fixed-line teledensity is less than 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership is expanding rapidly and now 101 per 100 persons (2019) international: country code - 224; ACE submarine cable connecting Guinea with 20 landing points in Western and South Africa and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments |
| Broadband - fixed subscriptions | total: 216,723 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2018 est.) | total: 1,250 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.) |
| Broadcast media | state-controlled Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirieinne (RTI) is made up of 2 radios stations (Radio Cote d'Ivoire and Frequence2) and 2 television stations (RTI1 and RTI2), with nationwide coverage, broadcasts mainly in French; after 2011 post-electoral crisis, President OUATTARA's administration reopened RTI Bouake', the broadcaster's office in Cote d'Ivoire's 2nd largest city, where facilities were destroyed during the 2002 rebellion; Cote d'Ivoire is also home to 178 proximity radios stations, 16 religious radios stations, 5 commercial radios stations, and 5 international radios stations, according to the Haute Autorite' de la Communication Audiovisuelle (HACA); govt now runs radio UNOCIFM, a radio station previously owned by the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire; in Dec 2016, the govt announced 4 companies had been granted licenses to operate -Live TV, Optimum Media Cote d'Ivoire, the Audiovisual Company of Cote d'Ivoire (Sedaci), and Sorano-CI, out of the 4 companies only one has started operating (2019) | government maintains marginal control over broadcast media; single state-run TV station; state-run radio broadcast station also operates several stations in rural areas; a dozen private television stations; a steadily increasing number of privately owned radio stations, nearly all in Conakry, and about a dozen community radio stations; foreign TV programming available via satellite and cable subscription services (2019) |
Transportation
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Railways | total: 660 km (2008) narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-m gauge (2008) note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso | total: 1,086 km (2017) standard gauge: 279 km 1.435-m gauge (2017) narrow gauge: 807 km 1.000-m gauge (2017) |
| Roadways | total: 81,996 km (2007) paved: 6,502 km (2007) unpaved: 75,494 km (2007) note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are impassable | total: 44,301 km (2018) paved: 3,346 km (2018) unpaved: 40,955 km (2018) |
| Waterways | 980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2011) | 1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft in the northern part of the Niger River system) (2011) |
| Ports and terminals | major seaport(s): Abidjan, San-Pedro oil terminal(s): Espoir Offshore Terminal | major seaport(s): Conakry, Kamsar |
| Merchant marine | total: 25 by type: oil tanker 2, other 23 (2020) | total: 2 by type: other 2 (2020) |
| Airports | total: 27 (2013) | total: 16 (2013) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 7 (2017) over 3,047 m: 1 (2017) 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2017) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2017) | total: 4 (2019) over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 20 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 11 (2013) under 914 m: 3 (2013) | total: 12 (2013) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 (2013) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013) under 914 m: 2 (2013) |
| Civil aircraft registration country code prefix | TU | 3X |
Military
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Military branches | Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire (Forces Armees de Cote d'Ivoire, FACI; aka Republican Forces of Ivory Coast, FRCI): Army (Armee de Terre), Navy (Marine Nationale), Cote Air Force (Force Aerienne Cote), Special Forces (Forces Speciale); National Gendarmerie (under the Ministry of Defense); National Police (under the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection); Coordination Center for Operational Decisions (a mix of police, gendarmerie, and FACI personnel for assisting police in providing security in some large cities) (2020) | National Armed Forces: Army, Guinean Navy (Armee de Mer or Marine Guineenne), Guinean Air Force (Force Aerienne de Guinee), Presidential Security Battalion (Battailon Autonome de la Sécurité Presidentielle, BASP), Gendarmerie (2020) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary male and female military service; conscription is not enforced; voluntary recruitment of former rebels into the new national army is restricted to ages 22-29 (2019) | no compulsory military service (2021) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | 1.1% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2018) 1.3% of GDP (2017) 1.7% of GDP (2016) 1.7% of GDP (2015) | 2% of GDP (2019) 2.3% of GDP (2018) 2.5% of GDP (2017) 2.5% of GDP (2016) 3.3% of GDP (2015) |
| Military and security service personnel strengths | the Armed Forces of Cote d'Ivoire have approximately 25,000 active troops (23,000 Army, including about 2,000 Special Forces; 1,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force); est. 5-10,000 Gendarmerie (2020) | Guinean National Armed Forces are comprised of approximately 12,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 400 Navy; 800 Air Force; 300 BASP; 1,500 Gendarmerie) (2020) |
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the inventory of the FACI consists mostly of older or second-hand equipment, typically of French or Soviet-era origin; Cote d'Ivoire was under a partial UN arms embargo from 2004 to 2016; since 2016, it has received limited amounts of mostly second-hand equipment from a variety of countries, with Bulgaria as the leading supplier (2020) | the inventory of the Guinean military consists largely of ageing and outdated (mostly Soviet-era) equipment; since 2010, it has received small amounts of equipment from France, Russia, and South Africa (2020) |
| Military deployments | 800 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2021) | 660 Mali (MINUSMA) (Jan 2021) |
Transnational Issues
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Disputes - international | disputed maritime border between Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana | Sierra Leone considers Guinea's definition of the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the Makona and Moa Rivers excessive and protests Guinea's continued occupation of these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga, occupied since 1998 |
Environment
| Cote d'Ivoire | Guinea | |
|---|---|---|
| Air pollutants | particulate matter emissions: 23.72 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 9.67 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 10.3 megatons (2020 est.) | particulate matter emissions: 22.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 3 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.13 megatons (2020 est.) |
| Total water withdrawal | municipal: 320 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 242 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 600 million cubic meters (2017 est.) | municipal: 224.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 56.2 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 292.9 million cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Revenue from forest resources | forest revenues: 2.04% of GDP (2016 est.) | forest revenues: 4.81% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Revenue from coal | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) | coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Waste and recycling | municipal solid waste generated annually: 4,440,814 tons (2010 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 133,224 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 3% (2005 est.) | municipal solid waste generated annually: 596,911 tons (1996 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 29,846 tons (2005 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 5% (2005 est.) |
Source: CIA Factbook
