Statistical information Equatorial Guinea 2016

Equatorial Guinea in the World
top of pageBackground: Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule; it is one of the smallest countries in Africa consisting of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands. The capital of Malabo is located on the island of Bioko approximately 25 km from the Cameroonian coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. Between 1968 and 1979 autocratic President Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA virtually destroyed all of the country's political economic and social institutions before being deposed by his nephew Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO in a coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979 and was reelected in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991 presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have generally been labeled as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that prevent 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 the drop in global oil prices has placed significant strain on the state budget. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment despite limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea is the host of major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in regional affairs.
top of pageLocation: Central Africa bordering the Bight of Biafra between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N 10 00 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 28,051 km²
Land: 28,051 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 146
Comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundariesTotal: 528 km
Border countries: (2) Cameroon 183 km;
Gabon 345 kmCoastline: 296 km
Maritime claimsTerritorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
ElevationMean elevation: 577 m
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 useAgricultural land: 10.1%
arable land: 4.3%
permanent crops: 2.1%
permanent pasture: 3.7%
Forest: 57.5%
Other: 32.4%
Irrigated land: NA
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: violent windstorms; flash floods
Volcanism: Santa Isabel 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
GeographyNote: insular and continental regions widely separated
top of pagePopulation: 759,451 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 165
Growth rate: 2.48% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 22
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
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
Demographic profile:
Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest and least populated countries in continental Africa and is the only independent African country where Spanish is an official language. Despite a boom in oil production in the 1990s authoritarianism corruption and resource mismanagement have concentrated the benefits among a small elite. These practices have perpetuated income inequality and unbalanced development such as low public spending on education and health care. Unemployment remains problematic because the oil-dominated economy employs a small labor force dependent on skilled foreign workers. The agricultural sector Equatorial Guinea’s main employer continues to deteriorate because of a lack of investment and the migration of rural workers to urban areas. About three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line.
Equatorial Guinea’s large and growing youth population – about 60% are under the age of 25 – is particularly affected because job creation in the non-oil sectors is limited and young people often do not have the skills needed in the labor market. Equatorial Guinean children frequently enter school late have poor attendance and have high dropout rates. Thousands of Equatorial Guineans fled across the border to Gabon in the 1970s to escape the dictatorship of MACIAS NGUEMA; smaller numbers have followed in the decades since. Continued inequitable economic growth and high youth unemployment increases the likelihood of ethnic and regional violence.
Age structure0-14 years: 40.15%
15-24 years: 19.63%
25-54 years: 31.94%
55-64 years: 4.3%
65 years and over: 3.98% (2016 est.)
Dependency ratiosTotal dependency ratio: 72.9%
Youth dependency ratio: 67.9%
Elderly dependency ratio: 5%
Potential support ratio: 20%
Median ageTotal: 19.6 years
Male: 19.1 years
Female: 20.1 years
Rank: 196
Population growth rate: 2.48% (2016 est.)
Rank: 22
Birth rate: 32.8 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 32
Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 96
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 81
Population distributionUrbanizationUrban population: 39.9% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.12% annual rate of change
Major urban areasPopulation: MALABO (capital) 145,000 (2014)
EnvironmentCurrent issues: tap water is non-potable; deforestation
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.03 male/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male/female
15-24 years: 1.04 male/female
25-54 years: 1 male/female
55-64 years: 0.76 male/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male/female
Total population: 0.99 male/female
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateTotal: 67.2 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 68.2 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 66.1 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 14
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 64.2 years
Male: 63.1 years
Female: 65.4 years
Rank: 183
Total fertility rate: 4.48 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 24
Contraceptive prevalence rate: 12.6% (2011)
Drinking water source:
urban: 72.5% of population
rural: 31.5% of population
total: 47.9% of population
urban: 27.5% of population
rural: 68.5% of population
total: 52.1% of population (2015 est.)
Current health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed density: 2.1 beds/1000 population (2010)
Sanitation facility access:
urban: 79.9% of population
rural: 71% of population
total: 74.5% of population
urban: 20.1% of population
rural: 29% of population
total: 25.5% of population (2015 est.)
Hiv/AidsAdult prevalence rate: 4.88% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 11
People living with hivaids: 27,400 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 70
Deaths: 1100 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 71
Major infectious diseasesDegree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A and typhoid fever
Vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever
Animal contact disease: rabies
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 16.2% (2014)
Rank: 129
Alcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweight: 5.6% (2010)
Rank: 87
Education expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 95.3%
Male: 97.4%
Female: 93%
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/Republique de Guinee Equatoriale
Local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee Equatoriale
Former: Spanish Guinea
Etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the 'equatorial' refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator
Government type: presidential republic
CapitalName: Malabo; note - a new capital of Oyala is being built on the mainland near Djibloho; Malabo is on the island of BiokoGeographic coordinates: 3 45 N 8 47 E
Time difference: UTC+1
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 referendum 17 November 1991; amended several times last in 2012 (2016)
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
CitizenshipCitizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Brig. Gen. Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)
Head of government: Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue ; First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene; Second Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Mesie MIBUY; Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Electionsappointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term ; election last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held in 2023); 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 93.7%
Legislative branchDescription: bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional formerly the unicameral Parliament consists of the Senate or Senado and the House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms); note - the constitutional referendum of 2011 established the Senate and was implemented at the time of the May 2013 elections
Elections: last held on 26 May 2013
Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 54 CPDS 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99 CPDS 1
Judicial branchHighest court: Supreme Court of Justice ; Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for 5-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president 2 of which are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies
Subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
Independent Candidacy or CI [Gabriel NSE OBIANG OBONO]
Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]
Union for the Center Right or UDC [Avelino MOCACHE MEAENGA]
Not officially registered parties: Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA]
Note: in November 2014 the government hosted a National Dialogue process to engage with the political opposition; the opposition particiapated with limited attendance and engagement; on March 18 2015 the CPDS FDR and UP formed a coalition called the Front of Democratic Opposition or FOD
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 representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME
In the us chancery: 2020 16th Street NW Washington DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] 518-5,700
In the us FAX: [1] 518-5,252
In the us consul general: Houston
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Julie FURUTA-TOY
From the us embassy: Carretera Malabo II Malabo Guinea Ecuatorial
From the us mailing address: US Embassy Malabo US Department of State Washington DC 20,521-2,520
From the us telephone: [240] 333 09 57 41
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 symbols: silk cotton tree; national colors: green white red blue
National anthemName: 'Caminemos pisando la senda'
Lyrics and music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ
Note: adopted 1968
National heritagetop of pageEconomy overview:
Exploitation of oil and gas deposits beginning in the 1990s has driven economic growth in Equatorial Guinea allowing per capita GDP to rise to over $29,000 in 2014. Forestry and farming are minor components of GDP. Although preindependence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings the neglect of the rural economy since independence has diminished the potential for agriculture-led growth. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. Declining revenue from hydrocarbon production high levels of infrastructure expenditures lack of economic diversification and corruption have pushed the economy into decline in recent years and led to limited improvements in the general population’s living conditions.
Foreign assistance programs by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement and as a middle income country Equatorial Guinea is now ineligible for most donor assistance. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues and has attempted to address this issue by working towards compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. US foreign assistance to Equatorial Guinea is limited in part because of US restrictions pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
Equatorial Guinea hosted two economic diversification symposia in 2014 that focused on attracting investment in five sectors: agriculture and animal ranching fishing mining and petrochemicals tourism and financial services. Undeveloped mineral resources include gold zinc diamonds columbite-tantalite and other base metals.
Real gdp purchasing power parity:
$25.39 billion (2015 est.)
$28.91 billion (2014 est.)
$28.99 billion (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 123
Real gdp growth rate:
-12.2% (2015 est.)
-0.3% (2014 est.)
-6.5% (2013 est.)
Rank: 218
Real gdp per capita:
$31,800 (2015 est.)
$37,200 (2014 est.)
$38,300 (2013 est.)
Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 36
Gross national saving:
40.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
37.2% of GDP (2014 est.)
48.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Rank: 14
Gdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useHousehold consumption: 21%
Government consumption: 5.6%
Investment in fixed capital: 55.1%
Investment in inventories: 0.1%
Exports of goods and services: 67.1%
Imports of goods and services: -48.9%
Gdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 8%
Industry: 77.1%
Services: 14.8%
Agriculture products: coffee cocoa rice yams cassava (manioc tapioca) bananas palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries: petroleum natural gas sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: -17.9% (2015 est.)
Rank: 199
Labor force: 195,200 (2007 est.)
Rank: 173
Unemployment rate: 22.3% (2009 est.)
Rank: 174
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareLowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%
Distribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $2.935 billion
Expenditures: $3.619 billion
Surplus or deficit: -7.3% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 192
Taxes and other revenues: 31.2% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 77
Public debt:
16.4% of GDP (2015 est.)
12% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 162
RevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer prices:
11.7% (2015 est.)
4.8% (2014 est.)
Rank: 112
Central bank discount rate:
8.5% (31 December 2010)
4.25% (31 December 2009)
Rank: 37
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14% (31 December 2015 est.)
15% (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 48
Stock of narrow money:
$1.888 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.465 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 131
Stock of broad money:
$3.788 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
$3.841 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Rank: 142
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.557 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$666.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 150
Market value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balance:
-$617 million (2015 est.)
-$1.493 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 155
Exports:
$7.41 billion (2015 est.)
$14.76 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 100
Commodities: petroleum products timber
Partners: China 16.6% South Korea 15.1% Spain 9% Brazil 8.2% Netherlands 6.8% South Africa 6.6% India 5.8% UK 5.7% France 5.7% (2015)
Imports:
$3.953 billion (2015 est.)
$5.475 billion (2014 est.)
Rank: 131
Commodities: petroleum sector equipment other equipment construction materials vehicles
Partners: Netherlands 16.9% Spain 16.3% China 14.8% US 8.9% Cote dIvoire 6% France 4.8% (2015)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.205 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$2.907 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 127
Debt external:
$1.194 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$1.459 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
Rank: 160
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
591.45 (2015 est.)
494.42 (2014 est.)
494.42 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
471.87 (2011 est.)
top of pageElectricityAccess population without electricity: 300,000
Access electrification total population: 66%
Access electrification urban areas: 93%
Access electrification rural areas: 48%
Production: 98 million kWh (2014 est.)
Production rank: 198
Consumption: 91.14 million kWh (2014 est.)
Consumption rank: 198
Exports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Exports rank: 134
Imports: 0 kWh (2013 est.)
Imports rank: 144
Installed generating capacity: 200,000 kW (2014 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 162
Generation sources fossil fuels: 22.6% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 190
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 85
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 77.4% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 18
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 172
CoalPetroleumPetroleum total petroleum production: 250,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 34
Crude oil exports: 290,100 bbl/day (2013 est.)
Crude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirportsHeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs