Guinea-Bissau civics quiz: questions and answers
All 15 general civics quiz questions about Guinea-Bissau with answers and explanations, grouped by topic. This is a learning quiz, not an official exam. Select a question to see the answer.
Government and law 5 questions
The capital, official language, currency, national motto and independence day.
Practise only: Government and law →
What is the capital of Guinea-Bissau?
Bissau
Bissau is the capital and largest city of Guinea-Bissau.
What is the official language of Guinea-Bissau?
Portuguese
Portuguese, inherited from the colonial period, is the official language.
Which currency does Guinea-Bissau use?
West African CFA franc
Guinea-Bissau joined the CFA franc system in 1997 and uses the West African CFA franc.
What is Guinea-Bissau’s national motto?
Unidade, Luta, Progresso
The motto means "Unity, Struggle, Progress".
On what date did Guinea-Bissau declare its independence?
24 September 1973
Independence was declared unilaterally on 24 September 1973, during the war against Portuguese rule.
History 5 questions
Portuguese rule, Amílcar Cabral and the PAIGC, the 1973 declaration of independence and the kingdom of Kaabu.
Which European country ruled Guinea-Bissau as a colony?
Portugal
The territory was known as Portuguese Guinea before independence.
Who founded the PAIGC independence movement in 1956?
Amílcar Cabral
Amílcar Cabral led the PAIGC, which fought for the independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. He was assassinated in January 1973.
In which year did Portugal formally recognise Guinea-Bissau’s independence?
1974
After declaring independence in 1973, Guinea-Bissau was formally recognised as independent on 10 September 1974.
Who became the first President of Guinea-Bissau?
Luís Cabral
Luís Cabral, half-brother of Amílcar Cabral, was the first president of Guinea-Bissau.
Which West African kingdom once included the territory of Guinea-Bissau?
Kaabu
The region was once part of the Mandinka kingdom of Kaabu, which grew out of the Mali Empire.
Geography, culture and symbols 5 questions
The Bijagós Archipelago, neighbouring countries, Kriol and the national flag.
Practise only: Geography, culture and symbols →
Which group of islands lies off the coast of Guinea-Bissau?
Bijagós Archipelago
The Bijagós Archipelago has 88 islands and islets. Its coastal and marine ecosystems became a World Heritage Site in 2025.
Which country borders Guinea-Bissau to the north?
Senegal
Guinea-Bissau is bordered by Senegal to the north and Guinea to the south and east.
Which ocean lies along Guinea-Bissau’s coast?
Atlantic Ocean
Guinea-Bissau is on the Atlantic coast of West Africa.
Which Portuguese-based creole is widely used as a common language in Guinea-Bissau?
Kriol (Guinea-Bissau Creole)
Portuguese is the official language, but Kriol, a Portuguese-based creole, is the main language of everyday communication between Guinea-Bissau's many ethnic groups.
Which description matches the flag of Guinea-Bissau?
Red vertical band with a black star, then yellow and green
The flag has a red vertical band with a black star at the hoist, and horizontal yellow and green bands on the right.
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