Demographics of Guinea-Bissau

This article is about the demographic features of the population of Guinea-Bissau, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse with distinct languages, customs, and social structures. Most Guineans, 99%, are blacks — mostly Fula and Mandinka-speakers concentrated in the north and northeast, the Balanta and Papel, living in the southern coastal regions, and the Manjaco and Mancanha, occupying the central and northern coastal areas. Most of the rest are mestiços of mixed Portuguese and black descent, including Cape Verdean minority. Due to the exodus of most Portuguese settlers after independence, less than 1% of Guinea-Bissauans are pure Portuguese. The country also has a Chinese minority, including Macanese people of mixed Portuguese and Chinese blood from Macau. Most people are farmers. 50% are Muslims — this makes Guinea-Bissau the only Portuguese-speaking nation with a Muslim majority and most Muslims are Sunnites; 40% are pagans, principally Fula and Mandinka. Less than 10% are Christians, mostly Roman Catholics.

CIA World Factbook demographic statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Population: 1,596,677 (July 2011 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.4% (male 321,889; female 323,202)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 435,986; female 465,117)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 19,975; female 30,508) (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 1.988% (2011 est.)

Birth rate: 35.15 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate: 15.27 deaths/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 96.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.04 years
male: 46.77 years
female: 51.37 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 4.51 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guinean (s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European (entirely Portuguese) and Mulatto less than 1%

Religions: Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 10% (see Religion in Guinea-Bissau)

Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)