1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 28,050 km2 land area: 28,050 km2 comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Coastline
296 km
Environment
subject to violent windstorms
International disputes
maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Irrigated land
NA km2
Land boundaries
total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Land use
arable land: 8% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 4% forest and woodland: 51% other: 33%
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon and Gabon
Map references
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Note
insular and continental regions rather widely separated
Terrain
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
People and Society
Birth rate
41.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
15.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic divisions
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Infant mortality rate
104.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
172,000 (1986 est.) by occupation: agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980) note: labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)
Languages
Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 51.63 years male: 49.56 years female: 53.76 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 50% male: 64% female: 37%
Nationality
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
399,055 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
2.6% (1993 est.)
Religions
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Total fertility rate
5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Capital
Malabo
Chamber of People's Representatives
last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993); results - PDGE is the only party; seats - (41 total) PDGE 41
Chief of State
President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
Constitution
new constitution 17 November 1991
Digraph
EK
Diplomatic representation in US
chief of mission: Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553 telephone: (914) 667-9664
Executive branch
president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)
FAX
[240] (9) 2164
Flag
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG MIFUMU (since 22 January 1992)
Independence
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Judicial branch
Supreme Tribunal
Legal system
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo)
Member of
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Names
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Political parties and leaders
ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
President
last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without opposition
Suffrage
universal adult at age NA
Type
republic in transition to multiparty democracy
US diplomatic representation
chief of mission: Ambassador John E. BENNETT embassy: Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo mailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabo telephone: [240] (9) 2185
Economy
Agriculture
cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Budget
revenues $26 million; expenditures $30 million, including capital expenditures of $3 million (1991 est.)
Currency
1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Economic aid
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million; Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
Electricity
23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January 1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85 (1988)
Exports
$37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.) commodities: coffee, timber, cocoa beans partners: Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4% (1988)
External debt
$213 million (1990)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Imports
$63.0 million (c.i.f., 1990) commodities: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery partners: France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, FRG 3.1%, Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8% (1988)
Industrial production
growth rate 6.8% (1990 est.)
Industries
fishing, sawmilling
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.4% (1990)
National product
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $144 million (1991 est.)
National product per capita
$380 (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate
-1% (1991 est.)
Overview
The economy, devastated during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA, is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, with cocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, and government revenues. There is little industry. Commerce accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. Increased production from recently discovered natural gas deposits will provide a greater share of exports by 1995.
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Airports
total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Highways
Rio Muni - 2,460 km; Bioko - 300 km
Merchant marine
2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413 GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargo and 1 passenger-cargo
Ports
Malabo, Bata
Telecommunications
poor system with adequate government services; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Military and Security
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police
Defense expenditures
exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Manpower availability
males age 15-49 84,323; fit for military service 42,812 (1993 est.)