2022 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 violent coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979 and has been elected several times, most recently in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have been considered flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that hinder political opposition. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in late 2004 and has slowly declined since, although aggressive searches for new oilfields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, generally lower global oil prices since 2014 and depreciating oil fields have placed significant strain on the state budget. While oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure, corruption has hindered socio-economic development and there have been limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment. The country hosts major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in international affairs, and leadership in the sub-region.  

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

highest point

Pico Basile 3,008 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

577 m

Geographic coordinates

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note

insular and continental regions widely separated; despite its name, no part of the Equator passes through Equatorial Guinea; the mainland part of the country is located just north of the Equator

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Cameroon 183 km; Gabon 345 km

total

528 km

Land use

agricultural land

10.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)

forest

57.5% (2018 est.)

other

32.4% (2018 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 floodsvolcanism: 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 as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Age structure

0-14 years

38.73% (male 164,417/female 159,400)

15-24 years

19.94% (male 84,820/female 81,880)

25-54 years

32.72% (male 137,632/female 135,973)

55-64 years

4.69% (male 17,252/female 22,006)

65 years and over

3.92% (male 13,464/female 19,334) (2020 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

6.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

1.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

29.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

5.6% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

3.1% of GDP (2019)

Death rate

8.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 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 Francisco 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

elderly dependency ratio

5.4

potential support ratio

18.5 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

72.2

youth dependency ratio

66.7

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 32.1% of population

improved: total

total: 67.6% of population

improved: urban

urban: 81.7% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 67.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 32.4% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 18.3% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

6.9% (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

72.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2022 est.)

male

84.23 deaths/1,000 live births

total

78.33 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Languages

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Portuguese-based Creoles spoken in Ano Bom) 32.4% (1994 est.)

major-language sample(s)

La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

66.03 years (2022 est.)

male

61.44 years

total population

63.7 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93% (2015)

male

97.4%

total population

95.3%

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

Major urban areas - population

297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

301 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

20.7 years (2020 est.)

male

19.9 years

total

20.3 years

Nationality

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Net migration rate

13.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8% (2016)

Physicians density

0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

Population

1,679,172 (2022 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 as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

3.5% (2022 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 63.4% of population

improved: total

total: 76.2% of population

improved: urban

urban: 81.2% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 36.6% of population

unimproved: total

total: 23.8% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 18.8% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.08 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.21 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.21 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.17 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.15 male(s)/female (2022 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

74.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named after King MALABO (Malabo Lopelo Melaka) (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi, the ethnic group indigenous to the island of Bioko; the name of the new capital, Ciudad de la Paz, translates to "City of Peace" in Spanish

geographic coordinates

3 45 N, 8 47 E

name

Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; in 2017, some governmental offices began to move to a new capital of Ciudad de la Paz (formerly referred to as Oyala) on the mainland near Djibloho, but a lack of funds has halted progress on construction 

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

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

history

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

Country name

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 (Spanish)/ Republique de Guinee Equatoriale (French)

local short form

Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Guinee Equatoriale (French)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)

email address and website

Malaboconsular@state.govhttps://gq.usembassy.gov/

embassy

Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo

mailing address

2320 Malabo Place, 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)

consulate(s) general

Houston

email address and website

info@egembassydc.comhttps://www.egembassydc.com/

FAX

[1] (202) 518-5252

telephone

[1] (202) 518-5700

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister

chief of state

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup); Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue (since 2012)

election results

Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5% (2016)

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 Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); 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

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, 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  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 whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies; note - judges subject to dismissal by the president at any time

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 consists of:Senate or Senado (70 seats statutory, 72 seats for current term; 55 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, 15 appointed by the president, and 2 ex-officio)Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Diputados (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; elected seats by party - PDGE and aligned coalition 70; composition (including 2 ex-officio) - men 60, women 12, percent of women 16.7%Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CI 1; composition - men 78, women 22, percent of women 22%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 18.8%

elections

Senate - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023)Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023)

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

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 [Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MBASOGO]Juntos Podemos (coalition includes CPDS, FDR, UDC)National Congress of Equatorial Guinea [Agustin MASOKO ABEGUE]National Democratic Party [Benedicto OBIANG MANGUE]National Union for Democracy [Thomas MBA MONABANG]Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE]Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA]Center Right Union or UCD [Avelino MOCACHE MEHENGA]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

sweet potatoes, cassava, roots/tubers nes, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, eggs

Budget

expenditures

2.523 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

2.114 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$1.457 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$738 million (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$1.074 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$1.211 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic 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.   As a middle income country, Equatorial Guinea is now ineligible for most low-income World Bank and the IMF 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. In 2017 Equatorial Guinea signed a preliminary agreement with Ghana to sell liquefied natural gas (LNG); as oil production wanes, the government believes LNG could provide a boost to revenues, but it will require large investments and long lead times to develop.

Exchange rates

Currency

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

Exchange rates 2013

494.42 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

591.45 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

593.01 (2015 est.)

Exchange rates 2016

593.01 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

605.3 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$9.94 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$8.914 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2019

$8.776 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude petroleum, natural gas, industrial alcohols, lumber, veneer sheeting (2019)

Exports - partners

China 34%, India 19%, Spain 11%, United States 7% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

56.9% (2017 est.)

government consumption

21.8% (2017 est.)

household consumption

50% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-39% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

10.2% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

2.5% (2017 est.)

industry

54.6% (2017 est.)

services

42.9% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$10.634 billion (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2017

$5.708 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$6.129 billion (2018 est.)

Imports 2019

$6.245 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - commodities

gas turbines, beer, ships, industrial machinery, excavation machinery (2019)

Imports - partners

United States 22%, Spain 19%, China 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.9% (2017 est.)

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

0.7% (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018

1.3% (2018 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019

1.2% (2019 est.)

Labor force

195,200 (2007 est.)

Population below poverty line

44% (2011 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2016

43.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

37.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$26.68 billion (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$25.09 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$23.86 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

-9.1% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

-8.6% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

-3.2% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$20,400 (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$18,500 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$17,000 (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$62.31 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$45.5 million (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2009

22.3% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate 2014

8.6% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

2.119 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.409 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

4.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

1,002,960,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

349,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

183 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

45% (2019)

electrification - total population

67% (2019)

electrification - urban areas

75% (2019)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

89.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

10.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

57.596 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

1,080,003,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

3,568,030,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

4,569,369,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

139.007 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

184,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

22,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

142,600 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

5,094 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.1 (2020 est.)

total

1,000 (2020 est.)

Broadcast media

the 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 (who is the Vice President), 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 generally accessible (2019)

Internet country code

.gq

Internet users

percent of population

26% (2019 est.)

total

352,555 (2019 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line density is less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 46 per 100 (2020)

general assessment

the telecom service is forecasted to register a growth of more than 6% during the period of 2022-2026; mobile data is the largest contributor to total service revenue in 2021, followed by mobile voice, fixed broadband, mobile messaging, and fixed voice; the launch of the international submarine cable ACE, which connects 13 West African countries with Europe, will improve international capacity, bringing opportunities to data center providers; 4G network expansion and 4G service promotion will allow consumers and businesses to leverage 4G services (2022)

international

country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

11,000 (2020 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

645,000 (2020 est.)

Airports

total

7 (2021)

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 (2021)

Airports - with unpaved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1 (2021)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

3C

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 6, other 27 (2021)

total

42

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

350,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

466,435 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

15

number of registered air carriers

6 (2020)

Pipelines

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

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Bioko Island

major seaport(s)

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Roadways

total

2,880 km (2017)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2021, there were 34 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a significant decrease from the total number of 81 incidents in 2020, it included the one hijacking and three of five ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2021, 57 crew members were kidnapped in seven separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 100% of kidnappings worldwide; Nigerian pirates in particular are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2022-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 4 January 2022, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea"

Military - note

as of 2022, the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the country has invested heavily in naval capabilities in the 2010s to protect its oil installations and combat piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea; while the Navy was small, it was well-equipped with an inventory that included a light frigate and a corvette, as well as several off-shore patrol boats; the Air Force possessed only a few operational combat aircraft and ground attack-capable helicopters

Military and security forces

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army)), Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie (2022)

note

note: the Gendarmerie reports to the Ministry of National Defense and is responsible for security outside cities and for special events; military personnel also fulfill some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 1,500 active duty troops; approximately 500 Gendarmerie (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and second-hand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory; Ukraine has been the leading provider of equipment since 2010 (2021)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2017

1.1% of GDP (2017 est.) (approximately $250 million)

Military Expenditures 2018

1.1% of GDP (2018 est.) (approximately $230 million)

Military Expenditures 2019

1.5% of GDP (2019 est.) (approximately $270 million)

Military Expenditures 2020

1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

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 (2021)

Disputes - international

Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon: 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 Equatorial Guinea-Gabon: 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

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Equatorial Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated, and for the first time since 2010, initiated the prosecution of alleged human traffickers; the government partnered with an international organization to provide training for more than 700 officials and civil society actors; authorities developed and implemented formal screening procedures to identify victims within vulnerable populations, an effort that had stalled for five years; however, the government still has not convicted a trafficker or any complicit government employees under its 2004 anti-trafficking law; a lack of training among judicial officials has resulted in potential trafficking crimes being tried under related statutes; victim services remained inadequate; authorities did not report referring any trafficking victims to government housing that was supposed to serve as temporary shelter (2020)

trafficking profile

human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Equatorial Guinea and Equatoguineans abroad; the majority of trafficking victims are subjected to forced domestic service and commercial sex in cities, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant sector; local and foreign women, including Latin Americans, are exploited in commercial sex domestically, while some Equatoguinean women are sex trafficked in Spain; some children from rural areas have been forced into domestic servitude; children from nearby countries are forced to labor as domestic workers, market workers, vendors, and launderers; individuals recruited from African countries and temporary workers from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela are sometimes exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

5.65 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

11.21 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

45.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Environment - current issues

deforestation (forests are threatened by agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution (tap water is non-potable); wildlife preservation

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban

Land use

agricultural land

10.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)

forest

57.5% (2018 est.)

other

32.4% (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

animal contact diseases

rabies

degree of risk

very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and dengue fever

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

1.52% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

26 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

15.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

74.4% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

198,443 tons (2016 est.)