Gabú: population, jobs, health, schools, water and living standards

Gabú is a region of Guinea-Bissau, number 3 of 9 by population. The Instituto Nacional de Estatística projects the population of the Gabú region at 268,227 for 2026, 14.2% of Guinea-Bissau's projected 1,890,252; 3rd largest of the 9 regions. This is a projection published in 2022 from the 2009 census and the 2014 MICS survey, not a census count.

Population (INE projection)

268,227

2026

Unemployment rate (ILO definition)

5.1%

2017/18

Household members with access to electricity

35.1%

2018-19

Population with at least basic drinking water

51.7%

2018-19

Population in the poorest national wealth fifth

22.2%

2018-19

Under-five deaths per 1,000 live births (10 years before the survey)

106

2009-2019

Children under 5 stunted

30.5%

2018-19

Children 12-23 months with all basic vaccines

63.6%

2018-19

In depth

Economy, jobs and prices in Gabú: The unemployment rate in Gabú was 5.1% in the INE's 2017/2018 employment and informal sector survey (ERI-ESI), 4th highest of the 9 regions (Guinea-Bissau: 7.1%).
Health in Gabú: Women in Gabú aged 15 to 19 had 113 births per 1,000 each year in the 2018-2019 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS6), 3rd highest of the 9 regions (Guinea-Bissau: 84).
Education in Gabú: 52.1% of children of primary-school age in Gabú were attending primary school (or higher) in 2018-2019 and 47.0% were out of school; 2nd lowest of the 9 regions for attendance (Guinea-Bissau: 68.7% and 27.7%).
Poverty and living standards in Gabú: 22.2% of people in Gabú lived in households in Guinea-Bissau's poorest fifth by assets and housing in 2018-2019 (20% nationally by definition), 4th lowest of the 9 regions; 6.1% were in the richest fifth. The INE publishes no official poverty rate by region.

Is the population of Gabú growing?

The INE projection has Gabú growing from 214,901 people in 2014 to 268,227 in 2026, 24.8% more, about 2.0% a year now; regions are projected to grow at the national pace because the INE shares the national projection out in proportion to each region's census population.

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Guinea-Bissau · saved copy

Are births registered in Gabú?

31.1% of children under five in Gabú had their birth registered with the civil registry in 2018-2019, 2nd lowest of the 9 regions (Guinea-Bissau: 46.0%).

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Guinea-Bissau and Ministério da Economia e Finanças, with UNICEF · saved copy

How regions are governed in Guinea-Bissau

Regions (8) plus the Autonomous Sector of Bissau. Regional governors appointed and dismissed by the government on the minister's proposal. Represent central government.

Every tier of government in Guinea-Bissau

Other regions of Guinea-Bissau

Sector Autónomo de Bissau 476,154
Oio 280,702
Bafatá 261,989
Cacheu 241,385
Biombo 121,354
Tombali 118,897
Quinara 79,202
Bolama/Bijagós 42,342

Up a level: Guinea-Bissau · government and power in Guinea-Bissau

Sources

Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Guinea-Bissau, with AFRISTAT: Inquérito Regional Integrado sobre Emprego e Setor Informal (ERI-ESI) 2017/2018, general report (July 2019): tables 19 and 23, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 79c387bd2247…)
Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Guinea-Bissau and Ministério da Economia e Finanças, with UNICEF: Inquérito aos Indicadores Múltiplos (MICS6) 2018-2019, final report: regional tables, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bfaad4e22778…)
Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Guinea-Bissau: Relatório de apresentação das projeções da população da Guiné-Bissau de 2014 a 2063 (November 2022), Tabela 14: projected population by region, 2014-2040, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fca32d201d06…)

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