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  Equatorial Guinea  
Flag of Equatorial Guinea
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Equatorial Guinea



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards.
   Geography    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
296 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
26 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
violent windstorms, flash floods
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
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
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
insular and continental regions widely separated
   People    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
616,459 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 42% (male 131,696/female 127,253)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 162,458/female 169,445)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 11,394/female 14,213) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.732% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 83.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 84.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 61.23 years
male: 60.36 years
female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.4% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5,900 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
370 (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
Definition Field Listing
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.6% of GDP (2003)
   Government    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale
former: Spanish Guinea
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
republic
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July 2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held 4 May 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, CPDS 2
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global Witness (anti-corruption)
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220-1500
FAX: [237] 2220-1572
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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)
   Economy    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993, because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Government officials and their family members own most businesses. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2007, led by oil.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$15.54 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$10.49 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.4% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$28,200 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 92.2%
services: 4.8% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
30% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $4.963 billion
expenditures: $2.494 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$835.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$174.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25.11 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
368,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
918.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
375,400 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,070 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$415 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 20.6%, China 18.8%, Spain 13.9%, Taiwan 13.4%, France 7.5%, Japan 6.5%, Portugal 6.4% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 19.6%, Spain 13.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9%, France 9.6%, China 7.7%, Italy 6.6%, UK 6.4%, Netherlands 4.1% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$338 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
   Communications    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
220,000 (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage
domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2007 stood at about 40 percent of the population
international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gq
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8,000 (2006)
   Transportation    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 80 km; oil 54 km (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,880 km (2000)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1
by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Bata, Malabo
   Military    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
National Guard (Guardia Nacional (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military service (2008)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 136,725
females age 16-49: 138,018 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 101,712
females age 16-49: 104,381 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 6,784
female: 6,543 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
   Transnational Issues    Equatorial Guinea Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation; UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Trafficking in persons:
Definition Field Listing
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation, it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in 2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures for providing care to victims (2008)

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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