Guinea: environment

Where does Guinea get its electricity?

Hydropower produced 3,778,000 MWh of the 3,859,400 MWh generated by Electricité de Guinée in 2024, about 98%, according to the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook. Thermal plants produced 81,400 MWh, down from 935,065 MWh in 2020.

Installed hydro capacity was 770 MW and thermal capacity 444 MW. Hydro output has more than doubled since 2020, when it was 1,484,414 MWh. Renewable sources, including wood and charcoal, supplied 66.6% of final energy consumption in 2022, according to the World Bank.

Official sources: 2024 statistical yearbook · 66.6% of final energy consumption

How is household rubbish disposed of in Guinea?

37.7% of Guinean households dumped their rubbish in the open in 2018/2019, and 27.4% burned it, according to the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook. 18.2% used public bins, 9.5% private collection and 2.3% collection trucks.

The yearbook estimates that 3,767,810 people were served by municipal waste collection in 2018/2019, 3,455,239 of them in urban areas. The figures come from the national employment and informal sector survey and the household living conditions survey. The yearbook also reports on drinking water and sea water quality.

Official sources: 2024 statistical yearbook

How much of Guinea is covered by forest?

Forest covered 20.0% of Guinea's land area in 2024, according to World Bank data from the Food and Agriculture Organization's Global Forest Resources Assessment, down from 21.1% in 2020.

Forest area is land of more than half a hectare with trees taller than 5 metres and canopy cover of more than 10%. The INS's 2024 statistical yearbook reports national reforestation programmes by region, and the flows of firewood and charcoal into Conakry. People in Guinea were exposed to 27.3 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre of air on average in 2023.

Official sources: World Bank data · 2024 statistical yearbook · 27.3 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre

What are Guinea's CO2 emissions per person?

In 2024, carbon dioxide emissions per person in Guinea was 0.4 tonnes, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. Since 2005 it has ranged from 0.2 tonnes (2005) to 0.4 tonnes (2020). It is 26th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.4 tonnes. Worldwide: 158th of 186.

What are Guinea's emissions?

29.4 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent: that is total greenhouse gas emissions in Guinea for 2024, according to the European Commission's EDGAR database. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, and Guinea placed 23rd highest of 47. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 109th highest.

What share of Guinea's energy comes from renewables?

66.6%: that is the renewable share of final energy use in Guinea for 2022, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 65.8% (2020) to 81.6% (2005). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 70.0%; Guinea is 13th highest of 23. Worldwide: 14th of 53.

What is Guinea's forest cover?

The FAO puts forest area as a share of land in Guinea at 20.0% in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 22.2%, and Guinea placed 27th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 120th of 190.

What is PM2.5 air pollution in Guinea?

According to the Global Burden of Disease study, average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Guinea was 27.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. Since 2005 it has ranged from 25.0 micrograms per cubic metre (2013) to 31.5 micrograms per cubic metre (2015). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre; Guinea is 25th highest of 48. Worldwide: 56th of 192.

What share of Guinea is protected land?

The UN Environment Programme puts the share of land in protected areas in Guinea at 42.6% in 2025. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2013. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 16.9%; Guinea is 2nd highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2025 data, 6th highest.

What is water stress in Guinea?

The latest figure from the FAO, for 2022, is 1.4%. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.1%, and Guinea placed 37th highest of 47. Worldwide: 157th of 175.