Guinea: health and care

What is life expectancy in Guinea?

Life expectancy at birth in Guinea was 62.6 years in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, up from 61.0 in 2022 and 60.4 in 2021.

Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a newborn would live if death rates at each age stayed as they were that year. WHO estimates it from censuses, surveys and other data, and adjusts the figures so they can be compared across countries. Guinea's sixth Demographic and Health Survey (EDS-VI 2024–2025) was validated in May 2026, and its full results were not yet on the INS website on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Health Organization

How many children die before age five in Guinea?

92.1 of every 1,000 children born in Guinea died before their fifth birthday in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, down from 97.6 in 2022. The infant mortality rate was 59.8 per 1,000 live births.

The 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, reported in the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook, found under-five mortality of 111 per 1,000 and neonatal mortality of 32 per 1,000. WHO's estimates come from the UN inter-agency group for child mortality, which combines survey and registration data.

Official sources: World Health Organization · infant mortality rate · 2024 statistical yearbook

How many women die in childbirth in Guinea?

Guinea had an estimated 494 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, down from 533 in 2021.

The 2018 Demographic and Health Survey, reported in the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook, found that 55.3% of births were assisted by a health worker and 52.6% took place in a health facility, and 80.9% of women had four antenatal visits. WHO's figures are modelled estimates from the UN inter-agency group on maternal mortality, so they come with wide uncertainty ranges.

Official sources: World Health Organization · 2024 statistical yearbook

How common is malaria in Guinea?

Guinea had an estimated 286 malaria cases per 1,000 people at risk in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, about the same as in 2022 and 2023.

The incidence estimate covers all cases, including those never diagnosed or treated, so it is higher than the number recorded by health centres. The INS's 2024 statistical yearbook includes Ministry of Health counts of malaria cases among pregnant women and of cases and deaths in health facilities. The 2018 survey found anaemia in 74.6% of children aged 6 to 59 months.

Official sources: World Health Organization · 2024 statistical yearbook

How common is tuberculosis in Guinea?

Guinea had an estimated 178 new tuberculosis cases per 100,000 people in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, the same as in 2023 and close to 179 in 2022.

The incidence rate estimates all new and relapse cases each year, including people who were never diagnosed, so it is higher than the number of cases notified by health services. WHO builds the estimates from national case notifications, surveys and other data, and they come with an uncertainty range. HIV prevalence among adults aged 15 to 49 was 1.5% in the 2018 survey, according to the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook.

Official sources: World Health Organization · 2024 statistical yearbook

How much does Guinea spend on health?

Guinea's total health spending was 3.69% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Health Organization, and out-of-pocket payments by households made up 54.4% of it.

Out-of-pocket spending is what people pay directly for care and medicines, rather than through taxes or insurance. WHO's universal health coverage index for Guinea was 43 in 2023, up from 41 in 2021. The index summarises coverage of essential services such as maternal care, vaccination and treatment of infectious diseases.

Official sources: World Health Organization · out-of-pocket payments · universal health coverage index

How many children in Guinea are vaccinated?

23.9% of children aged 12 to 23 months in Guinea had received all basic vaccines in 2018, according to the Demographic and Health Survey figures in the INS's 2024 statistical yearbook, down from 37.2% in 2005 and 36.5% in 2012.

The survey records vaccinations from health cards and mothers' reports. The yearbook also gives the Ministry of Health's yearly counts of vaccinations given to children under one year old, by vaccine and region. New survey figures will come from the EDS-VI 2024–2025, whose results were validated in May 2026.

Official sources: 2024 statistical yearbook

How many doctors does Guinea have?

Guinea had 1.15 medical doctors per 10,000 people in 2024, according to the World Health Organization, down from 2.10 in 2022. It had 1.99 nurses and midwives per 10,000 people in 2024.

The figures come from the national health workforce accounts that countries report to WHO. The INS's 2024 statistical yearbook gives Ministry of Health counts of doctors, nurses, midwives and other staff by region; in Conakry it records 561 doctors in 2024.

Official sources: World Health Organization · nurses and midwives · 2024 statistical yearbook

What is life expectancy in Guinea?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2024, is 60.9 years. No year since 2005 has been higher. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3 years, and Guinea placed 41st highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 186th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Guinea?

59.8 per 1,000: that is the infant mortality rate in Guinea for 2024, according to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 7th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 37.2 per 1,000. World rank, highest first: 7th of 192.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Guinea?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in Guinea was 494 per 100,000, according to the WHO. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 9th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 257 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 10th highest.

What share of GDP does Guinea spend on health care?

3.7% of GDP: that is current health spending in Guinea for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.3% of GDP (2008) to 5.8% of GDP (2015). It is 33rd highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.4% of GDP. World rank, highest first: 160th of 191.

How much do people in Guinea pay for health care themselves?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 54.4%. Its high point since 2005 was 2009, at 72.5%; its low point was 2015, at 49.4%. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 32.4%; Guinea is 10th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 26th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Guinea?

In 2022, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Guinea was 0.21 per 1,000, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2018, at 0.22 per 1,000; its low point was 2016, at 0.08 per 1,000. It is 18th highest of 46 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.18 per 1,000. Worldwide: 96th of 125.

What is the measles vaccination rate in Guinea?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 60.0%. The peak was 62.0% in 2011 and the low 47.0% in 2015. It is 39th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 81.0%. World rank, highest first: 178th of 191.