2011 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, 2004, and 2008 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, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.

Area

28,051 sq km 28,051 sq km 0 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

Atlantic Ocean 0 m Pico Basile 3,008 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands none of the selected 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)

0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%) 220 cu m/yr (2000)

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

539 km Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

border countries

Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

total

539 km

Land use

4.63% 3.57% 91.8% (2005)

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

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

violent windstorms; flash floods Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m), 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

volcanism

Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m), 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

41.5% (male 140,946/female 136,294) 54.4% (male 179,141/female 184,358) 4.1% (male 11,880/female 15,606) (2011 est.)

0-14 years

41.5% (male 140,946/female 136,294)

15-64 years

54.4% (male 179,141/female 184,358)

65 years and over

4.1% (male 11,880/female 15,606) (2011 est.)

Birth rate

35.43 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.6% (2004)

Death rate

9.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 45% of population rural: 42% of population total: 43% of population urban: 55% of population rural: 58% of population total: 57% of population (2000)

rural

58% of population

total

57% of population (2000)

urban

55% of population

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)

Health expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2009)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5% (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

20,000 (2009 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.92 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

77.3 deaths/1,000 live births 78.37 deaths/1,000 live births 76.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

76.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

77.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

62.37 years 61.4 years 63.36 years (2011 est.)

female

63.36 years (2011 est.)

total population

62.37 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 87% 93.4% 80.5% (2000 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

80.5% (2000 est.)

male

93.4%

total population

87%

Major cities - population

MALABO (capital) 128,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and yellow fever rabies (2009)

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

Maternal mortality rate

280 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

19.1 years 18.5 years 19.7 years (2011 est.)

female

19.7 years (2011 est.)

male

18.5 years

total

19.1 years

Nationality

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Population

668,225 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.641% (2011 est.)

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

8 years 9 years 7 years (2002)

female

7 years (2002)

male

9 years

total

8 years

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 0.97 male(s)/female 0.78 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.97 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.78 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.91 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

40% of total population (2010) 3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

40% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Malabo 3 45 N, 8 47 E UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Republic of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale Spanish Guinea

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

Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ KM-3, Carreterade de Aeropuerto (El Paraiso), Apartado 95, Malabo note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 [237] 2220-1500 [237] 2220-1572

chief of mission

Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ

embassy

KM-3, Carreterade de Aeropuerto (El Paraiso), Apartado 95, 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

Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 518-5700 [1] (202) 518-5252

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

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) Prime Minister Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July 2008) Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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 Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%

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

Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

mixed system of civil and customary law

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) last held on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012) percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1 Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

election results

percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1

elections

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

National anthem

"Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path) Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed) adopted 1968

lyrics/music

Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)

name

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

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

National symbol(s)

silk cotton tree

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 [Daniel MARTINEZ Ayecaba]

Political pressure groups and leaders

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); EG Justice (US-based anti-corruption group)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

$6.598 billion $6.851 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$6.851 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$6.598 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% of GDP (2010 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2010 est.) 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.302 billion (2010 est.) -$1.95 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$794.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) $757.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

The discovery and exploitation of large oil and gas reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth but fluctuating oil prices have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. Forestry and farming are also minor 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. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues; however, in 2010, under Equatorial Guinea's candidacy in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the government published oil revenue figures for the first time. Undeveloped natural resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Growth remained strong in 2008, when oil production peaked, but slowed in 2009-10, as the price of oil and the production level fell.

Electricity - consumption

85.56 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

92 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 481.83 (2007) 522.4 (2006)

Exports

$10.39 billion (2010 est.) $8.495 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, timber

Exports - partners

US 24.3%, Italy 10.3%, Spain 10.1%, South Korea 8.3%, Canada 7.6%, China 6.3%, Netherlands 6.1%, Brazil 5.9% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

2.2% 93.9% 3.8% (2010 est.)

agriculture

2.2%

industry

93.9%

services

3.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$36,600 (2010 est.) $37,900 (2009 est.) $36,800 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars; population figures are uncertain for Equatorial Guinea; these per capita income figures are based on a estimated population of less than 700,000; some estimates put the figure as high as 1.2 million people; if true, the per capita GDP figures would be significantly lower

GDP - real growth rate

-0.8% (2010 est.) 5.7% (2009 est.) 10.7% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.49 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.82 billion (2010 est.) $24.02 billion (2009 est.) $22.71 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$5.7 billion (2010 est.) $5.258 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports - partners

China 21.4%, Spain 13.8%, US 12.7%, France 10.9%, Cote dIvoire 6.7%, UK 6.3%, Italy 5.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.)

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Investment (gross fixed)

35.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

195,200 (2007)

Natural gas - consumption

1.55 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

4.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.27 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

395,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

1,729 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

322,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

5.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.346 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.109 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.527 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$171.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) $1.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $1.342 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

45.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

22.3% (2009 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

digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage 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 country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

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

13,500 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

399,300 (2010)

Airports

7 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2010)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

914 to 1,523 m

1

total

6

under 914 m

2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2010)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2010)

total

1

Merchant marine

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2 1 (Norway 1) (2010)

foreign-owned

1 (Norway 1) (2010)

total

4

Pipelines

gas 37 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)

Roadways

2,880 km (2000)

total

2,880 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

151,147 150,345 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

150,345 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

151,147

Manpower fit for military service

113,277 115,320 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

115,320 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

113,277

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

7,398 7,126 (2010 est.)

female

7,126 (2010 est.)

male

7,398

Military branches

National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2011)

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

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 3 - Equatorial Guinea is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking; despite limited law enforcement action against suspected human smugglers and traffickers, including complicit public officials, the government has made no tangible efforts to provide victims of trafficking with the protective services mandated in its 2004 anti-trafficking law; prevention efforts have decreased, as the government did not hold any public awareness campaigns and its interagency commission on human trafficking took little, if any, action; the government's response to human trafficking has been inadequate, particularly given the government's substantial financial resources (2011)

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 3 - Equatorial Guinea is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking; despite limited law enforcement action against suspected human smugglers and traffickers, including complicit public officials, the government has made no tangible efforts to provide victims of trafficking with the protective services mandated in its 2004 anti-trafficking law; prevention efforts have decreased, as the government did not hold any public awareness campaigns and its interagency commission on human trafficking took little, if any, action; the government's response to human trafficking has been inadequate, particularly given the government's substantial financial resources (2011)