Equatorial Guinea Population: 704,001
570 VISITORS FROM HERE!«  Previous Country | Next Country  » Back to Flag Counter Overview |  |
| 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 | |
| Insular and continental regions widely separated | |
| 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 land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: 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: 3.57% other: 91.8% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | NA |
| 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | tap water is not potable; deforestation |
| International Environment 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| People | |
| Population: | 704,001 (July 2013 est.) |
| 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: 19.7 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.607% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 34.88 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 75.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 76.25 deaths/1,000 live births female: 74.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 62.75 years male: 61.75 years female: 63.78 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.74 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 5% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 20,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) |
| 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) |
| Religions: | nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices |
| Languages: | Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) 32.4% (1994 census) |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 93.9% male: 97.1% female: 90.6% (2010 est.) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Government | |
| 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 |
| 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% |
| Legislative branch: | 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 26 May 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1 note: note - Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president; the constitutional referendum of 2011 calls for a bicameral legislature to be formed following the May 2013 elections; the newly formed Senate will consist of elected and appointed (by the President) members |
| 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 [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 Purificacion ANGUE ONDO 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 |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Economy | |
| 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $28.03 billion (2012 est.) $26.52 billion (2011 est.) $24.6 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $20.65 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 5.7% (2012 est.) 7.8% (2011 est.) -0.5% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $20,200 (2012 est.) $19,600 (2011 est.) $18,700 (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: | agriculture: 3.5% industry: 90.5% services: 6% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 195,200 (2007) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | |
| Unemployment rate: | 22.3% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 6.2% (2012 est.) 7% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 44.6% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $10.22 billion expenditures: $9.644 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 4.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 5.1% of GDP (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: | 1.8% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 97 million kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 196 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 90.21 million kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 6.74 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 1.58 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 5.16 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $290.2 million (2012 est.) -$945 million (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $18.31 billion (2012 est.) $15.63 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum products, timber |
| Exports - partners: | Spain 14.8%, China 13.1%, Italy 10.9%, Japan 10.5%, US 9.5%, Netherlands 7.6%, Canada 5.5%, Brazil 5%, France 4.7%, South Korea 4.1% (2011) |
| Imports: | $7.59 billion (2012 est.) $7.32 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles |
| Imports - partners: | Spain 17.1%, US 13.1%, France 12.4%, China 12.3%, Italy 6.7%, Cote dIvoire 6% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $3.825 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $3.054 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $1.232 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $1.149 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 511.4 (2012 est.) 471.87 (2011 est.) 495.28 (2010 est.) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 13,500 (2010) country comparison to the world: 198 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 426,000 (2011) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .gq |
| Internet hosts: | 7 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 14,400 (2009) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 7 (2012) country comparison to the world: 166 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 37 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 2,880 km (2000) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 5 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3 foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010) |
| ^Back to Top | |
| Military | |
| 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; service obligation 2 years; 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.) |
| ^Back to Top | |
«
Previous Country | Next Country » Back to Flag Counter OverviewSource: CIA - The World Factbook