History of Guinea-Bissau in Timeline

Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, is a West African nation covering 36,125 square kilometers. It has an estimated population of just over 2 million people. The country is bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the southeast.

1987: Release of N'tturudu

In 1987, Umban u'Kest released N'tturudu, the first feature film ever made in Guinea-Bissau.

1988: Release of Mortu Nega

In 1988, Flora Gomes released Mortu Nega (Death Denied), which was the first fiction film and the second feature film ever made in Guinea-Bissau.

1989: Mortu Nega wins Oumarou Ganda Prize

In 1989, Flora Gomes's film Mortu Nega won the prestigious Oumarou Ganda Prize at FESPACO.

1992: Screening of Udju Azul di Yonta at Cannes Film Festival

In 1992, Flora Gomes directed Udju Azul di Yonta, which was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival.

1998: Gross primary enrollment rate

In 1998, the gross primary enrollment rate in Guinea-Bissau was 53.5%, with a higher rate for males (67.7%) compared to females (40%).

2004: Opening of Centro de Formação São João Bosco

In 2004, the Centro de Formação São João Bosco, a private professional education school, opened in Guinea-Bissau.

2009: Census data on Portuguese speakers

In 2009, a census indicated that 27.1% of the population in Guinea-Bissau claimed to speak non-creole Portuguese, with a higher percentage in urban areas (46.3%) compared to rural areas (14.7%).

2010: Pew report on sectarian identity

According to a Pew report in 2010, Guinea-Bissau did not have a prevailing sectarian identity among Muslims, a distinction shared with other Sub-Saharan countries.

2010: Pew Research survey on religious demographics

In 2010, a Pew Research survey indicated that the population of Guinea-Bissau was 45.1% Muslim and 19.7% Christian, with 30.9% practicing folk religion and 4.3% following other faiths.

2011: Opening of Centro de Formação Luís Inácio Lula da Silva

In 2011, the Centro de Formação Luís Inácio Lula da Silva, another private professional education school, opened in Guinea-Bissau.

2011: Literacy rate estimate

In 2011, the literacy rate in Guinea-Bissau was estimated at 55.3%, with 68.9% for males and 42.1% for females.

2015: Pew-Templeton study on religious demographics

A 2015 Pew-Templeton study found that the population of Guinea-Bissau was 45.1% Muslim, 30.9% practicing folk religions, 19.7% Christian, and 4.3% unaffiliated.

2020: CIA World Factbook's estimate of religious affiliations

According to the CIA World Factbook's 2020 estimate, the religious affiliations in Guinea-Bissau were: 46.1% Muslim, 30.6% following folk religions, 18.9% Christian, and 4.4% other or unaffiliated.

2021: US Department of State Report on International Religious Freedom

The 2021 US Department of State Report on International Religious Freedom noted the belief among religious community leaders in Guinea-Bissau that their communities were generally tolerant, but raised concerns about rising religious fundamentalism.

July 2022: Vandalism of Catholic church

In July 2022, a Catholic church in Gabú, a predominantly Muslim region of Guinea-Bissau, was vandalized, leading to concerns among the Christian community about potential Islamic extremism.

2050: Future of World Religions projection

The Pew report, The Future of World Religions, projected that from 2010 to 2050, the proportion of the population in Guinea-Bissau practicing Islam will increase.