Geography

The country is made up of a continental part and the Bissagos archipelago, consisting of 40 islands, half of which are inhabited

Area
36,125 square kilometers, 20% of which fluctuates with the tides

General Information

Status
Republic

Government
democratic system; includes a president, prime minister and people's national assembly made up of 100 members elected by regional councillors

Important date
Declaration of independence September 24, 1973

Capital
Bissau

Currency
peso

Languages spoken
Portuguese, French, local languages

Principal industries
few mining deposits and no industry. All activity revolves around agriculture.

Agriculture
the country's main industry, which includes rice, millet and peanut growing. The national specialty is the cashew, of which the country ranks 6th in world production.