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

1 (2002)

Internet country code [time series]

.gq

Internet users [time series]

900 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios [time series]

180,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: 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]

6,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

300 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2002)

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: $200 million expenditures: $158 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

XAF

Debt - external [time series]

$225 million (2000 est.)

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

$33.8 million (1995) (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 neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. 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. Boosts in production and higher world oil prices stimulated growth in 2002, with oil accounting for 90% of increased exports.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

20.46 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

22 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 91% hydro: 9% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro

Exports [time series]

$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

China 24%, Japan 7%, US 7%, South Korea 5% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 January - 31 December

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

purchasing power parity - $1.04 billion (2001 est.)

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

agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 20% (1999 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2001 est.)

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

6% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$736 million f.o.b. (2001)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum sector equipment, manufactured goods and equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

US 60%, France 12%, Spain 8%, Italy 6% (1999)

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% (2001 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 water: 0 sq km land: 28,051 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; deforestation

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: 4.63% permanent crops: 3.57% other: 91.8% (1998 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 short form: Guinea Ecuatorial local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLES; note - the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea; 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: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 FAX: [1] (202) 528-5252 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700

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) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2009); 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 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president head of government: Prime Minister Candido Muatetema RIVAS (since 26 February 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998)

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, CEMAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, 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 March 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) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO]

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal adult

Background [time series]

Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited islands, Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. The tiny country, one of the smallest on the African continent, has been ruled by President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO since he seized power in a coup in 1979. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 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]

$27.5 million (FY01)

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

2.5% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 112,664 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 57,194 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 106,061; female 105,071) 15-64 years: 53.8% (male 128,489; female 139,732) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,385; female 10,406) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.33 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.83 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.51% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

120 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

1,100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

90.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 54.35 years female: 56.5 years (2002 est.) male: 52.26 years

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]

NEGL migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

498,144 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.45% (2002 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: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.81 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

tripartite maritime boundary and economic zone dispute with Cameroon and Nigeria is currently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Airports [time series]

3 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 14,413 GRT/16,251 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 3, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Railways [time series]

total: 0 km

Waterways [time series]

none