Statistical information Equatorial Guinea 1995

Equatorial Guinea in the World
top of pageBackground: Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited islands Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by ruthless leaders who have badly mismanaged the economy since independence from 190 years of Spanish rule in 1968. The country has nominally been a constitutional democracy since 1991.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
AfricaAreaTotal area total: 28,050 km²
Land: 28,050 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries: total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
ElevationNatural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land useArable land: 8%
Permanent crops: 4%
Meadows and pastures: 4%
Forest and woodland: 51%
Other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
top of pagePopulation: 420,293 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.59% (1995 est.)
NationalityNoun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
Adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Languages: Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 43% (female 90,404; male 90,997)
15-64 years: 53% (female 117,124; male 105,724)
65 years and over: 4% (female 8,969; male 7,075) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.59% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 40.22 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 14.36 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
Current issues natural hazards: violent windstorms
Current issues international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 100.2 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 52.56 years
Male: 50.39 years
Female: 54.79 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: age 15 and over can read and write (1983)
Total population: 62%
Male: 77%
Female: 48%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
Local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
Local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
Former: Spanish Guinea
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia; Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Dependent areasIndependence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal adult at age NA
Executive branchChief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); election last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without opposition
Head of government: Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since November 1993)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of People's Representatives: (, Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72, various opposition parties 10
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (associate), ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad interim Teodoro Biyogo NSUE
In the us chancery: (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10,553
In the us telephone: [1] (914) 738-9,584, 667-6,913
In the us FAX: [1] (914) 667-6,838
From the us chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Joseph P. O'NEILL
From the us embassy: Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo
From the us mailing address: P.O. Box 597, Malabo
From the us telephone: [240] (9) 21-85, 24-06, 25-07
From the us FAX: [240] (9) 21-64
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)
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the international donor community have failed to revitalize export agriculture. Businesses for the most part are owned by government officials and their family members. Commerce accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about 38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. Increased production from recently discovered natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1995.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 7.3% (1993 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $700 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for almost 50% of GDP, cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 11.3% (1993 est.)
Labor force: 172,000 (1986 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 66%
By occupation services: 23%
By occupation industry: 11% (1980)
Note: labor shortages on plantations
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $32.5 million
Expenditures: $35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3 million (1992 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $56 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodoties: coffee, timber, cocoa beans
Partners: Spain 55.2%, Nigeria 11.4%, Cameroon 9.1% (1992)
Imports: $62 million (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodoties: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
Partners: Cameroon 23.1%, Spain 21.8%, France 14.1%, US 4.3% (1992)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $260 million (1992 est)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 529.43 (January 1995), 555.20 (1994), 273,16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)
Note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 23,000 kW
Production: 20 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 50 kWh (1993)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: 2,000 telephones; poor system with adequate government services
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.5 million, NA% of GDP (FY93/94)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs