Equatorial Guinea

Introduction ::Equatorial Guinea

Background:

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, 2004, and 2008 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, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.

Geography ::Equatorial Guinea

Location:

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Area:

total: 28,051 sq km

country comparison to the world: 146

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:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Land use:

arable land: 4.63%

permanent crops: 2.5%

other: 92.87% (2011)

Irrigated land:

NA

Total renewable water resources:

26 cu km (2011)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (80%/15%/5%)

per capita: 31.41 cu m/yr (2005)

Natural hazards:

violent windstorms; flash floods

volcanism: Santa Isabel (elev. 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

Environment - current issues:

tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

insular and continental regions widely separated

People and Society ::Equatorial Guinea

Nationality:

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic groups:

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

Languages:

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

Religions:

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Population:

704,001 (July 2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41% (male 146,797/female 142,034)

15-24 years: 19.4% (male 69,547/female 67,096)

25-54 years: 31.3% (male 109,062/female 111,489)

55-64 years: 4.2% (male 12,647/female 16,708)

65 years and over: 4.1% (male 12,163/female 16,458) (2013 est.)

Dependency ratios:

total dependency ratio: 71.4 %

youth dependency ratio: 66.6 %

elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 %

potential support ratio: 21 (2013)

Median age:

total: 19.2 years

male: 18.7 years

female: 19.8 years (2013 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.58% (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

Birth rate:

34.35 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

Death rate:

8.59 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 79

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 84

Urbanization:

urban population: 39.5% of total population (2011)

rate of urbanization: 3.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major urban areas - population:

MALABO (capital) 137,000 (2011)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Maternal mortality rate:

240 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

country comparison to the world: 49

Infant mortality rate:

total: 73.12 deaths/1,000 live births

country comparison to the world: 14

male: 74.18 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 72.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.12 years

country comparison to the world: 184

male: 62.09 years

female: 64.18 years (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.74 children born/woman (2013 est.)

country comparison to the world: 25

Contraceptive prevalence rate:

10.1% (2000)

Health expenditures:

4.5% of GDP (2010)

country comparison to the world: 151

Physicians density:

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

Hospital bed density:

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Drinking water source:

improved:

urban: 45% of population

rural: 42% of population

total: 43% of population

unimproved:

urban: 55% of population

rural: 58% of population

total: 57% of population (2000 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 15

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

20,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 78

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 73

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever

animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate:

10.6% (2008)

country comparison to the world: 129

Children under the age of 5 years underweight:

10.6% (2004)

country comparison to the world: 67

Education expenditures:

0.6% of GDP (2003)

country comparison to the world: 173

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 94.2%

male: 97.1%

female: 91.1% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 8 years

male: 9 years

female: 7 years (2002)

Child labor - children ages 5-14:

total number: 35,382

percentage: 28 % (2000 est.)

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 and November 2011

Legal system:

mixed system of civil and customary law

International law organization participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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 Vicente Ehate TOMI (since 22 May 2012)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

(For more information visit the World Leaders website )

elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (two term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president; note - according to the constitutional referendum on November 2011, elections are to be held in 2015 and the presidency is limited to two terms

election results: Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%, other 0.6%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (70 seats; 55 seats directly elected and 15 appointed by the president) and the 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 26 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018)

election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 54, CPDS 1; House of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CPDS 1

note: note - Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president; the constitutional referendum of 2011 established a bicameral legislature formed following the May 2013 elections; the newly formed Senate consists of elected and appointed (by the President) members

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and NA judges); 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

subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals

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 [Daniel MARTINEZ Ayecaba]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform)

EG Justice (US-based anti-corruption group)

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Roman OBAMA Ekua

chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] [phone]

FAX: [1] [phone]

consul general(s): Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark L. ASQUINO

embassy: K-3, Carretera de Aeropuerto, Al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo

mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone: [240] 333 09 88 95

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

National symbol(s):

silk cotton tree

National anthem:

name: ""Caminemos pisando la senda"" (Let Us Tread the Path)

lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)

note: adopted 1968

Economy ::Equatorial Guinea

Economy - overview:

The discovery and exploitation of large oil and gas reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth, but fluctuating oil prices have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. The economy is still dominated by hydrocarbon production. The government has solicited foreign investment, particularly from the United States, to diversify the economy. Undeveloped natural resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Forestry and farming are also minor components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. 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. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues. The government has made efforts to address this issue working towards compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in 2010. The economy recovered from the global recession in 2011-12 stimulated by higher oil prices and large investments in public infrastructure and hotels.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.6 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 132

$19.21 billion (2011 est.)

$18.38 billion (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$17.21 billion (2012 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 135

4.5% (2011 est.)

-2.6% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$26,400 (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

$26,600 (2011 est.)

$26,100 (2010 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars; population figures are uncertain for Equatorial Guinea; these per capita income figures are based on a estimated population of less than 700,000; some estimates put the figure as high as 1.2 million people; if true, the per capita GDP figures would be significantly lower

Gross national saving:

23% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 59

27% of GDP (2011 est.)

35.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use:

household consumption: 36.7%

government consumption: 3.2%

investment in fixed capital: 32.4%

investment in inventories: 0.6%

exports of goods and services: 69.3%

imports of goods and services: -42.1%

(2012 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin:

agriculture: 3.1%

industry: 89%

services: 7.9% (2012 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (manioc), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 65

Labor force:

195,200 (2007)

country comparison to the world: 172

Unemployment rate:

22.3% (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 166

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $6.429 billion

expenditures: $6.585 billion (2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues:

37.4% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 55

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):

-0.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 60

Public debt:

7.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 146

7.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.7% (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 158

7% (2011 est.)

Central bank discount rate:

8.5% (31 December 2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 87

4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

15% (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 47

15% (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money:

$2.683 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 117

$1.936 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money:

$3.115 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 143

$2.166 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of domestic credit:

$439.5 million (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 175

$570.8 million (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance:

$290.2 million (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 50

-$945 million (2011 est.)

Exports:

$14.73 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 80

$13.85 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products, timber

Exports - partners:

Japan 18.8%, France 16.1%, China 11.7%, US 11.3%, Spain 7.1%, Netherlands 7.1%, Italy 5.1% (2012)

Imports:

$7.558 billion (2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 108

$6.55 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports - partners:

Spain 18%, China 17%, US 10.8%, France 7.9%, Cote dIvoire 6.7%, Italy 5.8%, Brazil 4.3% (2012)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.035 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 99

$3.054 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.852 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 144

$1.49 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Exchange rates:

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

510.53 (2012 est.)

471.87 (2011 est.)

495.28 (2010 est.)

472.19 (2009)

447.81 (2008)

Energy ::Equatorial Guinea

Electricity - production:

97 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - consumption:

90.21 million kWh (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 196

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 181

Electricity - installed generating capacity:

31,000 kW (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 189

Electricity - from fossil fuels:

96.8% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 66

Electricity - from nuclear fuels:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:

3.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from other renewable sources:

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 125

Crude oil - production:

302,500 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 34

Crude oil - exports:

299,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 24

Crude oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - proved reserves:

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 39

Refined petroleum products - production:

0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 172

Refined petroleum products - consumption:

1,588 bbl/day (2011 est.)

country comparison to the world: 194

Refined petroleum products - exports:

25,670 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 70

Refined petroleum products - imports:

4,561 bbl/day (2008 est.)

country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - production:

6.74 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 48

Natural gas - consumption:

1.58 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 81

Natural gas - exports:

5.16 billion cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 30

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 187

Natural gas - proved reserves:

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

country comparison to the world: 69

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:

5.005 million Mt (2010 est.)

country comparison to the world: 122

Communications ::Equatorial Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,500 (2010)

country comparison to the world: 199

Telephones - mobile cellular:

426,000 (2011)

country comparison to the world: 169

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 2011 stood at about 60 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) (2011)

Broadcast media:

state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible (2007)

Internet country code:

.gq

Internet hosts:

7 (2012)

country comparison to the world: 227

Internet users:

14,400 (2009)

country comparison to the world: 200

Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea

Airports:

7 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 166

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6

over 3,047 m: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

Pipelines:

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

Roadways:

total: 2,880 km (2000)

country comparison to the world: 168

Merchant marine:

total: 5

country comparison to the world: 128

by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3

foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals:

major seaport(s): Bata, Luba, Malabo

Military ::Equatorial Guinea

Military branches:

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2013)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary service; 2-year service obligation; women hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard (2013)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 151,147

females age 16-49: 150,345 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 113,277

females age 16-49: 115,320 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:

male: 7,398

female: 7,126 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures:

0.1% of GDP (2011)

country comparison to the world: 171

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 delayed final delimitation; UN urged Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Trafficking in persons:

current situation: Equatorial Guinea is a source and destination country for women and children subjected to forced labor and sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for work as domestic servants, market laborers, ambulant vendors, and launderers; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for forced labor or prostitution; Equatorial Guinean girls may be encouraged by their parents to engage in the sex trade in urban centers to receive groceries, gifts, housing, and money

tier rating: Tier 3 - Equatorial Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; the government has initiated no investigations or prosecutions of suspected trafficking offenses and demonstrated no efforts to identify victims or to provide them with necessary services, despite being required to do so under its 2004 anti-trafficking law; the government shows a slight increase in its efforts to prevent trafficking with the creation in 2012 of a working-level committee to combat human trafficking, but it has not launched any public anti-trafficking campaigns or implemented any programs to address forced child labor (2013)"