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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gq

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

3 (2004)

Internet users [time series]

1,800 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: poor system with adequate government services domestic: NA international: country code - 240; 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]

9,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

41,500 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (2002)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $708.5 million expenditures: $317.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2003 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

Current account balance [time series]

$-1.168 billion (2003)

Debt - external [time series]

$248 million (2000 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 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. Growth will remain strong in 2004, led by oil.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

21.91 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

23.56 million kWh (2001)

Exchange rates [time series]

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 581.2 (2003), 696.988 (2002), 733.039 (2001), 711.976 (2000), 615.699 (1999)

Exports [time series]

$2.1 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners [time series]

US 33.6%, Spain 25.8%, China 14.4%, Canada 11.8%, Italy 6.4% (2003)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 January - 31 December

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

purchasing power parity - $1.27 billion (2002 est.)

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

agriculture: 20% industry: 60% services: 2.4% (2003 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)

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

20% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$1.371 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners [time series]

US 30.6%, UK 16%, France 15.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.9%, Spain 8.1%, Norway 5.9%, Italy 5.3% (2003)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

30% (2002 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

63.6% of GDP (2003)

Labor force [time series]

NA (October 2000)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

20 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

20 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

68.53 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

181,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold (Reserves of foreign exchange & gold) [time series]

$206 million (2003)

Unemployment rate [time series]

30% (1998 est.)

Geography

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; deforestation

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, 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% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

violent windstorms, flash floods

Natural resources [time series]

oil, petroleum, timber, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium, titanium, iron ore

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Government

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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 Teodoro Biyogo NSUE chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

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 Miguel Abia BITEO BORICO (since 14 June 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA January 1998) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president 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

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, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

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 24 April 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: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

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]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal adult

Introduction

Background [time series]

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President OBIANG NGUEM MBASOGO has ruled the country for over two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then President MACIAS, in a 1979 coup. 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. The president controls most opposition parties through the judicious use of patronage. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the country's living standards.

Military

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

Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$75.1 million (2003)

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

2.5% (2003)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 120,463 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 61,084 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42% (male 110,268; female 109,222) 15-64 years: 54.3% (male 136,370; female 147,431) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,745; female 11,015) (2004 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

36.56 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate [time series]

12.27 deaths/1,000 population (2004 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]

3.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

370 (2001 est.)

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

5,900 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 87.08 deaths/1,000 live births male: 93.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 80.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 55.15 years male: 53 years female: 57.36 years (2004 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.7% male: 93.3% female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18.7 years male: 18.1 years female: 19.4 years (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Population [time series]

523,051 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.43% (2004 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: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.68 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River, imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasi allocation contribute to the delay in implementation; creation of a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay with Gabon is hampered by dispute over Mbane Island, administered and occupied by Gabon since the 1970s

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,556 GRT/9,704 DWT by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bata, Luba, Malabo