2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Age structure
0-14 years: 42.56% (male 103,909; female 102,946) 15-64 years: 53.68% (male 124,808; female 136,088) 65 years and over: 3.76% (male 8,178; female 10,131) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Airports
3 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) Equatorial Guinea Military
Area
total: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maryland
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. Equatorial Guinea Geography
Birth rate
37.72 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $47 million expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.)
Capital
Malabo
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Coastline
296 km
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 local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea
Currency
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Currency code
XAF
Death rate
13.11 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$290 million (1999 est.)
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Teodoro BIYOGO NSUEA chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
Disputes - international
tripartite maritime boundary and economic zone dispute with Cameroon and Nigeria is currently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
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 and high world oil prices stimulated growth in 2000, with oil accounting for 90% of greatly increased exports.
Electricity - consumption
19.5 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
21 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 85.71% hydro: 14.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Environment - current issues
tap water is not potable; desertification
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Ethnic groups
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 699.21 (January 2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
Executive branch
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) head of government: Prime Minister Candido Muatetema RIVAS (since 26 February 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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 election results: President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Exports
$860 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities
petroleum, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners
US 62%, Spain 17%, China 9%, France 3%, Japan 3%, (1997)
FAX
[1] (202) 528-5252
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Equatorial Guinea Communications
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) Equatorial Guinea Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $960 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 20% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
12% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note
insular and continental regions rather widely separated Equatorial Guinea People
Government type
republic
Highways
total: 2,880 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 2,880 km (1996)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.51% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
120 (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
1,100 (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$300 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Imports - commodities
manufactured goods and equipment
Imports - partners
US 35%, France 15%, Spain 10%, Cameroon 10%, UK 6% (1997)
Independence
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Industrial production growth rate
7.4% (1994 est.)
Industries
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Infant mortality rate
92.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
6% (1999 est.)
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Internet country code
.gq
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
1 (2000)
Internet users
500 (2000) Equatorial Guinea Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Tribunal
Labor force
NA
Land boundaries
total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Land use
arable land: 5% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
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) elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS 5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1 note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in the House to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislative elections
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 53.95 years male: 51.89 years female: 56.07 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 89.6% female: 68.1% (1995 est.) Equatorial Guinea Government
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
Merchant marine
total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 26,035 GRT/27,927 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 7, combination bulk 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1 (2000 est.)
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) Equatorial Guinea Transnational Issues
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 108,973 (2001 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males age 15-49: 55,347 (2001 est.)
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Nationality
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Natural hazards
violent windstorms, flash floods
Natural resources
oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Net migration rate
NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido Miko ABOGO]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
486,060 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
2.46% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Bata, Luba, Malabo
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 4 (1998)
Radios
180,000 (1997)
Railways
total: 0 km
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: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal adult
Telephone system
general assessment: 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
4,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
1 (1997)
Televisions
4,000 (1997)
Terrain
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Total fertility rate
4.88 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
30% (1998 est.)
Waterways
none