Economy - overview:
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 also complied with requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative by publishing its mining contracts and was found to be compliant. 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.
The biggest threats to Guinea’s economy are political instability, a reintroduction of the Ebola virus epidemic, and low international commodity prices. 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 enduring legacy of corruption, inefficiency, and lack of government transparency, 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):
$26.45 billion (2017 est.)
$24.8 billion (2016 est.)
$23.26 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 140
GDP (official exchange rate):
$9.183 billion (2017 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.7% (2017 est.)
6.6% (2016 est.)
3.5% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,000 (2017 est.)
$2,000 (2016 est.)
$1,900 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 207
Gross national saving:
-1.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
-6.7% of GDP (2016 est.)
-8.1% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption: 106.1%
government consumption: 7.6%
investment in fixed capital: 13.6%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 33.3%
imports of goods and services: -60.6% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 19.5%
industry: 38.4%
services: 42.1% (2017 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, palm kernels, cocoa, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, potatoes, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber
Industries:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, iron ore; light manufacturing, agricultural processing
Industrial production growth rate:
8% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
Labor force:
5.558 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 76%
industry and services: 24% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
2.8% (2017 est.)
2.4% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Population below poverty line:
47% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2007 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
39.4 (2007 est.)
40.3 (1994 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Budget:
revenues: $1.559 billion
expenditures: $1.868 billion (2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
17% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Public debt:
56% of GDP (2016 est.)
54.7% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.5% (2017 est.)
8.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Central bank discount rate:
22.25% (31 December 2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
21.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
21.7% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Stock of narrow money:
$1.771 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.61 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Stock of broad money:
$2.315 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.12 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.808 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.931 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$-2.297 billion (2017 est.)
$-2.706 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Exports:
$2.115 billion (2017 est.)
$1.954 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Exports - commodities:
bauxite, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
Exports - partners:
China 24.6%, Ghana 17.9%, Switzerland 10.1%, UAE 7.7%, France 5.2%, Spain 4.3%, India 4.1% (2016)
Imports:
$2.475 billion (2017 est.)
$2.109 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Netherlands 14.6%, China 13.5%, India 12.4%, Belgium 8.6%, France 6.9%, UAE 5.4%, Singapore 4.9% (2016)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$416.1 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$383.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
Debt - external:
$1.53 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.462 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$69.91 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$69.19 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
Exchange rates:
Guinean francs (GNF) per US dollar -
9,230 (2017 est.)
9,085 (2016 est.)
9,085 (2015 est.)
7,485.5 (2014 est.)
7,014.1 (2013 est.)