Statistical information Equatorial Guinea 1996
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. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991 the 1996 presidential elections were widely seen as being flawed.
top of pageLocation: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 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
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Highest point: Pico Basite (Mount Malabo) 3,008 m
ElevationNatural resources:
Timber
Petroleum
Small unexploited deposits of gold
Manganese
Uranium
Land useArable land: 8%
Permanent crops: 4%
Permanent pastures: 4%
Forests and woodland: 51%
Other: 33%
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
431,282 (July 1996 est.)
420,293 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:2.58% (1996 est.)
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% (male 93,319; female 92,753) (July 1996 est.)
43% (male 90,997; female 90,404) (July 1995 est.)
15-64 years:53% (male 108,706; female 120,129) (July 1996 est.)
53% ( male 105,724; female 117,124) (July 1995 est.)
65 years and over:4% (male 7,235; female 9,140) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 7,075; female 8,969) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate:
2.58% (1996 est.)
2.59% (1995 est.)
Birth rate:
39.77 births/1000 population (1996 est.)
40.22 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate:
14.01 deaths/1000 population (1996 est.)
14.36 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
Current issues Natural hazards: violent windstorms
International agreements: party to_Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified_Desertification, Law of the Sea
International agreements note: Insular and continental regions rather widely separated
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
All ages:0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.) Infant Mortality Rate:98 deaths/1000 live births (1996 est.)
100.2 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: 53.01 years (1996 est.), 52.56 years (1995 est.)
Male: 50.79 years 9,196 est.), 50.39 years (1995 est.)
Female: 55.29 years (1996 est.), 54.79 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
Total population: 78.5%
Male: 89.6%
Female: 68.1%
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, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationFlag 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 IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. 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. In 1995, exports responded to the devaluation of 12 January 1994, apparently resulting in a sizable surplus and strong GDP growth. Increased production from recently discovered oil and natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1996-97.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate:
10% (1995 est.)
7.3% (1993 est.)
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: Accounts for 47% 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: 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)
By occupation 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.)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: 1 April_31 March
Current account balanceInflation 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: total value. $62 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities:Coffee
Timber
Cocoa beans
Petroleum
Partners:Spain 55.2%
Nigeria
Cameroon 9.1%
Japan
Portugal
Imports: total value:$60 million (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodities:Petroleum
Food
Beverages
Clothing
Machinery
Partners:Cameroon 23.1%
Spain 21.8%
France 14.1%
U.S. 4.3%
Italy
Netherlands
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external:
$268 million (1993 est.)
$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_500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (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 pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 20 million kWh
Electricity consumptionPer capita: 50 kWh (1993)
Electricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone 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 mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband 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
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 1
Airports with paved runwaysAirports with unpaved runwaysHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant 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 internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs