2010 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, 2002, and 2009 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

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; 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)

per capita

220 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions widely separated

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

total

539 km

Land use

arable land

4.63%

other

91.8% (2005)

permanent crops

3.57%

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

volcanism

Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m, 9,865 ft), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, forms Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea

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: 41.9% (male 134,823/female 130,308) 15-64 years: 54% (male 167,820/female 174,238) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,574/female 14,678) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

370 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

11,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

80.55 deaths/1,000 live births

total

79.47 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

62.94 years (2010 est.)

male

61.05 years

total population

61.98 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

80.5% (2000 est.)

male

93.4%

total population

87%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and yellow fever

Median age

female

19.6 years (2010 est.)

male

18.4 years

total

19 years

Nationality

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

650,702 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.674% (2010 est.)

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

7 years (2000)

male

9 years

total

8 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

39% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

3 45 N, 8 47 E

name

Malabo

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

former

Spanish Guinea

local long form

Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale

local short form

Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ

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

FAX

[237] 2220-1572

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

chancery

2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO

FAX

[1] (202) 518-5252

telephone

[1] (202) 518-5700

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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

Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%; elections marred by widespread fraud

elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July 2008);

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); green symbolizes the jungle and natural resources, blue represents the sea that connects the mainland to the islands, white stands for peace, and red recalls the fight for independence

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, 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)

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1 note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

elections

last held on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed) note: adopted 1968

name

"Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)

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 [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Electoral Coalition or EC; 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

Central bank discount rate

4.25% (31 December 2009) 4.75% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.477 billion (2010 est.) -$1.883 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$832 million (31 December 2010 est.) $766 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth but fluctuating oil prices have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominate form of livelihood. 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. Government officials and their family members own most businesses, but corruption is rampant. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2008, led by oil, but dropped in 2009-10, as the price of oil fell.

Electricity - consumption

26.04 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

28 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006)

Exports

$10.24 billion (2010 est.) $8.495 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners

US 30.31%, China 12.54%, Japan 9.21%, Spain 7.5%, South Korea 7.01%, Taiwan 5.63%, Italy 5.38%, Netherlands 4.09% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.2%

industry

93.9%

services

3.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$37,900 (2010 est.) $38,200 (2009 est.) $37,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2010 est.) 5.3% (2009 est.) 11.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.55 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.66 billion (2010 est.) $24.18 billion (2009 est.) $22.96 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$5.743 billion (2010 est.) $5.258 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners

China 19.97%, US 17.28%, Spain 14.94%, France 9.49%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.34%, Italy 5.02% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.)

Industries

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.2% (2010 est.) 7.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

195,200 NA (2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

5.17 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.67 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

362,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

1,114 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

346,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

4.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.086 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.207 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.473 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.534 billion (31 December 2009) $3.579 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of narrow money

$1.86 billion (31 December 2010 est) $1.295 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

30% (1998 est.)

Broadcast media

state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible (2007)

Internet country code

.gq

Internet hosts

9 (2010)

Internet users

14,400 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2009 stood at about 70 percent of the population

general assessment

digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage

international

country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

10,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

445,000 (2009)

Airports

7 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

1 (Norway 1) (2010)

total

4

Pipelines

gas 38 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)

Roadways

total

2,880 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 146,241 females age 16-49: 146,138 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 109,311 females age 16-49: 111,543 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

6,920 (2010 est.)

male

7,186

Military branches

National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2010)

Military expenditures

0.1% of GDP (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; service obligation 2 years; women hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard (2011)

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) page last updated on January 24, 2011 ======================================================================