People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Guinean(s).
Population (2002 census): 8,444,559, including refugees and foreign residents. Refugee population (2006 est.): 60,000 Liberians and Ivoiriens. Population of Conakry: 2 million. Population of largest prefectures--Guéckédou (487,017), Boké (366,915), Kindia (361,117), N'Zérékoré (328,347), Macenta (365,559).
Annual growth rate (2002 census): 3.5%.
Ethnic groups: Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, other ethnic groups 10%.
Religions: Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, traditional beliefs 7%.
Languages: French (official), national languages.
Education: Years compulsory--8. Enrollment--primary school, 64.32% (male 78.71%, female 69.03%); secondary, 15%; and post secondary, 3%. Literacy (total population over age 15 that can read and write)--44.2% (male 58.74%, female 26.38%).
Health (2002): Life expectancy--total population 54 years. Infant mortality rate (2002)--98/1000.
Work force (2002, 4.5 million): Agriculture--76%; industry and commerce--18%; services--6%.

GUINEA PEOPLE
Guinea has four main ethnic groups:

• Peuhl (Foula or Foulani), who inhabit the mountainous Fouta Djallon;
• Malinke (or Mandingo), in the savannah and forest regions;
• Soussous in the coastal areas; and
• Several small groups (Gerzé, Toma, etc.) in the forest region.

West Africans make up the largest non-Guinean population. Non-Africans total about 10,000 (mostly Lebanese, French, and other Europeans). Seven national languages are used extensively; major written languages are French, Peuhl, and Arabic.