Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00 N, 10 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
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Coastline:
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296 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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tropical; always hot, humid
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Terrain:
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coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Total renewable water resources:
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26 cu km (2001)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)
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Natural hazards:
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violent windstorms, flash floods
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Environment - current issues:
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tap water is not potable; deforestation
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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insular and continental regions widely separated
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Population:
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616,459 (July 2008 est.)
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Age structure:
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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.)
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Median age:
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total: 18.9 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.5 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.732% (2008 est.)
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Birth rate:
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37.04 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Death rate:
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9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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NA (2008 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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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.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 61.23 years
male: 60.36 years
female: 62.13 years (2008 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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5.16 children born/woman (2008 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.4% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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5,900 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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370 (2001 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2008)
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Nationality:
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noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
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Ethnic groups:
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Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)
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Religions:
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nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
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Languages:
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Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2000)
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Education expenditures:
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0.6% of GDP (2003)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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republic
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Capital:
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name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
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Independence:
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12 October 1968 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
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Constitution:
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approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
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Legal system:
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partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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
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Legislative branch:
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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
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Tribunal
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Political parties and leaders:
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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
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global Witness (anti-corruption)
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International organization participation:
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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)
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
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Flag description:
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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)
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Economy - overview:
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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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$15.54 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$10.49 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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12.4% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$28,200 (2007 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 92.2%
services: 4.8% (2007 est.)
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Labor force:
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NA
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Unemployment rate:
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30% (1998 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Investment (gross fixed):
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37.9% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $4.963 billion
expenditures: $2.494 billion (2007 est.)
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Public debt:
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1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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6% (2007 est.)
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Central bank discount rate:
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5.25% (31 December 2007)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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15% (31 December 2007)
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Stock of money:
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$835.2 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$174.5 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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NA
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
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Industries:
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petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
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Industrial production growth rate:
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10.1% (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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27 million kWh (2006 est.)
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Electricity - consumption:
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25.11 million kWh (2006 est.)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2007 est.)
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Oil - production:
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368,500 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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918.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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375,400 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - imports:
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1,070 bbl/day (2005)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.3 billion cu m (2006 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2007 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$415 million (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$9.904 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
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Exports - partners:
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US 20.6%, China 18.8%, Spain 13.9%, Taiwan 13.4%, France 7.5%, Japan 6.5%, Portugal 6.4% (2007)
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Imports:
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$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
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Imports - partners:
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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)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$338 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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Currency (code):
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003)
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Disputes - international:
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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
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Trafficking in persons:
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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)
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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008
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