Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea

Introduction

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

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
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:3.57%
other:91.8% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Total renewable water resources

26 cu km (2001)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.11cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita:220cu m/yr (2000)

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, forms 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

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

668,225 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Age structure

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 140,946/female 136,294)
15-64 years:54.4% (male 179,141/female 184,358)
65 years and over:4.1% (male 11,880/female 15,606) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 19.1 years
male:18.5 years
female:19.7 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.641% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Birth rate

35.43 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Death rate

9.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Urbanization

urban population: 40% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

MALABO (capital) 128,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

280 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 48

Infant mortality rate

total: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 16 male:78.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female:76.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 62.37 years
country comparison to the world: 180 male:61.4 years
female:63.36 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.91 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Health expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 187

Physicians density

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 136

Hospital bed density

1.92 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 102

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)

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: 76

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76

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 yellow fever
animal contact disease:rabies (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 65

Education expenditures

0.6% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 163

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: 8 years
male:9 years
female:7 years (2002)

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

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 Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July 2008)
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 (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
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 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 [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, 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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ
embassy:KM-3, Carreterade de Aeropuerto (El Paraiso), Apartado 95, 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

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

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. Forestry and farming are also minor components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominate 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

however, in 2010, under Equatorial Guinea’s candidacy in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the government published oil revenue figures for the first time. Undeveloped natural resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Growth remained strong in 2008, when oil production peaked, but slowed in 2009-10, as the price of oil and the production level fell.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$23.82 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116 $24.02 billion (2009 est.)
$22.71 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$14.49 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

-0.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195 5.7% (2009 est.)
10.7% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$36,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 $37,900 (2009 est.)
$36,800 (2008 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: 2.2%
industry:93.9%
services:3.8% (2010 est.)

Labor force

195,200 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 171

Unemployment rate

22.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Investment (gross fixed)

35.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16

Budget

revenues: $6.598 billion
expenditures:$6.851 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

45.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Public debt

5.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131 5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191 7.1% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121 $1.342 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$2.109 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144 $1.527 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$171.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179 $1.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts

livestock

timber

Industries

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Electricity – production

92 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity – consumption

85.56 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

322,700 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36

Oil – consumption

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Oil – exports

395,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

Oil – imports

1,729 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

Oil – proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas – production

6.27 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas – consumption

1.55 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas – exports

4.72 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas – proved reserves

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

Current account balance

-$1.302 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 -$1.95 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$10.39 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87 $8.495 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

petroleum products, timber

Exports – partners

US 24.3%, Italy 10.3%, Spain 10.1%, South Korea 8.3%, Canada 7.6%, China 6.3%, Netherlands 6.1%, Brazil 5.9% (2010)

Imports

$5.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108 $5.258 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports – partners

China 21.4%, Spain 13.8%, US 12.7%, France 10.9%, Cote dIvoire 6.7%, UK 6.3%, Italy 5.2% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.346 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 $3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$794.7 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 $757.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
495.28 (2010)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
481.83 (2007)
522.4 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

7 (2010)
country comparison to the world:167

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 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m:1 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 37 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 2,880 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 168

Merchant marine

total: 4
country comparison to the world: 131 by type:cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned:1 (Norway 1) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)

Military

Military branches

National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2010)

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 (2011)

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 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 171

Transnational Issues

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 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 (2011)