Statistical information Equatorial Guinea 1998
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 Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 28,050 km²
Land: 28,050 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 539 km
Border countries: (2) Cameroon 189 km;
, Gabon 350 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m
Natural resources: timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land useArable land: 5%
Permanent crops: 4%
Permanent pastures: 4%
Forests and woodland: 46%
Other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: violent windstorms
GeographyNote: insular and continental regions rather widely separated
top of pagePopulation: 454,001 (July 1998 est.)
Growth rate: 2.56% (1998 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), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 43% (male 97,993; female 97,470)
15-64 years: 53% (male 114,960; female 126,453)
65 years and over: 4% (male 7,597; female 9,528) (July 1998 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.56% (1998 est.)
Birth rate: 38.9 births/1000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate: 13.32 deaths/1000 population (1998 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1998 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: tap water is not potable; desertification
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 93.45 deaths/1000 live births (1998 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 53.93 years
Male: 51.61 years
Female: 56.31 years (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.06 children born/woman (1998 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
Total population: 78.5%
Male: 89.6%
Female: 68.1% (1995 est.)
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: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; emended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branchChief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979): ead of
Government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO (since January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since January 1998)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003)
Election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected without opposition; percent of popular vote_98%
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Peoples Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
Elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
Election results: percent of vote by party_NA; seats by party_PDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
In the us chancery: Suite 405, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20,005
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 393-0525
In the us fax: [1] (202) 393-0348
From the us: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995; US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
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: The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Farming, forestry, and fishing are also major components of GDP. 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. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita pppGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 46%
Industry: 33%
Services: 21% (1995 est.)
Agriculture products: coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc; livestock; timber
Industries: fishing, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 7.4% (1994 est.)
Labor force: NA
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $47 million
Expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 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:$197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum, timber, cocoa
Partners: US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports: total value:$248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
Partners: Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $254 million (1996 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1_608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993)
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 (1995)
Electricity consumptionPer capita: 48 kWh (1995)
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: poor system with adequate government services
Domestic: NA
International: international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station_1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $2.5 million (FY93/94)
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3 (1997 est.)
With paved runways total: 2
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports with paved runwaysTotal: 2
2438 to 3047 m: 1
15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Airports with unpaved runwaysTotal: 1
Under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: total:0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,766 GRT/84,780 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 16, passenger 1, passenger-cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs