Guinea Bissau statistics — population, economy, trade and telecom
As West Africa’s smallest mainland economy navigates persistent political instability and structural fragility in 2026, reliable data on Guinea-Bissau remains both scarce and strategically important. The country sits at a crossroads of regional security concerns, cashew commodity dependence, and nascent governance reforms under AU and ECOWAS oversight. Understanding Guinea-Bissau’s baseline statistics is essential for development partners, investors, and policymakers tracking progress against the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 benchmarks.
Population and demographics
Guinea-Bissau’s population is estimated at approximately 2.1 to 2.2 million people as of 2024–2025, according to UN Population Division projections. The country maintains one of the higher natural growth rates in West Africa, with UN estimates placing annual population growth at roughly 2.5 to 2.7 percent. This trajectory means the population could approach 2.5 million by the early 2030s, placing significant pressure on public services, land use, and food security. The median age is approximately 18 to 19 years, reflecting an overwhelmingly young demographic profile consistent with broader sub-Saharan African patterns. Urbanisation remains relatively low by regional standards, with World Bank data suggesting that roughly 45 to 47 percent of the population lives in urban areas, concentrated primarily in the capital Bissau. Rural communities, many of which depend directly on smallholder agriculture, still account for the majority of the national population. Population density is moderate overall but unevenly distributed, with the coastal and riverine zones bearing the highest concentrations.
Economic indicators
Guinea-Bissau is classified by the World Bank as a low-income economy. GDP in current US dollar terms is estimated at approximately 1.6 to 1.8 billion USD based on 2023–2024 reference data, making it one of the smallest economies on the African continent by absolute size. GDP per capita is estimated at roughly 700 to 800 USD in nominal terms, though purchasing power parity adjustments place effective living standards somewhat higher. IMF Article IV consultations and World Bank assessments have noted GDP growth rates fluctuating between approximately 3 and 5 percent in recent years, though political disruptions — including repeated government changes — have repeatedly undermined growth momentum. Inflation has been a concern across the West African CFA franc zone; Guinea-Bissau, as a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), uses the CFA franc (XOF), which provides a degree of monetary stability anchored to the euro. Consumer price inflation has been estimated at roughly 3 to 5 percent in recent periods, influenced by global food and fuel price dynamics. Unemployment data is difficult to verify given the large informal sector, but underemployment is widely considered a more pressing structural challenge than open unemployment. Public debt as a share of GDP has been estimated by the IMF at approximately 70 to 80 percent, a level that international creditors consider elevated for a country with limited domestic revenue mobilisation capacity.
Trade and external accounts
Guinea-Bissau’s trade profile is defined by extreme export concentration. Cashew nuts are overwhelmingly the dominant export commodity, accounting for industry estimates of 85 to 90 percent of total merchandise export earnings in most years. This dependence makes the economy acutely vulnerable to global cashew price fluctuations and seasonal harvest variability. Fish and seafood represent a secondary export category, though the country’s capacity to capture full value from its maritime exclusive economic zone remains constrained by limited processing infrastructure. On the import side, Guinea-Bissau relies heavily on food products, petroleum and fuel, machinery, and manufactured consumer goods. India is consistently cited as the primary destination for cashew exports, given its dominant role in global cashew processing. Within the region, Senegal and other ECOWAS member states are important trading partners for both formal and informal cross-border commerce. The current account deficit is structurally persistent, with World Bank and IMF data suggesting a deficit in the range of 3 to 6 percent of GDP in recent years, partially offset by remittances from the diaspora and official development assistance flows.
Key sectors
Agriculture is the backbone of Guinea-Bissau’s economy, employing the majority of the working population and contributing an estimated 40 to 50 percent of GDP. Cashew cultivation dominates the agricultural landscape, but rice — a dietary staple — fishing, and livestock also play important roles. The fisheries sector holds significant untapped potential; Guinea-Bissau’s Atlantic coastline and the Bijagós Archipelago support rich marine biodiversity, and licensing agreements with foreign fishing fleets generate government revenue, though concerns about sustainable management and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing persist. Industry remains underdeveloped, contributing a relatively small share of GDP, primarily through agro-processing, construction, and artisanal activities. The services sector, including government services, trade, and transport, accounts for a growing share of economic activity. Tourism is nascent but holds potential, particularly around the Bijagós Archipelago, which is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. However, infrastructure deficits, political instability, and limited international connectivity have constrained tourism development. Mineral resources, including phosphate deposits and offshore hydrocarbon potential, have attracted exploratory interest but remain largely unexploited at commercial scale as of the mid-2020s.
Telecommunications and digital
Guinea-Bissau’s digital economy is at an early stage of development. Mobile phone penetration has grown considerably over the past decade, with ITU and GSMA data suggesting mobile subscription rates of approximately 70 to 80 percent of the population, though unique subscriber rates are lower when accounting for multi-SIM usage. Internet penetration remains limited, with estimates placing active internet users at roughly 25 to 35 percent of the population, constrained by infrastructure gaps, electricity access deficits, and affordability barriers. The dominant mobile operators in the market include MTN Guinea-Bissau and Orange Guinea-Bissau, which together account for the majority of mobile subscriptions. Mobile money services have expanded in recent years, providing financial access to segments of the population excluded from formal banking, though adoption rates remain lower than in more advanced mobile money markets such as Senegal or Côte d’Ivoire. Fixed-line infrastructure is minimal. Broadband connectivity is primarily delivered through mobile networks, with fibre and fixed broadband penetration negligible outside Bissau. Digital government initiatives and e-commerce remain embryonic, though regional integration frameworks under ECOWAS and WAEMU are encouraging gradual harmonisation of digital policies.
Sources and methodology
The statistics and estimates presented in this dashboard draw on a range of authoritative international sources. Primary references include the World Bank’s World Development Indicators and Open Data platform, IMF Article IV consultation reports and World Economic Outlook databases, UN Population Division projections, and the African Development Bank’s African Economic Outlook. Trade data references the International Trade Centre (ITC) and UN Comtrade. Telecommunications figures are informed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and GSMA Intelligence reports. Where Guinea-Bissau’s national statistics office (Instituto Nacional de Estatística) has published data, this has been considered alongside international estimates. Given the country’s limited statistical capacity and the frequency of political disruptions affecting data collection, many figures carry meaningful uncertainty ranges. All statistics should be treated as approximations and verified against the most recent primary source publications before use in policy or investment decisions. This dashboard reflects a 2026 publication perspective using the most recent available reference data, primarily from 2023 to 2025.
For a deeper qualitative and geopolitical analysis of Guinea-Bissau, visit our Guinea-Bissau expert briefing. To compare Guinea-Bissau’s indicators with those of other African nations, explore our full library of all African country statistics. For broader context on growth trends, investment climates, and structural transformation across the continent, see our African economy pillar.
