Africa :: Equatorial Guinea

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## 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
Map references:
Africa
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.) population pyramid:
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: 24
Birth rate:
34.35 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Death rate:
8.59 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 78
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 104
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: 46
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: 93.9% male: 97.1% female: 90.6% (2010 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] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252 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
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture: 3.1% industry: 89% services: 7.9% (2012 est.)
Labor force:
195,200 (2007) country comparison to the world: 171
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%
Investment (gross fixed):
32.4% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 13
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.)
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.)
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
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)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

## Energy ::Equatorial Guinea

Electricity - production:
97 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Electricity - consumption:
90.21 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 182
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
31,000 kW (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190
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: 83
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
3.2% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Crude oil - production:
302,500 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Crude oil - exports:
299,400 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179
Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 40
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
1,588 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 195
Refined petroleum products - exports:
25,670 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71
Refined petroleum products - imports:
4,561 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 161
Natural gas - production:
6.74 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 49
Natural gas - consumption:
1.58 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Natural gas - exports:
5.16 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - proved reserves:
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
5.005 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123

## 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: 229
Internet users:
14,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 200

## Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea

Airports:
7 (2012) country comparison to the world: 166
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2012)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012)
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:
Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)

## 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 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 3 - Equatorial Guinea is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking; despite limited law enforcement action against suspected human smugglers and traffickers, including complicit public officials, the government has made no tangible efforts to provide victims of trafficking with the protective services mandated in its 2004 anti-trafficking law; prevention efforts have decreased, as the government did not hold any public awareness campaigns and its interagency commission on human trafficking took little, if any, action; the government's response to human trafficking has been inadequate, particularly given the government's substantial financial resources (2008)

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