,
Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 65%, Muslim 30%, Christian 5%

Languages: Portuguese (official), Criolo, African languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 54.9%
male : 68%
female: 42.5% (1995 est.)

@Guinea-Bissau:Government

Country name:
conventional long form : Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica de Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea

Data code: PU

Government type: republic, multiparty since mid-1991, formerly highly
centralized

National capital: Bissau

Administrative divisions: 9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao);
Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali

Independence: 10 September 1974 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 10 September (1974)

Constitution: 16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991 (currently undergoing
revision to liberalize popular participation in the government)

Legal system: NA

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA (initially assumed
power 14 November 1980)
head of government: Prime Minister Manuel da Costa SATURNINO (since 5
November 1994)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections : president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held NA August 1994 (next to be held NA 1999); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
vote - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52%, Kumba YALLA 48%

Legislative branch: unicameral National People's Assembly or
Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are popularly elected
to serve five-year terms)
elections : last held 3 July and 7 August 1994 (next to be held NA
1999)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 46.0%, RGB-MB
19.2%, PRS 10.3%, UM 12.8%, FLING 2.5%, PCD 5.3%, PUSD 2.9%, FCG 0.2%,
others 0.8%; seats by party - PAIGC 62, RGB 19, PRS 12, UM 6, FLING 1

Judicial branch: none; there is a Ministry of Justice in the Council
of Ministers

Political parties and leaders: African Party for the Independence of
Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA,
leader]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING
[Francois Kankoila MENDY]; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Bah Fatah Movement