Equatorial Guinea gained
independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country,
composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of
the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup.
Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996,
2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 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
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 28,051 sq km
45
land:
28,051 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries:
Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
296 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
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:
insular and continental regions widely separated
People ::Equatorial Guinea
Population:
650,702 (July 2010 est.)
66
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 137,913/female 133,326)
15-64 years:
54.2% (male 173,378/female 179,203)
65 years and over:
4.1% (male 11,735/female 15,147) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male:
18.4 years
female:
19.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.674% (2010 est.)
4
Birth rate:
36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Net migration rate:
NA
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.78 male(s)/female
total population:
0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births
5
male:
80.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.98 years
9
male:
61.05 years
female:
62.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
2
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2007 est.)
0
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.)
01
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
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):
total: 10 years
male:
10 years
female:
9 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2003)
81
Government ::Equatorial Guinea
Country name:
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:
republic
Capital:
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:
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 MILAM 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 on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime
minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
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 on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1
note:Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence Party for
Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo]; Democratic Party for
Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling
party); Electoral Coalition or EC; Party for Progress of Equatorial
Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or
APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global Witness (anti-corruption)
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:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ
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:
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
Economy ::Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:
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 2008, led by oil, but dropped in 2009, as the
price of oil fell.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23.2 billion (2009 est.)
15
$23.63 billion (2008 est.)
$21.04 billion (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$11.31 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.8% (2009 est.)
40
12.3% (2008 est.)
22.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$36,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
$38,300 (2008 est.)
$35,100 (2007 est.)
note:data are in 2009 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry:
93.7%
services:
3.9% (2009 est.)
Labor force:
195,200 NA
1
Unemployment rate:
30% (1998 est.)
80
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
US 22.8%, Spain 18.3%, China 14.8%, Taiwan 10.8%, France 8%, Italy 6%, South Korea 5.4% (2008)
Imports:
$3.346 billion (2009 est.)
32
$3.529 billion (2008 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
China 18.2%, Spain 13.7%, US 12.1%, France 11.2%, Cote dIvoire 7.8%, Italy 5.7%, UK 5.3% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$3.146 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
$4.431 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Debt - external:
$174 million (31 December 2009 est.)
5
$190 million (31 December 2008 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en
Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.35 (2009), 447.81
(2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005)
note:since
1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to
the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA
franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using West
African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa, even though the two
currencies trade at par
Communications ::Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2008)
04
Telephones - mobile cellular:
346,000 (2008)
65
Telephone system:
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 2008 stood at about 55 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) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet hosts:
9 (2009)
20
Internet users:
12,000 (2008)
98
Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea
Airports:
7 (2009)
66
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
1
under 914 m:
2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 38 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,880 km (2000)
67
Merchant marine:
total: 1
49
by type:
cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bata, Malabo
Military ::Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:
National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for
selective compulsory military service; service obligation 2 years; women
hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 146,241
females age 16-49:
146,138 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 109,311
females age 16-49:
111,543 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,186
female:
6,920 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.1% of GDP (2009)
3
Transnational Issues ::Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:
in 2002, ICJ ruled on an
equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime
boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea
and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River and
imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final
delimitation; UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the
sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to
create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Trafficking in persons:
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)
