Guinea-Bissau population pyramid 2026
2,297,808 people in 2026 (projected). In Guinea-Bissau, men born around 1950–66 have been unusually scarce since at least 2000; at 70–74 today there are only 60 men per 100 women.
- 2026 population
- 2.3Mrank 148 of 237
- Median age
- 19.6 yearsoldest rank 204
- Fertility rate
- 3.62births per woman · above replacement
- Structure
- Youthful3.3% age 65+
Guinea-Bissau population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Guinea-Bissau age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 37.8% of the population, while 3.3% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 58.9% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Guinea-Bissau’s age structure as youthful; the guide to expansive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 69.9: about 70 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (64.3 children and 5.6 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Guinea-Bissau’s population pyramid
Slow growth in the colonial and war years
Between 1950 and 1975 the population grew only from about 544,000 to 651,000, despite fertility close to six children per woman. High mortality was one reason: life expectancy was around 36–37 years and about one infant in six died before the first birthday. Movement out of the territory was another; the UN estimates net emigration of about 135,000 over 1950–99, a large figure for a population of this size. The 1975 pyramid, recorded just after the 1963–74 war of independence from Portugal, has an unusual waist at ages 30–44, where bands are only slightly larger than the 45–49 band above them and men are particularly few.
A generation of missing men
What makes this pyramid distinctive is that a male shortfall follows a group of cohorts through time. In 2000, women outnumbered men by about a third at ages 35–49, people born roughly 1951–65. In 2026 the same generations are aged about 60–74, and there are 73 men per 100 women at 60–64 and only 60 at 70–74. Women do live longer, by almost five years, but that gap alone would not produce an imbalance this large. Conflict deaths and the emigration of men from these cohorts are plausible contributors, though the chart alone cannot establish the cause, and estimates rest on limited census data.
Below age 45 the picture is quite different: the sexes are balanced, the base is broad and smooth, and there are no notable bulges or notches. Infant mortality has fallen from about 104 per 1,000 births in 2000 to about 47 in 2026, and life expectancy reached 64 years in 2023.
Fertility falling, growth continuing
Fertility peaked at about 6.5 around 1980–90 and has since fallen to about 3.6. With births roughly four times as numerous as deaths, the population grows from about 2.3 million in 2026 to 3.4 million by 2050 and 4.7 million by 2100 under the medium scenario. Its current structure is closest to those of Sierra Leone, Senegal and Liberia; the guide to reading a population pyramid explains how to follow a cohort from one year’s chart to the next, as with the missing men here.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
No five-year band under age 80 is more than 10% larger or smaller than both of its neighbours, so Guinea-Bissau’s 2026 pyramid has a comparatively smooth profile without sharp bulges or notches.
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Guinea-Bissau is projected to record 66,031 births (about 181 births a day) and 15,957 deaths, a natural increase of 50,074. Net migration adds −1,893 people, ranking #147 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 1,434,092 births, 409,550 deaths, and cumulative net migration of −68,977. Over that period the balance of births and deaths moved the total more than migration did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of −48,541 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 66.9 years37.4 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 62.1 years34.1 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 13.7 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 46.5per 1,000 births · 164 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 66.1per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 29.4 yearssex ratio at birth 104.0
Women in Guinea-Bissau are projected to live 4.8 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 164 to 46.5 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #18 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 29.4 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Guinea-Bissau
The median age of 19.6 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 3.62 births per woman is above the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 64.6 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2,297,808 | #148 | Largest first |
| Median age | 19.6 years | #204 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 3.62 | #35 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +2.1% | #39 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 64.6 years | #212 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 3.3% | #203 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Guinea-Bissau
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–4 | 305,405 | 13.3% | 154.9K / 150.5K |
| 2 | 5–9 | 286,335 | 12.5% | 145K / 141.3K |
| 3 | 10–14 | 277,935 | 12.1% | 140.6K / 137.4K |
| 4 | 15–19 | 251,223 | 10.9% | 126.7K / 124.5K |
| 5 | 20–24 | 218,196 | 9.5% | 109.7K / 108.5K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Guinea-Bissau has 1,136,634 males and 1,161,174 females. That is 97.9 males per 100 females, ranking #127 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 49.5% of the population and females for 50.5%. There are 24,540 more females than males overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 61.8 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 104.0 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Guinea-Bissau has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 543,627 in 1950 to 2,297,808 in 2026, a change of 323%. Over the same span, median age moved from 20.4 to 19.6 years.
The under-15 share changed from 38.4% to 37.8%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 3.5% to 3.3%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Guinea-Bissau’s population is projected to grow by about 50%, reaching 3,438,608 in 2050. The median age changes from 19.6 to 25.7 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 2.4 percentage points to 5.7%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 29.1%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 4,665,484. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 543,627 | 20.4 | 5.91 | 35.7 | 25,008 | 15,074 | −2,148 | +1.4% |
| 1960 | 577,633 | 22.0 | 5.92 | 37.6 | 26,198 | 15,580 | −8,007 | +0.5% |
| 1970 | 584,402 | 18.0 | 6.04 | 37.3 | 22,553 | 14,921 | +1,123 | +1.5% |
| 1980 | 829,302 | 16.6 | 6.49 | 43.6 | 40,321 | 19,297 | −8,086 | +1.6% |
| 1990 | 973,670 | 15.9 | 6.50 | 46.9 | 44,103 | 20,167 | −8,151 | +1.6% |
| 2000 | 1,234,741 | 16.3 | 5.79 | 50.6 | 52,286 | 19,470 | −6,971 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 1,566,347 | 17.1 | 5.11 | 57.0 | 60,004 | 16,937 | −2,257 | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 2,013,255 | 18.4 | 4.08 | 61.3 | 63,229 | 16,510 | −1,394 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 2,153,339 | 18.9 | 3.84 | 64.1 | 64,679 | 15,181 | −1,400 | +2.2% |
| 2024* | 2,201,352 | 19.2 | 3.76 | 64.3 | 65,072 | 15,429 | −1,712 | +2.2% |
| 2026* | 2,297,808 | 19.6 | 3.62 | 64.6 | 66,031 | 15,957 | −1,893 | +2.1% |
| 2030* | 2,488,934 | 20.5 | 3.37 | 65.2 | 67,905 | 17,131 | −3,273 | +1.9% |
| 2040* | 2,969,702 | 23.2 | 2.87 | 66.6 | 70,283 | 20,558 | −2,563 | +1.6% |
| 2050* | 3,438,608 | 25.7 | 2.56 | 68.0 | 71,099 | 25,162 | −746 | +1.3% |
| 2060* | 3,844,366 | 28.3 | 2.35 | 69.2 | 70,490 | 30,931 | −3,908 | +0.9% |
| 2070* | 4,175,014 | 30.7 | 2.20 | 70.4 | 68,929 | 37,103 | −3,806 | +0.7% |
| 2080* | 4,423,686 | 32.8 | 2.09 | 71.6 | 66,560 | 43,302 | −3,874 | +0.4% |
| 2090* | 4,572,871 | 34.8 | 2.00 | 72.8 | 63,583 | 48,942 | −3,112 | +0.3% |
| 2100* | 4,665,484 | 36.5 | 1.94 | 74.1 | 60,873 | 52,899 | −1,806 | +0.1% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 154,864 | 150,541 | 305,405 | 13.3% |
| 5–9 | 145,013 | 141,322 | 286,335 | 12.5% |
| 10–14 | 140,565 | 137,370 | 277,935 | 12.1% |
| 15–19 | 126,710 | 124,513 | 251,223 | 10.9% |
| 20–24 | 109,669 | 108,527 | 218,196 | 9.5% |
| 25–29 | 94,766 | 94,535 | 189,301 | 8.2% |
| 30–34 | 81,481 | 81,897 | 163,378 | 7.1% |
| 35–39 | 69,481 | 70,509 | 139,990 | 6.1% |
| 40–44 | 59,218 | 60,538 | 119,756 | 5.2% |
| 45–49 | 46,897 | 49,663 | 96,560 | 4.2% |
| 50–54 | 36,804 | 41,579 | 78,383 | 3.4% |
| 55–59 | 25,317 | 30,250 | 55,567 | 2.4% |
| 60–64 | 17,075 | 23,352 | 40,427 | 1.8% |
| 65–69 | 12,201 | 19,346 | 31,547 | 1.4% |
| 70–74 | 8,392 | 14,050 | 22,442 | 1.0% |
| 75–79 | 4,867 | 7,857 | 12,724 | 0.6% |
| 80–84 | 2,260 | 3,520 | 5,780 | 0.3% |
| 85–89 | 819 | 1,359 | 2,178 | 0.1% |
| 90–94 | 205 | 378 | 583 | 0.0% |
| 95–99 | 31 | 63 | 94 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Guinea-Bissau’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Sierra Leone99% overlap · median age 19.9
- Senegal99% overlap · median age 19.8
- Liberia98% overlap · median age 19.0
- Madagascar98% overlap · median age 19.4
- Togo98% overlap · median age 19.2
- Gambia98% overlap · median age 18.8
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Guinea-Bissau.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Guinea-Bissau Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/guinea-bissau/
MLA
“Guinea-Bissau Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/guinea-bissau/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Guinea-Bissau Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/guinea-bissau/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Guinea-Bissau in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Guinea-Bissau's population in 2026 is projected at 2,297,808.
What is the median age in Guinea-Bissau?
The projected median age in Guinea-Bissau in 2026 is 19.6 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Guinea-Bissau?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 3.62 births per woman, above the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Guinea-Bissau's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 50%, from 2.3M to 3.4M.
What share of Guinea-Bissau is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 3.3% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 5.7%.
How many babies are born in Guinea-Bissau each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 66,031 births and 15,957 deaths in 2026, about 181 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 50,074.
What is life expectancy in Guinea-Bissau for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 66.9 years for women and 62.1 years for men, a gap of 4.8 years in favour of women.
Does Guinea-Bissau have more immigrants or emigrants?
Guinea-Bissau is projected to lose about 1,893 more people through emigration than it gains in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of −68,977.
What is the sex ratio in Guinea-Bissau?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 97.9 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.