2000 Edition

Background

Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited islands, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by ruthless leaders who have badly mismanaged the economy since independence from 190 years of Spanish rule in 1968. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 presidential and 1999 legislative elections were widely seen as being flawed.

Area

land

28,051 sq km

total

28,051 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline

296 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Pico Basile 3,008 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

tap water is not potable; desertification

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

total

539 km

Land use

arable land

5%

forests and woodland

46%

other

41% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

4%

permanent pastures

4%

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

violent windstorms, flash floods

Natural resources

oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 101,724; female 100,787) 15-64 years: 54% (male 121,290; female 132,581) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,960; female 9,872) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

38.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Infant mortality rate

94.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo

Life expectancy at birth

female

55.65 years (2000 est.)

male

51.53 years

total population

53.56 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

68.1% (1995 est.)

male

89.6%

total population

78.5%

Nationality

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

474,214 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.47% (2000 est.)

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.94 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Capital

Malabo

Constitution

approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Equatorial Guinea

conventional short form

Equatorial Guinea

former

Spanish Guinea

local long form

Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial

local short form

Guinea Ecuatorial

Data code

EK

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John M. YATES

note

the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006

chief of mission

Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE

telephone

(202) 296-4174

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)

election results

President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud

elections

president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998)

FAX

(202) 296-4195

Flag description

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)

Government type

republic

Independence

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

International organization participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal

Legal system

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Legislative branch

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS 5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1

elections

last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004)

note

opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in the House to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislative elections

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Political parties and leaders

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS ; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) ; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE ; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE ; Popular Union or UP [Fabian MUSA, general secretary]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal adult

Agriculture - products

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Budget

expenditures

$43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$47 million

Currency

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external

$290 million (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$33.8 million (1995)

Economy - overview

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994. Boosts in production, along with high world oil prices, should further stimulate growth in 2000-2001.

Electricity - consumption

20 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

21 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

85.71%

hydro

14.29%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995)

note

since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Exports

$555 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners

US 62%, Spain 17%, China 9%, France 3%, Japan 3%, (1997)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $960 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

60%

services

20% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

15% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$300 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities

petroleum, manufactured goods and equipment

Imports - partners

US 35%, France 15%, Spain 10%, Cameroon 10%, UK 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (1994 est.)

Industries

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (1999 est.)

Labor force

NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

30% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios

180,000 (1997)

Telephone system

poor system with adequate government services

domestic

NA

international

international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

3,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

4,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

0 km

total

2,880 km

unpaved

2,880 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 8, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)

total

11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,907 GRT/26,812 DWT

Ports and harbors

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Railways

total

0 km

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.6% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 105,420 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 53,564 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

exclusive maritime economic zone boundary dispute with Cameroon is presently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria and Cameroon because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea

ERITREA