Countries, Compared

Guinea

Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, and is grouped by the United Nations under the M49 standard as UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa.

Countries, Compared: country research and comparison

Guinea is a country in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, and is grouped by the United Nations under the M49 standard as UN region Africa, UN subregion Sub-Saharan Africa. Its UN M49 code is 324; its ISO alpha-2 code is GN; its ISO alpha-3 code is GIN. Guinea is a UN member state. The World Bank lists Conakry as the capital. The facts below are stable identifiers, not political or territorial claims. The rest of the article shows how to verify current figures without freezing volatile data.

Country identifiers

  • UN M49 code: 324
  • ISO alpha-2: GN
  • ISO alpha-3: GIN
  • UN region: Africa
  • UN subregion: Sub-Saharan Africa
  • UN member state: Yes
  • Capital (World Bank field): Conakry

The M49 grouping is maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division. You can verify the code, region and subregion directly at the UN M49 overview. M49 is a statistical geography. It groups territories for data collection and does not settle border disputes or recognition questions.

For machine-readable data, the World Bank country API returns a structured profile for each economy, including the country name, capital city, income level, lending category, and ISO codes. The response names the reference year for indicators. The identifiers below are fixed and do not change year to year.

  • UN M49 code: 324
  • ISO alpha-2: GN
  • ISO alpha-3: GIN
  • UN region: Africa
  • UN subregion: Sub-Saharan Africa
  • UN member state: Yes
  • World Bank capital field: Conakry

How to verify current figures

Country statistics are not frozen. Population, currency, government structure, economic output, and visa rules change. For any number you cite, record the source, the definition, and the reference year. The two anchor sources are the UN M49 overview and the World Bank country API.

  • UN M49 overview: the authoritative UN grouping of territories and areas. Use it for Guinea’s M49 code (324), ISO codes (GN, GIN), and its regional placement: Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa.
  • World Bank country API: returns the official country code, region, income level, and capital city for all World Bank member economies. The capital field for Guinea is Conakry. The API is not a census; it is an administrative source.

Population

Population data changes every year. Do not treat any single figure as permanent. The United Nations Population Division publishes annual estimates and projections in the World Population Prospects; the reference year is always stated on the data page. As of the 2020s, UN estimates place Guinea’s total in the range of 13-14 million, but that figure is a projection, not a census count. The most recent census data may differ from projections because censuses are conducted roughly every ten years and can miss rural or nomadic communities. Always cite the exact source and reference year when you quote a headcount.

The World Bank’s country API returns the official country code, region, and capital field for Guinea, but the API does not include inhabitants by default. You need the indicator endpoint (SP.POP.TOTL) for population series. The definition and collection method differ from the UN’s; do not mix them in a single comparison. For census-based counts, the Institut National de la Statistique (Guinea) publishes national census and survey data. Census figures are typically several years old and may undercount rural or nomadic groups. When comparing, always note the reference year and whether the figure is a projection, a census count, or a World Bank estimate.

Language, currency and government

For languages, consult Ethnologue or the national language policy, not a travel website. For currency, the issuing authority is the central bank, the Banque Centrale de la République de Guinée, and its current notes and exchange rates are published there. For government structure, use the official government portal or the CIA World Factbook with its methodology note. For economy, use the World Bank country page and IMF Article IV reports. For travel requirements, use your own government’s foreign ministry travel advisory or the IATA Travel Centre. Do not rely on a third-party profile for visa rules, which change without notice.

How the M49 grouping works

The UN M49 standard assigns Guinea the code 324, ISO alpha-2 GN, ISO alpha-3 GIN. The UN groups Guinea in Africa and, more specifically, Sub-Saharan Africa. Guinea is a UN member state. The World Bank lists Conakry as the capital. These are statistical groupings, not political claims about borders or sovereignty. The M49 overview is maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) and is the source for how territories and areas are grouped for statistical reporting. The World Bank’s country API uses the same ISO alpha-3 code (GIN) for its economic and development indicators. If you are comparing Guinea to another territory, keep in mind that grouping schemes can differ between organisations.

One fact this guide can state that others cannot

The UN M49 code 324, the ISO codes GN and GIN, and the World Bank capital field Conakry are fixed identifiers that do not require annual updating, while every population figure, currency rate and visa rule on this page must be verified against a named source and reference year before you cite it.