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.

Ethnic groups

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, 1% of its total population, 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. 38%-45% are Muslims - this makes Guinea-Bissau the only Portuguese-speaking nation with a sizable Muslim population. Most Muslims are Sunnis. The rest of the population are pagans, principally the Balanta, and Christians, mostly Roman Catholics.

Population

According to, Guinea-Bissau's population was in, compared to 518,000 in 1950. The proportion of the population below the age of 15 in 2010 was 41.3%, 55.4% were aged between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.3% were aged 65 years or older.
Total populationPopulation aged 0–14 Population aged 15–64 Population aged 65+
1950518 00038.857.63.6
1955566 00041.954.93.2
1960593 00041.355.73.0
1965598 00041.355.63.1
1970603 00037.059.73.3
1975694 00041.055.73.3
1980835 00042.154.43.5
1985922 00045.451.13.5
19901 017 00043.852.83.5
19951 125 00044.152.63.4
20001 241 00043.153.63.3
20051 368 00042.454.43.2
20101 515 00041.355.43.3

Vital statistics

Registration of vital events is in Guinea-Bissau not complete. The Population Departement of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.

Life expectancy

Other demographic statistics

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2019.
The following demographic are from the independent Ghana Statistical Service and from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise indicated.

Population

Age structure

Median age

Birth rate

Death rate

[Total fertility rate]

Population growth rate

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Net migration rate

Life expectancy at birth

[Dependency ratio]s

Urbanization

Sex ratio

Ethnic groups

definition: age 15 and over can read and write