June 28 (Reuters) - Guinea-Bissau, which holds a presidential election on Sunday, has suffered chronic instability since independence from Portugal in 1974. Here are some key facts about Guinea-Bissau: * POVERTY: -- Guinea-Bissau is ranked 171 out of 179 nations in the U.N. Development Programme's Human Development Index. Life expectancy at birth is less than 46 years. -- One of the biggest exports is cashew nuts and Guinea-Bissau ranks as the world's fifth biggest producer. It also exports fish, shrimps and peanuts. -- There are deposits of bauxite and phosphates and unexploited offshore oil reserves, but most people are subsistence farmers. * DRUGS: -- In recent years, Guinea-Bissau became a major hub in the flow of cocaine from Latin America to Europe. The drugs arrived in boats or light planes from across the Atlantic. -- Narcotics experts have said some members of the military facilitated the trade by guaranteeing safe passage for planes and boats. -- But the U.N. body fighting drugs and crime says the removal of many of the key players from the political scene in Guinea-Bissau has brought a big decrease in trafficking. * SOME NUMBERS: GDP (2008): $442 million Annual growth rate (2008): 3.2 percent. GDP per capita (2008): $600 (est.). * THE COUNTRY: AREA: 28,120 sq km (10,857 sq miles): Guinea-Bissau is bordered to the north by Senegal and to the east and southeast by Guinea. About the size of Taiwan, it is flat, densely forested and dissected by many rivers. POPULATION: 1.6 million. LANGUAGES: The official language is Portuguese but Portuguese-based creole is the lingua franca. The most common native languages are Mande and Fulah. CAPITAL: Bissau. ETHNICITY: Balante 27 percent, Fulani 23 percent, Malinke 12 percent. There are also Mandyako, Pepel and other minorities. RELIGION: Around two-thirds practise traditional African religions, which are often mixed with other faiths. More than one third are Muslims and about one tenth Christians. HISTORY: Since formal independence in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has been torn by a series of coups and uprisings. A 1998/99 civil war destroyed much of the very limited infrastructure. Sources: Reuters/ UN/State Dept/CIA
An aerial view of the active Galeras volcano near Pasto city is seen in this file photo taken May 17, 2009. Colombia's Galeras volcano erupted on June 8, 2009 for the ...
