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The population of Guinea-Bissau is ethnically diverse with distinct languages, customs, and social structures. Most Guineans, 99%, are blacks — mostly Fula and Mandinka-speaker concentrated in the north and northeast, the Balanta and Papel, living in the southern coastal regions, and the Manjaco and Mancanha, occupying the central and northern coastal areas. Most of the rest are mestiços of mixed Portuguese and black descent, including Cape Verdean minority. Pure Portuguese are less than 1% of the Guinea-Bissauans, which caused by the exodus of most Portuguese settlers after independence. Most people are farmers, with traditional religious beliefs (animism); 45% are Muslim, principally Fula and Mandinka. Less than 8% are Christians, mostly Roman Catholics.

Population: 1,285,715 (July 2000 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42% (male 271,100; female 272,304)
15-64 years: 55% (male 335,150; female 370,667)
65 years and over: 3% (male 16,574; female 19,920) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.4% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 39.63 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 15.62 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 112.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 49.04 years
male: 46.77 years
female: 51.37 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.27 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Guinean (s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups: African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and Mulatto less than 1%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%

Languages: Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 53.9%
male: 67.1%
female: 40.7% (1997 est.)