2015 Edition

Background

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule; it is one of the smallest countries in Africa consisting of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands. The capital of Malabo is located on the island of Bioko, approximately 25 km from the Cameroonian coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. Between 1968 and 1979, autocratic President Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA virtually destroyed all of the country's political, economic, and social institutions before being deposed by his nephew Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO in a coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979 and plans to stand for reelection in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections between 1996 and 2009 were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that prevent 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, the drop in global oil prices has placed significant strain on the state budget. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment despite limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea is the host of major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in regional affairs.

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 non-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

31.41 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.02 cu km/yr (80%/15%/5%)

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions widely separated

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km

total

528 km

Land use

arable land 4.3%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 3.7%

agricultural land

10.1%

forest

57.5%

other

32.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Central 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), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, form 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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

40.47% (male 152,305/female 147,454)

15-24 years

19.55% (male 73,728/female 71,086)

25-54 years

31.74% (male 116,937/female 118,148)

55-64 years

4.24% (male 13,519/female 17,884)

65 years and over

4.01% (male 12,462/female 17,220) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

33.31 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

28% (2000 est.)

total number

35,382

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.6% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

12.6% (2011)

Death rate

8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5%

potential support ratio

20% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

72.9%

youth dependency ratio

67.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 72.5% of population

rural: 31.5% of population

total: 47.9% of population

urban: 27.5% of population

rural: 68.5% of population

total: 52.1% of population (2015 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3.5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.16% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

800 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

31,600 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

68.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

70.21 deaths/1,000 live births

total

69.17 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

64.97 years (2015 est.)

male

62.76 years

total population

63.85 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (2015 est.)

male

97.4%

total population

95.3%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

malaria and dengue fever

Major urban areas - population

MALABO (capital) 145,000 (2014)

Maternal mortality rate

342 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

20 years (2015 est.)

male

19 years

total

19.5 years

Nationality

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

16.2% (2014)

Population

740,743 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.51% (2015 est.)

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Sanitation facility access

urban: 79.9% of population

rural: 71% of population

total: 74.5% of population

urban: 20.1% of population

rural: 29% of population

total: 25.5% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.76 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.72 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.57 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.12% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

39.9% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

approved by referendum 17 November 1991; amended several times, last in 2012 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Equatorial Guinea

conventional short form

Equatorial Guinea

etymology

the country is named after the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the equator

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 Mark L. ASQUINO (since 4 October 2012)

embassy

Carretera Malabo II, Malabo, Guinea Ecuatorial

mailing address

US Embassy Malabo, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone

[240] 333 09 57 41

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015)

consul general(s)

Houston

FAX

[1] (202) 518-5252

telephone

[1] (202) 518-5700

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MGASOGO (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 (PDGE) 95.8%, Placido MICO Abogo (CPDS) 3.6%, other 0.6%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 Vicente EHATE TOMI (since 22 May 2012); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente ENGONG NGUEMA ONGUENE; Second Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Pascual OBAMA ASUE; Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso NSUE MOKUY

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, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of which are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies

subordinate courts

Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals

Legal system

mixed system of civil and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional, formerly the unicameral Parliament, consists of the Senate or Senado (70 seats; 55 members directly elected by simple majority vote and 15 appointed by the president) and the House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the constitutional referendum of 2011 established the Senate and was implemented at the time of the May 2013 elections

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 54, CPDS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CPDS 1

elections

last held on 26 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

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

note

adopted 1968

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

National symbol(s)

silk cotton tree; national colors: green, white, red, blue

Political parties and leaders

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO]

Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Jeronimo OSA OSA ECORO] (ruling party)

Electoral Coalition or EC

Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE]

Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA]

Independent Candidacy or CI [Gabriel NSE OBIANG OBONO]

Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]

Union for the Center Right or UDC [Avelino MOCACHE MEAENGA]

not officially registered parties

Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA]

note

in November 2014, the government hosted a National Dialogue process to engage with the political opposition; the opposition particiapated with limited attendance and engagement; on March 18, 2015, the CPDS, FDR, and UP formed a coalition called the Front of Democratic Opposition or FOD

Political pressure groups and leaders

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform)

Coalicion CEIBA (group formed by diverse, exiled political parties)

C.O.R.E.D. (originally led by Raimundo Ela Nsang; based in Paris)

EG Justice (US-based anti-corruption group)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$6.274 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$5.224 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.5% (31 December 2010)

4.25% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2014 est.)

15% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.551 billion (2014 est.)

-$688 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$1.416 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.562 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Exploitation of oil and gas deposits, beginning in the 1990’s, has driven economic growth in Equatorial Guinea, allowing per capita GDP to rise to over $29,000 in 2014. Declining revenue from hydrocarbon production, high levels of infrastructure expenditures, lack of economic diversification, and corruption have led to limited improvements in the general population’s living conditions. Equatorial Guinea hosted two economic diversification symposia in 2014 that focused on attracting investment in five sectors: agriculture and animal ranching, fishing, mining and petrochemicals, tourism, and financial services. Undeveloped mineral resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Forestry and farming are also minor components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy since independence has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. Foreign assistance programs by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement and high GDP figures now make Equatorial Guinea ineligible for most donor assistance. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues and has attempted to address this issue by working towards compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. US foreign assistance to Equatorial Guinea is limited in part because of US restrictions pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

494.42 (2014 est.)

494.42 (2013 est.)

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

Exports

$14.76 billion (2014 est.)

$15.78 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, timber

Exports - partners

China 26.7%, UK 16%, Brazil 10%, France 8.3%, Japan 7%, Netherlands 6.9%, India 5.9%, Spain 5.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

88%

government consumption

8.4%

household consumption

17%

imports of goods and services

-69.9%

investment in fixed capital

56.5%

investment in inventories

0.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

5.1%

industry

85.7%

services

9.2% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$36,800 (2014 est.)

$36,900 (2013 est.)

$39,500 (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-0.3% (2014 est.)

-6.5% (2013 est.)

5.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.53 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$28.62 billion (2014 est.)

$28.71 billion (2013 est.)

$30.71 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

25.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

29.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

36.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$5.475 billion (2014 est.)

$5.785 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports - partners

US 23.5%, Spain 17.3%, China 13.6%, France 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.5% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.1% (2014 est.)

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.3% (2014 est.)

3.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

195,200 (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

13% of GDP (2014 est.)

8.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.903 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$2.907 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$3.788 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.841 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$655.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$-577.8 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.504 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.386 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

33.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

22.3% (2009 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

5.614 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

318,100 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

248,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

93 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

22.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

77.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

164,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

100 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.49 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

4.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.29 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

4,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,863 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son, 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 (2013)

Internet country code

.gq

Internet users

percent of population

15.9% (2014 est.)

total

115,100

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)

Telephone system

domestic

fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2011 stood at about 60 percent of the population

general assessment

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

international

country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

15,100

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

72 (2014 est.)

total

516,500

Television broadcast stations

1 (2001)

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

2,438 to 3,047 m

2

over 3,047 m

1

total

6

under 914 m

2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3

foreign-owned

1 (Norway 1) (2010)

total

5

Pipelines

condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 79 km; oil 71 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Bioko Island

major seaport(s)

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Roadways

total

2,880 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

150,345 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

151,147

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

115,320 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

113,277

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

7,126 (2010 est.)

male

7,398

Military branches

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army), Navy, Air Force (2013)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 2-year service obligation; women hold only administrative positions in the Navy (2013)

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 delayed final delimitation; UN urged 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 a source country for children subjected to sex trafficking and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor; Equatorial Guinean girls may be encouraged by their parents to engage in the sex trade in urban centers to receive groceries, gifts, housing, and money; children are also trafficked from nearby countries for work as domestic servants, market laborers, ambulant vendors, and launderers; women are trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for forced labor or prostitution

tier rating

Tier 3 – Equatorial Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made no efforts to investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking offenders or to identify or protect victims, despite its 2004 law prohibiting all forms of trafficking and mandating the provision of services to victims; undocumented migrants continued to be deported without being screened to assess whether any were trafficking victims; authorities did not undertake any trafficking awareness campaigns, implement any programs to address forced child labor, or make any other efforts to prevent trafficking (2015)