2017 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 was reelected in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have generally been labeled 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

28,051 sq km 28,051 sq km 0 sq km

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

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

elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point

Pico Basile 3,008 m

mean elevation

577 m

Environment - current issues

tap water is non-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

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions widely separated

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

528 km Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km

border countries (2)

Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km

total

528 km

Land use

10.1% arable land 4.3%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 3.7% 57.5% 32.4% (2011 est.)

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

12 nm 200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

violent windstorms; flash floods Santa Isabel (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

volcanism

Santa Isabel (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

Population - distribution

only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Age structure

39.81% (male 157,388/female 152,469) 19.72% (male 78,145/female 75,348) 32.15% (male 125,108/female 125,096) 4.37% (male 14,676/female 19,349) 3.95% (male 12,808/female 17,971) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

39.81% (male 157,388/female 152,469)

15-24 years

19.72% (male 78,145/female 75,348)

25-54 years

32.15% (male 125,108/female 125,096)

55-64 years

4.37% (male 14,676/female 19,349)

65 years and over

3.95% (male 12,808/female 17,971) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

32.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.6% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

12.6% (2011)

Death rate

7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Demographic profile

Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest and least populated countries in continental Africa and is the only independent African country where Spanish is an official language. Despite a boom in oil production in the 1990s, authoritarianism, corruption, and resource mismanagement have concentrated the benefits among a small elite. These practices have perpetuated income inequality and unbalanced development, such as low public spending on education and health care. Unemployment remains problematic because the oil-dominated economy employs a small labor force dependent on skilled foreign workers. The agricultural sector, Equatorial Guinea’s main employer, continues to deteriorate because of a lack of investment and the migration of rural workers to urban areas. About three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line. Equatorial Guinea’s large and growing youth population – about 60% are under the age of 25 – is particularly affected because job creation in the non-oil sectors is limited, and young people often do not have the skills needed in the labor market. Equatorial Guinean children frequently enter school late, have poor attendance, and have high dropout rates. Thousands of Equatorial Guineans fled across the border to Gabon in the 1970s to escape the dictatorship of MACIAS NGUEMA; smaller numbers have followed in the decades since. Continued inequitable economic growth and high youth unemployment increases the likelihood of ethnic and regional violence.

Dependency ratios

67.5 62.7 4.8 20.6 (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

4.8

potential support ratio

20.6 (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

67.5

youth dependency ratio

62.7

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.)

rural

68.5% of population

total

52.1% of population (2015 est.)

urban

27.5% of population

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.2% (2016 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

35,000 (2016 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

65.2 deaths/1,000 live births 66.3 deaths/1,000 live births 64.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

64.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

66.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

65.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

64.6 years 63.4 years 65.8 years (2017 est.)

female

65.8 years (2017 est.)

male

63.4 years

total population

64.6 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 95.3% 97.4% 93% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (2015 est.)

male

97.4%

total population

95.3%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever malaria and dengue fever rabies (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies (2016)

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

19.8 years 19.3 years 20.3 years (2017 est.)

female

20.3 years (2017 est.)

male

19.3 years

total

19.8 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 (2017 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8% (2016)

Population

778,358 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands

Population growth rate

2.44% (2017 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.)

rural

29% of population

total

25.5% of population (2015 est.)

urban

20.1% of population

Sex ratio

1.03 male(s)/female 1.03 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female 0.76 male(s)/female 0.72 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1 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 (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.39 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

40.3% of total population (2017) 3.09% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

3.09% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

40.3% of total population (2017)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Malabo; note - a new capital of Oyala is being built on the mainland near Djibloho; Malabo is on the island of Bioko 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; note - a new capital of Oyala is being built on the mainland near Djibloho; Malabo is on the island of Bioko

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea no 10 years

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

previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991 proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three-fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012 (2017)

amendments

proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three-fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012 (2017)

history

previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991

Country name

Republic of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee Equatoriale Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee Equatoriale Spanish Guinea the country is named for 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

conventional long form

Republic of Equatorial Guinea

conventional short form

Equatorial Guinea

etymology

the country is named for 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

Ambassador Julie FURUTA-TOY (since January 2016) Carretera Malabo II, Malabo, Guinea Ecuatorial US Embassy Malabo, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 [240] 333 09 57 41

chief of mission

Ambassador Julie FURUTA-TOY (since January 2016)

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

Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015) 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 [1] (202) 518-5700 [1] (202) 518-5252 Houston

chancery

2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

chief of mission

Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015)

consulate(s) general

Houston

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 Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Andres Jorge Mbomio Nsem ABUA (since 23 June 2016); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016) Council of Ministers appointed by the president president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%

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 (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%

elections/appointments

president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held in 2023); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

head of government

Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Andres Jorge Mbomio Nsem ABUA (since 23 June 2016); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016)

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

presidential 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

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges and organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members) 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 Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals

highest court(s)

Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges and organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); 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

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 Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Deputados (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 last held on 26 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018) 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

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 Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Deputados (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

"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)

note

adopted 1968

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

National symbol(s)

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

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 [Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo] Electoral Coalition or EC Front of Democratic Opposiiton or FOD (coalition includes CPDS, FDR, UP) Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE] Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA] Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA] Citizens for Innovation or CI 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]

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. [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

$3.22 billion $3.461 billion (2016 est.)

expenditures

$3.461 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

$3.22 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Central bank discount rate

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14% (31 December 2016 est.) 14% (31 December 2015 est.)

Current account balance

$-1.067 billion (2016 est.) $-1.215 billion (2015 est.)

Debt - external

$1.074 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.131 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Economy - overview

Exploitation of oil and gas deposits, beginning in the 1990s, has driven economic growth in Equatorial Guinea; a recent rebasing of GDP resulted in an upward revision of the size of the economy by approximately 30%. Forestry and farming are minor components of GDP. Although preindependence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy since independence has diminished the potential for agriculture-led growth. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. Declining revenue from hydrocarbon production, high levels of infrastructure expenditures, lack of economic diversification, and corruption have pushed the economy into decline in recent years and limited improvements in the general population’s living conditions. Equatorial Guinea’s real GDP growth has been weak in recent years, averaging -0.5% per year from 2010 to 2014, because of a declining hydrocarbon sector. Inflation remained very low in 2016, down from an average of 4% in 2014. Foreign assistance programs by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement, and as a middle income country Equatorial Guinea is now ineligible for most low-income donor funding. 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 toward 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. 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.

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.

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.) 510.53 (2012 est.)

Exports

$5.042 billion (2016 est.) $7.071 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, timber

Exports - partners

India 19.4%, China 13.5%, South Korea 13.2%, Spain 12.3%, Italy 5.1%, Netherlands 5.1%, US 4.1% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

54.3% 25% 28.4% 0.2% 55.5% -63.4% (2016 est.)

exports of goods and services

55.5%

government consumption

25%

household consumption

54.3%

imports of goods and services

-63.4% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

28.4%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

2.3% 57.2% 40.5% (2016 est.)

agriculture

2.3%

industry

57.2%

services

40.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,000 (2016 est.) $43,200 (2015 est.) $48,800 (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-9.7% (2016 est.) -9.1% (2015 est.) -0.7% (2014 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.18 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$31.18 billion (2016 est.) $34.09 billion (2015 est.) $37.11 billion (2014 est.) data are in 2016 dollars

note

data are in 2016 dollars

Gross national saving

0.5% of GDP (2016 est.) 17.6% of GDP (2015 est.) 35.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.862 billion (2016 est.) $3.394 billion (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports - partners

US 23.3%, Spain 21.8%, China 12.8% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-10.2% (2016 est.)

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.4% (2016 est.) 1.7% (2015 est.)

Labor force

195,200 (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line

44% (2011 est.)

Public debt

23.1% of GDP (2016 est.) 15.8% of GDP (2015 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$62.31 million (31 December 2016 est.) $1.205 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.864 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $2.208 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$2.254 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.557 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.467 billion (31 December 2016 est.) $1.79 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.7% of GDP (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.6% (2014 est.) 22.3% (2009 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.7 million Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

278,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

227,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

395.3 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

55.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

44.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

334,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

425 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity access

300,000 66% 93% 48% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

48% (2013)

electrification - total population

66%

electrification - urban areas

93%

population without electricity

300,000

Natural gas - consumption

2.05 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - exports

5.01 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

6.2 billion cu m (2015 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

5,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,197 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 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

180,597 23.8% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

23.8% (July 2016 est.)

total

180,597

Telephone system

digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and decent mobile cellular coverage fixed-line density is about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2016 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) (2016)

domestic

fixed-line density is about 1 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2016 stood at about 70 percent of the population

general assessment

digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and decent 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) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

10,000 1 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

10,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

541,000 71 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

71 (July 2016 est.)

total

541,000

Airports

7 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2 (2017)

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 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

1 (2013)

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3C (2016)

Merchant marine

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3 1 (Norway 1) (2010)

by type

cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3

foreign-owned

1 (Norway 1) (2010)

total

5

National air transport system

400,759 461,650 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

461,650 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

400,759

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

15

number of registered air carriers

6

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

Bata, Luba, Malabo Bioko Island

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Bioko Island

major seaport(s)

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Roadways

2,880 km (2000)

total

2,880 km (2000)

Military branches

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

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE)

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

Military expenditures

0.18% of GDP (2016) 0.78% of GDP (2014)

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

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 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)

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)