Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios [time series]

180,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

3,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1995)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

4,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $47 million expenditures: $43 million, including capital expenditures of $7 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Debt - external [time series]

$290 million (1999 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$33.8 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, 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. Boosts in production, along with high world oil prices, should further stimulate growth in 2000-2001.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

20 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

21 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 85.71% hydro: 14.29% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 647.25 (January 2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995) note: since 1 January 1999, the CFAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro

Exports [time series]

$555 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

US 62%, Spain 17%, China 9%, France 3%, Japan 3%, (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $960 million (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 20% (1998 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

15% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$300 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, manufactured goods and equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

US 35%, France 15%, Spain 10%, Cameroon 10%, UK 6% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.4% (1994 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1998 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 28,051 sq km land: 28,051 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

tropical; always hot, humid

Coastline [time series]

296 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

tap water is not potable; desertification

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 539 km border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 5% permanent crops: 4% permanent pastures: 4% forests and woodland: 46% other: 41% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

violent windstorms, flash floods

Natural resources [time series]

oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Administrative divisions [time series]

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Capital [time series]

Malabo

Constitution [time series]

approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Country name [time series]

conventional 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

Data code [time series]

EK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador John M. YATES note: 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; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006 telephone: [1] (202) 296-4174 FAX: [1] (202) 296-4195

Executive branch [time series]

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 Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA 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); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president election results: President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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)

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

International organization participation [time series]

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, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal

Legal system [time series]

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote by party - PDGE 80%, UP 6%, CPDS 5%; seats by party - PDGE 75, UP 4 and CPDS 1 note: opposition parties have refused to take up their seats in the House to protest widespread irregularities in the 1999 legislative elections

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido Miko ABOGO]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Augustin Nse NFUMU]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Fabian MUSA, general secretary]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal adult

Background [time series]

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 and 1999 legislative elections were widely seen as being flawed.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, National Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$3 million (FY97/98)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.6% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 105,420 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 53,564 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43% (male 101,724; female 100,787) 15-64 years: 54% (male 121,290; female 132,581) 65 years and over: 3% (male 7,960; female 9,872) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

38.13 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

13.4 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Infant mortality rate [time series]

94.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 53.56 years male: 51.53 years female: 55.65 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 78.5% male: 89.6% female: 68.1% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

474,214 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.47% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.94 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

exclusive maritime economic zone boundary dispute with Cameroon is presently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria and Cameroon because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,880 km paved: 0 km unpaved: 2,880 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 25,907 GRT/26,812 DWT ships by type: cargo 8, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1 (1999 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Railways [time series]

total: 0 km