,000 population (1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 117.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.87 years
male: 46.21 years
female: 49.57 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.43 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guinea-Bissauan(s)
adjective: Guinea-Bissauan

Ethnic divisions: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 36%
male: 50%
female: 24%

Labor force: 403,000 (est.)
by occupation: agriculture 90%, industry, services, and commerce 5%,
government 5%

@Guinea-bissau:Government

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea

Digraph: PU

Type: republic, formerly highly centralized, multiparty since mid-1991

Capital: Bissau

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974)

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing
revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau Joao
Bernardo VIEIRA (assumed power 14 November 1980); election last held
August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA
52%, Kumba YALLA 48%
head of government: Prime Minister Manuel SATURNINO, since 5 November
1994
cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National People's Assembly: (Assembleia Nacional Popular) elections
last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held 1999); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (100 total) PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS
12, Union for Change Coalition 6, FLING 1

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council
of Ministers

Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of
Guinea-Bissa