GeoRealityMatch
Peaceful road lined with palm trees in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.A close-up of international stamps and coins featuring country flags, promoting global culture.

Guinea-Bissau

Africa · Western Africa

High safetyLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

84th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.012lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#84 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$1,090national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 150% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 36% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$2.0K$4.0K$3,293 PPP$1,124Inflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $449 a person, $1,226 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $519 a person, $1,260 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2008, $640 a person, $1,309 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2009, $583 a person, $1,315 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2010, $600 a person, $1,370 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2011, $720 a person, $1,472 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $635 a person, $1,402 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $654 a person, $1,416 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2014, $652 a person, $1,456 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2015, $645 a person, $1,730 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $680 a person, $1,824 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2017, $783 a person, $2,082 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2018, $809 a person, $2,058 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $811 a person, $2,247 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2020, $847 a person, $2,340 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2021, $927 a person, $2,522 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $882 a person, $2,786 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2023, $964 a person, $2,956 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $998 a person, $3,093 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $1,124 a person, $3,293 at PPP, inflation 0.9%$0$2.0K$4.0KInflation, % a year12%0200620102015202020252006, $449 a person, $1,226 at PPP, inflation 2%2007, $519 a person, $1,260 at PPP, inflation 4.6%2008, $640 a person, $1,309 at PPP, inflation 10.5%2009, $583 a person, $1,315 at PPP, inflation -1.7%2010, $600 a person, $1,370 at PPP, inflation 2.5%2011, $720 a person, $1,472 at PPP, inflation 5%2012, $635 a person, $1,402 at PPP, inflation 2.1%2013, $654 a person, $1,416 at PPP, inflation 1.2%2014, $652 a person, $1,456 at PPP, inflation -1.5%2015, $645 a person, $1,730 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2016, $680 a person, $1,824 at PPP, inflation 1.5%2017, $783 a person, $2,082 at PPP, inflation 1.7%2018, $809 a person, $2,058 at PPP, inflation 0.4%2019, $811 a person, $2,247 at PPP, inflation 0.2%2020, $847 a person, $2,340 at PPP, inflation 1.1%2021, $927 a person, $2,522 at PPP, inflation 2.2%2022, $882 a person, $2,786 at PPP, inflation 9.4%2023, $964 a person, $2,956 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2024, $998 a person, $3,093 at PPP, inflation 3.8%2025, $1,124 a person, $3,293 at PPP, inflation 0.9%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
64.3years, at birthVery low
#171 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
43WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
33.8PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
2.7%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
A close-up of international stamps and coins featuring country flags, promoting global culture.
How it changed

Guinea-Bissau's Human Development Index

0.514Low human development

174th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 37th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #172Malawi0.517
  2. #173Benin0.515
  3. #174Guinea-Bissau0.514
  4. #175Djibouti0.513
  5. #176Sudan0.511
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 2005

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.412 in 2005 to 0.514 in 2023.

0.350.450.550.5142005201020232005: 0.4122006: 0.4242007: 0.4312008: 0.4362009: 0.4442010: 0.4522011: 0.4602012: 0.4622013: 0.4692014: 0.4762015: 0.4812016: 0.4862017: 0.4912018: 0.4932019: 0.5012020: 0.4982021: 0.5022022: 0.5112023: 0.5140.350.450.552005201020232005: 0.4122006: 0.4242007: 0.4312008: 0.4362009: 0.4442010: 0.4522011: 0.4602012: 0.4622013: 0.4692014: 0.4762015: 0.4812016: 0.4862017: 0.4912018: 0.4932019: 0.5012020: 0.4982021: 0.5022022: 0.5112023: 0.514

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 19 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
64.3 years2024at birthUp 11.3 years from 53 years in 2005
Internet users
30%2024of people onlineUp 28 points from 2% in 2006
Urban population
47%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 8 points from 39% in 2006
Births per woman
3.762024births per womanDown 1.70 from 5.46 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
87%2022of energy usedDown 1 point from 89% in 2004
Access to electricity
44%2024of people with electricityUp 39 points from 5% in 2005
Infant mortality
422024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 43 from 85 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.2 t2024of CO2 per person a yearLevel with 2005
Forest area
70%2023of land under forestDown 6 points from 75% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Repeated coups and a cashew economy; a tropical archipelago, very underdeveloped. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Guinea-Bissau

Guinea-Bissau is a small West African country with a mainland of rivers, forests, and rice paddies and an offshore archipelago, the Bijagós Islands, that is one of Africa's most important wetland ecosystems. The culture is a remarkable blend of animist, Muslim, and Portuguese-influenced traditions, and the pace of life is slow and unhurried. It is an exceptional destination for birdwatchers and those seeking an Africa entirely free of tourist infrastructure.

Practical facts

  • CapitalBissau
  • LanguagesPortuguese, Upper Guinea Creole
  • CurrencyWest African CFA franc (XOF)
  • Area28,120 km²
  • Plug typeType C/F
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Guinea-Bissau's Human Development Index?

Guinea-Bissau's Human Development Index is 0.514 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #174 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Guinea-Bissau safe?

Guinea-Bissau scores 2.01 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #84 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Guinea-Bissau?

Life expectancy at birth in Guinea-Bissau is 64.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #171 of 195 countries.