1982 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1982 (Wikisource)
Geography
Area
28,051 km2; Rio Muni, about 25,900 km2, largely forested; Fernando Po, about 2,072 km2
Coastline
296 km
Land boundaries
539 km WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
12 nm
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
indigenous population of Province Bioko, primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos; of Rio Muni primarily Fang; less than 1,000 Europeans, primarily Spanish
Labor force
most Equatorial Guineans involved in subsistence agriculture; labor shortages on plantations
Language
Spanish official language of government and business; also pidgin English, Fang
Literacy
school enrollment reportedly 90% for school age children, but overall literacy rate is only 38%
Nationality
noun—Equatorial Guinean(s); adjective—Equatorial Guinean
Population
260,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.1%
Religion
natives all nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic; some pagan practices retained
Government
Capital
Malabo
Communists
no significant number of Communists, but some sympathizers
Elections
last parliamentary elections held December 1973 Political parties and leaders: political activities suspended; before coup of 3 August 1979, National Unity Party of Workers (PUNT) was the sole legal party
Government leader
Lt Col. Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, President, Supreme Military Council (SMC), succeeded former President Masie Nguema after 3 August 1979 coup
Legal system
in transition; law by decree issued by Supreme Military Council; in part based on Spanish civil law and custom
Member of
Conference of East and Central African States. ECA, G–77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IMCO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UPU
National holiday
12 October Branches: executive and legislative powers held by 11 member Supreme Military Council assisted by ministries headed by appointed military commissars; judicial process not clearly defined since coup
Official name
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Political subdivisions
3 military regions; 7 provinces with appointed military governors
Suffrage
popular suffrage has been deferred
Type
republic
Economy
Agriculture
major cash crops—Rio Muni, timber, coffee: Fernando Po, cocoa; main food products—rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, and livestock
Budget
(1976) receipts $2.8 million
Electric power
7,000 kW capacity (1980); 25 million kWh produced (1980), 99 kWh per capita
Exports
$13,3 million (1980 est.); cocoa, coffee, and wood
Fiscal year
calendar year
GNP
$100 million (1980); $417 per capita (Note: economy destroyed by former President Masie Nguema)
Imports
$37.1 million (1980 est.); foodstuffs, chemicals and chemical products, textiles
Major industries
fishing, sawmilling
Major trade partner
Spain
Monetary conversion rate
172.1 Ekuele=US$1 (March 1981)
Communications
Airfields
3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft
Highways
Rio Muni—2,460 km, including approx. 185 km bituminous, remainder gravel and earth; Fernando Po—300 km, including 146 km bituminous, remainder gravel and earth
Inland waterways
Rio Muni has approximately 167 km of year-round navigable waterway, used mostly by pirogues
Ports
1 major (Malabo), 3 minor
Railroads
none
Telecommunications
poor system with adequate government services; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones (0.6 per 100 popl.); 2 AM and no FM stations; no TV station
Military and Security
Military budget
for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $6.2 million; 21% of central government budget
Military manpower
males 15-49, 58,000; 30,000 fit for military service