Guinea-Bissau: economy

What is the inflation rate in Guinea-Bissau?

Consumer prices in Guinea-Bissau were 0.3% lower in July 2026 than a year earlier, after a fall of 1.0% in June, according to the BCEAO's monthly economic note for August 2026. Inflation across the eight-country West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) was 1.2%.

The BCEAO uses the harmonised consumer price index that each country's statistics institute compiles. Guinea-Bissau's National Statistics Institute website showed a newest release for January 2025, when annual inflation was 5.4%, driven by food prices. The IMF projects 2.5% average inflation for 2026.

Official sources: BCEAO: Note de conjoncture économique, August 2026 (PDF, French) · National Statistics Institute

What is the central bank interest rate in Guinea-Bissau?

The BCEAO's main policy rate, at which it lends to banks, is 3.00%, and its marginal lending rate is 5.00%, after its Monetary Policy Committee left rates unchanged on 10 June 2026, according to the BCEAO's economic note for August 2026. The committee met again on 9 September 2026.

Guinea-Bissau uses the CFA franc and shares these rates with the other WAEMU members. In Guinea-Bissau, the average lending rate charged by banks fell by 1.70 percentage points in June 2026 and the average deposit rate rose by 0.87 points, according to the same note. Across the union, the average lending rate was 6.66%.

Official sources: BCEAO: Note de conjoncture économique, August 2026 (PDF, French)

Is Guinea-Bissau's economy growing?

Guinea-Bissau's real GDP grew 5.8% in 2025, according to the World Bank, after 4.4% in 2024. The IMF projects 4.7% growth for 2026.

Real GDP growth measures the change in output after removing price changes. The Ministry of Economy and Finance uses a nominal GDP estimate of 1,575,058.91 million CFA francs to calculate its debt ratios, according to its debt bulletin for the first half of 2026. The National Statistics Institute's website did not show recent national accounts releases on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: GDP growth, Guinea-Bissau · IMF: Real GDP growth, Guinea-Bissau · Ministry of Economy and Finance: Public debt bulletin, first half of 2026 (PDF, Portuguese)

What is Guinea-Bissau's GDP per capita?

Guinea-Bissau's GDP per capita was US$1,124 in 2025, according to the World Bank, up from US$998 in 2024 and US$882 in 2022.

The figure divides GDP in current US dollars by the population. Because it is in US dollars, it moves with the exchange rate as well as with output. Money sent home by people working abroad was equal to 9.9% of GDP in 2024, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: World Bank: GDP per capita, Guinea-Bissau · World Bank: Personal remittances received, Guinea-Bissau

How fast is Guinea-Bissau's economy growing?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is 5.8%. The peak was 8.1% in 2011 and the low -1.7% in 2012. It is 15th highest of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.6%. Worldwide: 34th of 180.

How rich is Guinea-Bissau per person?

The World Bank puts GDP per person in Guinea-Bissau at $1,124 in 2025. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: $1,351; Guinea-Bissau is 31st highest of 46. Of 180 countries with 2025 data, 165th highest.

What is Guinea-Bissau's GDP per person adjusted for prices?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2025, is $3,293 in international dollars. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: $4,425 in international dollars; Guinea-Bissau is 33rd highest of 46. Of 179 countries with 2025 data, 164th highest.

How big are Guinea-Bissau's exports?

In 2025, exports of goods and services in Guinea-Bissau was 13.9% of GDP, according to the World Bank. Its high point since 2005 was 2017, at 26.5% of GDP; its low point was 2006, at 10.4% of GDP. It is 31st highest of 38 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 26.1% of GDP. Worldwide: 122nd of 133.

Does Guinea-Bissau have a current account surplus or deficit?

According to the IMF, the current account balance in Guinea-Bissau was -7.4% of GDP in 2024, a deficit. The peak was 1.8% of GDP in 2015 and the low -8.0% of GDP in 2019. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was -4.2% of GDP, and Guinea-Bissau placed 27th highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 135th of 162.

How much foreign investment does Guinea-Bissau receive?

According to the IMF, net inflows of foreign direct investment in Guinea-Bissau was 1.3% of GDP in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.6% of GDP (2012) to 4.5% of GDP (2019). It is 33rd highest of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 2.0% of GDP. Worldwide: 115th of 179.

What are bank lending rates in Guinea-Bissau?

5.3%: that is the average bank lending rate in Guinea-Bissau for 2016, according to the IMF. Its high point since 2006 was 2014, at 5.3%; its low point was 2006, at 4.7%. It is 28th highest of 35 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 11.6%. Worldwide: 100th of 128.