View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2011 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.gq

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

9 (2010) country comparison to the world: 222

Internet users [time series]

14,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 199

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2009 stood at about 70 percent of the population international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2009)

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

13,500 (2010) country comparison to the world: 199

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

399,300 (2010) country comparison to the world: 169

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $6.598 billion expenditures: $6.851 billion (2010 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Central bank discount rate [time series]

8.5% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

15% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 15% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$1.302 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 147 -$1.95 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$794.7 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 $757.2 million (31 December 2009 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The discovery and exploitation of large oil and gas reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth but fluctuating oil prices have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. Forestry and farming are also minor components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominate form of livelihood. 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. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues; however, in 2010, under Equatorial Guinea's candidacy in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the government published oil revenue figures for the first time. Undeveloped natural resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Growth remained strong in 2008, when oil production peaked, but slowed in 2009-10, as the price of oil and the production level fell.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

85.56 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

92 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 195

Exchange rates [time series]

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar - 495.28 (2010) 472.19 (2009) 447.81 (2008) 481.83 (2007) 522.4 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$10.39 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 $8.495 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum products, timber

Exports - partners [time series]

US 24.3%, Italy 10.3%, Spain 10.1%, South Korea 8.3%, Canada 7.6%, China 6.3%, Netherlands 6.1%, Brazil 5.9% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$14.49 billion (2010 est.)

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

$23.82 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 $24.02 billion (2009 est.) $22.71 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 2.2% industry: 93.9% services: 3.8% (2010 est.)

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

$36,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $37,900 (2009 est.) $36,800 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars; population figures are uncertain for Equatorial Guinea; these per capita income figures are based on a estimated population of less than 700,000; some estimates put the figure as high as 1.2 million people; if true, the per capita GDP figures would be significantly lower

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

-0.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 195 5.7% (2009 est.) 10.7% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$5.7 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $5.258 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Imports - partners [time series]

China 21.4%, Spain 13.8%, US 12.7%, France 10.9%, Cote dIvoire 6.7%, UK 6.3%, Italy 5.2% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.8% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Industries [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8.2% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 191 7.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

35.2% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Labor force [time series]

195,200 (2007) country comparison to the world: 171

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

1.55 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas - exports [time series]

4.72 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas - production [time series]

6.27 billion cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Oil - consumption [time series]

2,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Oil - exports [time series]

395,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Oil - imports [time series]

1,729 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Oil - production [time series]

322,700 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

5.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.346 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$2.109 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144 $1.527 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$171.8 million (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 179 $1.534 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$1.889 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 $1.342 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

45.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24

Unemployment rate [time series]

22.3% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28,051 sq km country comparison to the world: 146 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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%) per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

insular and continental regions widely separated

Irrigated land [time series]

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% (2005)

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 volcanism: Santa Isabel (elev. 3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, forms Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Terrain [time series]

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Total renewable water resources [time series]

26 cu km (2001)

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]

name: Malabo geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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/Republique de Guinee equatoriale local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale former: Spanish Guinea

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ embassy: KM-3, Carreterade de Aeropuerto (El Paraiso), Apartado 95, Malabo note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 2220-1500 FAX: [237] 2220-1572

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO 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 Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July 2008) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2016); 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 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%

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); 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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Tribunal

Legal system [time series]

mixed system of civil and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1 note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path) lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed) note: adopted 1968

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

National symbol(s) [time series]

silk cotton tree

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

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Electoral Coalition or EC; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ Ayecaba]

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

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); EG Justice (US-based anti-corruption group)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

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 Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999, 2004, and 2008 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged 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, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 151,147 females age 16-49: 150,345 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 113,277 females age 16-49: 115,320 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 7,398 female: 7,126 (2010 est.)

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

National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2011)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.1% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 171

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; service obligation 2 years; women hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard (2011)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 140,946/female 136,294) 15-64 years: 54.4% (male 179,141/female 184,358) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,880/female 15,606) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.43 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 28

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

10.6% (2004) country comparison to the world: 65

Death rate [time series]

9.03 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 69

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 45% of population rural: 42% of population total: 43% of population unimproved: urban: 55% of population rural: 58% of population total: 57% of population (2000)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

0.6% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 163

Ethnic groups [time series]

Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

5% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 15

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

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

20,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 76

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

2.2% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 187

Hospital bed density [time series]

1.92 beds/1,000 population (2009) country comparison to the world: 102

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 77.3 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 16 male: 78.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 76.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) 32.4% (1994 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 62.37 years country comparison to the world: 180 male: 61.4 years female: 63.36 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 87% male: 93.4% female: 80.5% (2000 est.)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

MALABO (capital) 128,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever animal contact disease: rabies (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

280 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 48

Median age [time series]

total: 19.1 years male: 18.5 years female: 19.7 years (2011 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 (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2004) country comparison to the world: 136

Population [time series]

668,225 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Population growth rate [time series]

2.641% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Religions [time series]

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 8 years male: 9 years female: 7 years (2002)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.91 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 22

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 40% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 3.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 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 and imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision delay final delimitation; UN urges Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane and lesser islands and to create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 3 - Equatorial Guinea is not making significant efforts to comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking; despite limited law enforcement action against suspected human smugglers and traffickers, including complicit public officials, the government has made no tangible efforts to provide victims of trafficking with the protective services mandated in its 2004 anti-trafficking law; prevention efforts have decreased, as the government did not hold any public awareness campaigns and its interagency commission on human trafficking took little, if any, action; the government's response to human trafficking has been inadequate, particularly given the government's substantial financial resources (2011)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (2010) country comparison to the world: 167

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 131 by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 37 km (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 2,880 km (2000) country comparison to the world: 168