The chief economic activity of Guinea is agriculture; some 87 % of the people are dependent on subsistence farming, forestry, and fishing. The principal food crops and their production in 2000 were rice ; root crops such as cassava (1.06 million metric tons); fruits such as plantains and citrus; and vegetables.Chief export crops are typically pineapples, peanuts, palm kernels, and coffee. farm animal in 2000 included 2.4 million cattle, 687,000 sheep, 864,000 goats, and 8.9 million poultry.

Guinea has from one-third to one-half of the world's known reserves of bauxite, plus remarkable reserves of high-grade iron ore at Mount Nimba and the Simandou Mountains. Alluvial gold is taken from the Niger and its tributaries, and diamond production is substantial and largely of gem-quality stones. Hydroelectric potential is considerable because of the high rainfall and deep gorges of the Fouta Djallon but has been only partially developed, largely to meet the demands of the alumina sector.

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains a poor underdeveloped nation. The nation possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second largest bauxite producer. The mining area accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the nation is to move out of poverty. The government made encouraging progress in budget management in 1997-99, and reform progress was praised in the World Bank/IMF October 2000 assessment. escalating fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders will cause major economic disruptions. In addition to direct defense costs, the violence has led to a sharp decline in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff, while panic buying has created food shortages and inflation in local markets. Real GDP growth is expected to fall to 2% in 2001.