Guinea is the traditional name of coastal western Africa. The historical colonies of French Guinea, Spanish Guinea and Portuguese Guinea gained independence in that order and subsequently named themselves after the region. French Guinea, became Guinea in 2 October 1958. Spanish Guinea, became Equatorial Guinea in 1968. Portuguese Guinea, became Guinea-Bissau in 1973, Bissau is its capital. New Guinea island was named after this region and subsequently gave the name to the country Papua New Guinea.
Conakry is the largest city and national capital, with a population of 1.66 million.
Guinea covers an area of 94,925mi² (245,857km²), forming a rough crescent from its western border on the Atlantic Ocean curving towards the east and south. It shares its northern border with Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali, and a southern border with Sierra Leone, Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire.