Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼 is a fascinating country located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region. Officially known as Republic of Guinea-Bissau, it is home to roughly 2.2 million people and covers an area of about 36,125 square kilometres.
On this page you will find a complete profile of Guinea-Bissau — its capital Bissau, its people and languages, the money used there, where it sits on the world map, and plenty of facts worth remembering the next time the country comes up in a quiz.
Guinea-Bissau on the map
Geographically, Guinea-Bissau belongs to Western Africa within Africa. Its territory spans approximately 36,125 km², which makes it the 139th largest country or territory on Earth.
Guinea-Bissau has a coastline as well as land borders with Guinea and Senegal — a crossroads position that has influenced its culture and economy for centuries.
The capital city is Bissau, the political and cultural heart of the country and usually the first stop for visitors who want to understand how guinea-bissauan life really works.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Population and languages of Guinea-Bissau
Around 2.2 million people live in Guinea-Bissau, making it the 148th most populous country or territory in the world. A person from Guinea-Bissau is called a Guinea-Bissauan.
Guinea-Bissau is multilingual: the languages spoken include Portuguese and Upper Guinea Creole. This linguistic variety reflects the country's layered history and the many communities that shaped it.
Beyond the numbers, everyday culture in Guinea-Bissau — from markets and music to family traditions — is what makes discovering it through a random spin so rewarding.
Practical information about Guinea-Bissau
The official currency is the West African CFA franc (XOF, symbol Fr). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Guinea-Bissau is +245. Websites from the country typically use the .gw internet domain.
Quiz tip: the three facts most worth memorising about Guinea-Bissau are its flag, its capital Bissau, and its approximate population of 2.2 million.
Neighbouring countries
Guinea-Bissau shares borders with 2 countries:
Fun facts about Guinea-Bissau
- Guinea-Bissau's flag emoji is 🇬🇼 — its two-letter country code is GW and its three-letter code is GNB.
- Guinea-Bissau covers 36,125 km², ranking 139th in the world by area.
- With about 2.2 million people, Guinea-Bissau holds the 148th spot in the world population ranking.
- Guinea-Bissau is a member state of the United Nations.
- Guinea-Bissau shares borders with 2 countries.
Guinea-Bissau — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Guinea-Bissau?
- The capital of Guinea-Bissau is Bissau.
- What is the population of Guinea-Bissau?
- Guinea-Bissau has a population of approximately 2,201,352 people, ranking 148th in the world.
- Where is Guinea-Bissau located?
- Guinea-Bissau is located in Western Africa, part of the Africa region.
- What language is spoken in Guinea-Bissau?
- The languages spoken in Guinea-Bissau include Portuguese and Upper Guinea Creole.
- What currency is used in Guinea-Bissau?
- Guinea-Bissau uses the West African CFA franc (XOF).
