2008 Edition

Background

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards.

Area

total: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline

296 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Environment - current issues

tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%) per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions widely separated

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Land use

arable land: 4.63% permanent crops: 3.57% other: 91.8% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards

violent windstorms, flash floods

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Total renewable water resources

26 cu km (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 42% (male 131,696/female 127,253) 15-64 years: 53.8% (male 162,458/female 169,445) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 11,394/female 14,213) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

37.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2003)

Ethnic groups

Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

3.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

370 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

5,900 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 83.75 deaths/1,000 live births male: 84.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 61.23 years male: 60.36 years female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 93.4% female: 80.5% (2000 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)

Median age

total: 18.9 years male: 18.3 years female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Net migration rate

NA (2008 est.)

Population

616,459 (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

2.732% (2008 est.)

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years male: 10 years female: 9 years (2000)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

name: Malabo geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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/Republique de Guinee equatoriale local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale former: Spanish Guinea

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 2220-1500

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700

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 Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July 2008); cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud

FAX

[1] (202) 518-5252

[237] 2220-1572

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

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Tribunal

Legal system

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held 4 May 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, CPDS 2 note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Political parties and leaders

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO 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 [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP

Political pressure groups and leaders

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global Witness (anti-corruption)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.963 billion expenditures: $2.494 billion (2007 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code

XAF

Current account balance

$415 million (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$338 million (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$39 million (2005)

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 neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993, because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Government officials and their family members own most businesses. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2007, led by oil.

Electricity - consumption

25.11 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

27 million kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)

Exports

$9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners

US 20.6%, China 18.8%, Spain 13.9%, Taiwan 13.4%, France 7.5%, Japan 6.5%, Portugal 6.4% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 92.2% services: 4.8% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$28,200 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

12.4% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.49 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$15.54 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners

US 19.6%, Spain 13.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9%, France 9.6%, China 7.7%, Italy 6.6%, UK 6.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

10.1% (2007 est.)

Industries

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

6% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

NA

Natural gas - consumption

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

918.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

375,400 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

1,070 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

368,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

NA

Stock of money

$835.2 million (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$174.5 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

30% (1998 est.)

Internet country code

.gq

Internet hosts

9 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2002)

Internet users

8,000 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)

Radios

180,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2007 stood at about 40 percent of the population international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

10,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular

220,000 (2007)

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Televisions

4,000 (1997)

Airports

5 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 1 by type: cargo 1 (2008)

Pipelines

condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 80 km; oil 54 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Bata, Malabo

Roadways

total: 2,880 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 136,725 females age 16-49: 138,018 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 101,712 females age 16-49: 104,381 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,784 female: 6,543 (2008 est.)

Military branches

National Guard (Guardia Nacional (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2008)

Military expenditures

0.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military service (2008)

Disputes - international

in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation; UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation, it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in 2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures for providing care to victims (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008