World Factbook
Guinea-Bissau
Republica da Guine-Bissau
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green, with a vertical red band on the left side; a five-pointed black star is centered in the red band meaning: yellow stands for the sun, green for hope, red for blood shed during the struggle for independence; the black star stands for African unity history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement; the Ghanaian flag heavily influenced the design
Capital
name
Bissau
etymology
the name is derived from the local Bijuga people and is used to distinguish the country from neighboring Guinea
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
11 51 N, 15 35 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
yes
citizenship by descent only
yes
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Constitution
history
promulgated 16 May 1984
amendment process
proposed by the National People’s Assembly if supported by at least one third of its members, by the Council of State (a presidential consultant body), or by the government; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly; constitutional articles on the republican and secular form of government and national sovereignty cannot be amended
Country name
former
Portuguese Guinea
etymology
the country is partly named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea; the name itself is derived from the Tuareg word aginaw , meaning "black people;" Bissau, the name of the capital city, distinguishes the country from neighboring Guinea and is derived from the local Bijuga people
local long form
Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form
Guine-Bissau
conventional long form
Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form
Guinea-Bissau
Independence
24 September 1973 (declared); 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)
Legal system
mixed system of civil law, which incorporated Portuguese law at independence; influenced by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), African Francophone Public Law, and customary law
Government type
semi-presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Supreme Court has both appellate and constitutional jurisdiction
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of 9 judges and organized into Civil, Criminal, and Social and Administrative Disputes Chambers)
subordinate courts
Appeals Court; regional (first instance) courts; military court
judge selection and term of office
judges nominated by the Higher Council of the Magistrate, a major government organ responsible for judge appointments, dismissals, and judiciary discipline; judges appointed by the president for life
Executive branch
note
note: elections were held on 23 November 2025; a military coup on 26 November suspended the election process, arrested the sitting president, swore in a transitional president, and appointed a cabinet for one year
cabinet
Cabinet nominated by the prime minister, appointed by the president
chief of state
Interim President Gen. Horta Nta Na MAN (since 27 November 2025)
election results
2025: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) and Fernando DIAS da Costa (PRS) both claimed victory in first round; a coup prevented the release of election results after ballots were destroyed 2019: Umaro Sissoco EMBALO elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - Domingos Simoes PEREIRA (PAIGC) 40.1%, Umaro Sissoco EMBALO (Madem G15) 27.7%, Nuno Gomez NABIAM (APU-PDGB) 13.2%, Jose Mario VAZ (independent) 12.4%, other 6.6%; percent of vote in second round - Umaro Sissoco EMBALO 53.6%, Domingos Simoes PEREIRA 46.5% (2019)
head of government
Interim Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TE (since 28 November 2025)
most recent election date
23 November 2025
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for up to 2 consecutive 5-year terms; prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the National People's Assembly
expected date of next election
2025
National holiday
Independence Day, 24 September (1973)
National color(s)
red, yellow, green, black
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems of the Bijagós Archipelago – Omatí Minhô (n)
Political parties
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cabo Verde or PAIGC Democratic Convergence Party or PCD Movement for Democratic Alternation Group of 15 or MADEM-G15 National People’s Assembly – Democratic Party of Guinea Bissau or APU-PDGB New Democracy Party or PND Party for Social Renewal or PRS Republican Party for Independence and Development or PRID Union for Change or UM
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
102 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
People's National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
11/23/2025
expected date of next election
November 2029
percentage of women in chamber
9.8%
parties elected and seats per party
Inclusive Alliance Platform/Terra Coalition (54); Movement for Democratic Alternation (MADEM G.15) (29); Party for Social Renewal (PRS) (12); Bissau-Guinean Workers’ Party (6); Other (1)
National anthem(s)
title
"Esta e a Nossa Patria Bem Amada" (This is Our Beloved Country)
history
adopted 1974; a delegation from Portuguese Guinea visited China in 1963 and heard music by XIAO He; Amilcar Lopes CABRAL, the leader of Guinea-Bissau's independence movement, asked the composer to create a piece that would inspire his people to fight for independence
lyrics/music
Amilcar Lopes CABRAL/XIAO He
National symbol(s)
black star
Administrative divisions
9 regions ( regioes , singular - regiao ); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama/Bijagos, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 872-4226
chancery
918 16th Street, NW (Mezzanine Suite) Washington DC 20006
telephone
[1] (202) 872-4222
chief of mission
Ambassador Maria Da Conceição NOBRE CABRAL (since 18 September 2024)
Diplomatic representation from the US
mailing address
2080 Bissau Place, Washington DC 20521-2080
chief of mission
Ambassador Michael RAYNOR (since 20 April 2022)
email address and website
dakarACS@state.gov https://gw.usmission.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AOSIS, AU, CPLP, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; non-party state to the ICCt