ARCHIVE // GQ // 2021
Equatorial Guinea
2021 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 1,620 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
the state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son (who is the Vice President), 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 generally accessible (2019)
Internet country code
[time series]
.gq
Internet users
[time series]
total: 374,200 (2021 est.) percent of population: 26.24% (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems
[time series]
general assessment: Equatorial Guinea s climate for operator competition boosted mobile subscribership; broadband services are limited and expensive; submarine cable supported broadband and reliability of infrastructure; government backbone network will connect administrative centers; regional roaming agreement in process (2018) domestic: fixed-line density is about 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is 45 per 100 (2019) international: country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019) note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 10,848 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 591,223 (2018) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 45.17 (2018 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
[time series]
sweet potatoes, cassava, roots/tubers nes, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, eggs
Budget
[time series]
revenues: 2.114 billion (2017 est.) expenditures: 2.523 billion (2017 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
-3.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Current account balance
[time series]
-$738 million (2017 est.) -$1.457 billion (2016 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$1.211 billion (31 December 2017 est.) $1.074 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Economic overview
[time series]
Exploitation of oil and gas deposits, beginning in the 1990s, has driven economic growth in Equatorial Guinea; a recent rebasing of GDP resulted in an upward revision of the size of the economy by approximately 30%. 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 limited improvements in the general population’s living conditions. Equatorial Guinea’s real GDP growth has been weak in recent years, averaging -0.5% per year from 2010 to 2014, because of a declining hydrocarbon sector. Inflation remained very low in 2016, down from an average of 4% in 2014. As a middle income country, Equatorial Guinea is now ineligible for most low-income World Bank and the IMF funding. 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 toward 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. In 2017 Equatorial Guinea signed a preliminary agreement with Ghana to sell liquefied natural gas (LNG); as oil production wanes, the government believes LNG could provide a boost to revenues, but it will require large investments and long lead times to develop.
Exchange rates
[time series]
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 605.3 (2017 est.) 593.01 (2016 est.) 593.01 (2015 est.) 591.45 (2014 est.) 494.42 (2013 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$8.776 billion (2019 est.) $8.914 billion (2018 est.) $9.94 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
crude petroleum, natural gas, industrial alcohols, lumber, veneer sheeting (2019)
Exports - partners
[time series]
China 34%, India 19%, Spain 11%, United States 7% (2019)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$10.634 billion (2019 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
[time series]
household consumption: 50% (2017 est.) government consumption: 21.8% (2017 est.) investment in fixed capital: 10.2% (2017 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2017 est.) exports of goods and services: 56.9% (2017 est.) imports of goods and services: -39% (2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 2.5% (2017 est.) industry: 54.6% (2017 est.) services: 42.9% (2017 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports
[time series]
$6.245 billion (2019 est.) $6.129 billion (2018 est.) $5.708 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
gas turbines, beer, ships, industrial machinery, excavation machinery (2019)
Imports - partners
[time series]
United States 22%, Spain 19%, China 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
-6.9% (2017 est.)
Industries
[time series]
petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
1.2% (2019 est.) 1.3% (2018 est.) 0.7% (2017 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
195,200 (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
44% (2011 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
37.4% of GDP (2017 est.) 43.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
[time series]
$23.86 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $25.09 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $26.68 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
[time series]
-3.2% (2017 est.) -8.6% (2016 est.) -9.1% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per capita
[time series]
$17,000 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.) $18,500 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.) $20,400 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.) note: data are in 2010 dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$45.5 million (31 December 2017 est.) $62.31 million (31 December 2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
16.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
8.6% (2014 est.) 22.3% (2009 est.)
Energy
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
308,700 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production
[time series]
172,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
465 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
61% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
38% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
331,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
500 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity access
[time series]
electrification - total population: 67% (2019) electrification - urban areas: 75% (2019) electrification - rural areas: 45% (2019)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
1.189 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
4.878 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
6.069 billion cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
5,200 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
5,094 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Environment
Air pollutants
[time series]
particulate matter emissions: 45.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 5.65 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 11.21 megatons (2020 est.)
Climate
[time series]
tropical; always hot, humid
Environment - current issues
[time series]
deforestation (forests are threatened by agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution (tap water is non-potable); wildlife preservation
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 10.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 57.5% (2018 est.) other: 32.4% (2018 est.)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever animal contact diseases: rabies
Revenue from coal
[time series]
coal revenues: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Revenue from forest resources
[time series]
forest revenues: 1.52% of GDP (2018 est.)
Total renewable water resources
[time series]
26 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total water withdrawal
[time series]
municipal: 15.8 million cubic meters (2017 est.) industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.) agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 73.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Waste and recycling
[time series]
municipal solid waste generated annually: 198,443 tons (2016 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
[time series]
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 577 m
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note
[time series]
insular and continental regions widely separated; despite its name, no part of the Equator passes through Equatorial Guinea; the mainland part of the country is located just north of the Equator
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 528 km border countries (2): Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 10.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.) forest: 57.5% (2018 est.) other: 32.4% (2018 est.)
Location
[time series]
Central 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 (3,007 m), 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
Natural resources
[time series]
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Population distribution
[time series]
only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands as shown in this population distribution map
Terrain
[time series]
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Capital
[time series]
name: Malabo; note - a new capital of Cuidad de la Paz (formerly referred to as Oyala) is being built on the mainland near Djibloho; Malabo is on the island of Bioko geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: named after Malabo Lopelo Melaka (1837 1937), the last king of the Bubi, the ethnic group indigenous to the island of Bioko; the name of the new capital, Cuidad de la Paz, translates to "City of Peace" in Spanish
Citizenship
[time series]
citizenship 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
Constitution
[time series]
history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991 amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012
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 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
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Susan N. STEVENSON (since 11 April 2019) embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41 email address and website: Malaboconsular@state.gov https://gq.usembassy.gov/
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015) chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252 email address and website: info@egembassydc.com https://www.egembassydc.com/ consulate(s) general: Houston
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); Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue(since 2012) head of government: Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second 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 (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%
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]
presidential republic
Independence
[time series]
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
International law organization participation
[time series]
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
International organization participation
[time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, 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)
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest courts: Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); 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 whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies; note - judges subject to dismissal by the president at any time subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
Legal system
[time series]
mixed system of civil and customary law
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (70 seats; 55 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 15 appointed by the president) Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Diputados (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed paryt-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023) Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE and aligned coalition 70; composition - men 60, women 10, percent of women 14.3% Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CI 1; composition - men 78, women 22, percent of women 22%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 18.8%
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; national colors: green, white, red, blue
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO] Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MBASOGO] Electoral Coalition or EC Juntos Podemos (coalition includes CPDS, FDR, UDC) National Congress of Equatorial Guinea [Agustin MASOKO ABEGUE] National Democratic Party [Benedicto OBIANG MANGUE] National Union for Democracy [Thomas MBA MONABANG] Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE] Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA] Center Right Union or UCD [Avelino MOCACHE MEHENGA] not officially registered parties: Citizens for Innovation or CI [Gabriel Nse Obiang OBONO] Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA] Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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. He has been elected several times since 1996, and was most recently 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 hinder political opposition. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in late 2004 and has slowly declined since, although aggressive searches for new oil fields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, the drop in global oil prices as of 2014 has placed significant strain on the state budget and pushed the country into recession. Oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure and there have been limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment. The country hosts major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in international affairs, and leadership in the sub-region.
Military and Security
Maritime threats
[time series]
the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; in 2020, there were 98 reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea region; although a 24% decrease from the total number of incidents in 2019, it included all three hijackings and 9 of 11 ships fired upon worldwide; while boarding and attempted boarding to steal valuables from ships and crews are the most common types of incidents, almost a third of all incidents involve a hijacking and/or kidnapping; in 2020, a record 130 crew members were kidnapped in 22 separate incidents in the Gulf of Guinea, representing 95% of kidnappings worldwide; approximately 51% of all incidents of piracy and armed robbery are taking place off Nigeria, which is a decrease from the 71% in 2019 and an indication pirates are traveling further to target vessels; Nigerian pirates are well armed and very aggressive, operating as far as 200 nm offshore; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2021-002 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 9 January 2021, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea.
Military - note
[time series]
as of 2021, the FAGE s National Guard (Army) had only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the Navy focused on anti-piracy and protecting the country s natural resources in the Gulf of Guinea; the Navy is small is size, but its inventory included a light frigate and a corvette, as well as several off-shore patrol boats; the Air Force possessed only a few operational combat aircraft and ground attack-capable helicopters
Military and security forces
[time series]
Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army), Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie (2021) note - the Gendarmerie reports to the Ministry of National Defense and is responsible for security outside cities and for special events; military personnel also fulfill some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas
Military and security service personnel strengths
[time series]
approximately 1,400 active duty troops; approximately 3-400 Gendarmerie (2021)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
[time series]
the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and second-hand weapons systems; in recent years,it has sought to modernize its naval inventory; Ukraine is the leading provider of equipment since 2010, followed by Israel (2020)
Military expenditures
[time series]
1.3% of GDP (2019 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2018 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2017 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2016 est.) 1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 2-year service obligation; women hold only administrative positions in the Navy (2019)
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 38.73% (male 164,417/female 159,400) 15-24 years: 19.94% (male 84,820/female 81,880) 25-54 years: 32.72% (male 137,632/female 135,973) 55-64 years: 4.69% (male 17,252/female 22,006) 65 years and over: 3.92% (male 13,464/female 19,334) (2020 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
30.09 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
[time series]
5.6% (2011)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
[time series]
12.6% (2011)
Current health expenditure
(Current Health Expenditure)
[time series]
3% (2018)
Death rate
[time series]
7.16 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Demographic profile
[time series]
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.
Dependency ratios
[time series]
total dependency ratio: 64.4 youth dependency ratio: 60.5 elderly dependency ratio: 3.9 potential support ratio: 25.5 (2020 est.)
Drinking water source
[time series]
improved: urban: 81.7% of population rural: 32.1% of population total: 67.6% of population unimproved: urban: 18.3% of population rural: 67.9% of population total: 32.4% of population (2017 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
NA
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]
7.3% (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
2,300 (2020 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
68,000 (2020 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 63.25 deaths/1,000 live births male: 66.12 deaths/1,000 live births female: 60.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Portuguese-based Creoles spoken in Ano Bom) 32.4% (1994 census) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de informaci n b sica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 66.35 years male: 64.96 years female: 67.78 years (2021 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.3% male: 97.4% female: 93% (2015)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: very high (2020) food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever animal contact diseases: rabies
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)
Maternal mortality ratio
[time series]
301 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
Median age
[time series]
total: 20.3 years male: 19.9 years female: 20.7 years (2020 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 (2021 est.)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
8% (2016)
Physician density
(Physicians density)
[time series]
0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
Population
[time series]
857,008 (July 2021 est.)
Population distribution
[time series]
only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands as shown in this population distribution map
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.29% (2021 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access
[time series]
improved: urban: 81.2% of population rural: 63.4% of population total: 76.2% of population unimproved: urban: 18.8% of population rural: 36.6% of population total: 23.8% of population (2017 est.)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.78 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
4.02 children born/woman (2021 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 73.6% of total population (2021) rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 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 delayed final delimitation; UN urged 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: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Equatorial Guinea and Equatoguineans abroad; the majority of trafficking victims are subjected to forced domestic service and commercial sex in cities, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant sector; local and foreign women, including Latin Americans, are exploited in commercial sex domestically, while some Equatoguinean women are sex trafficked in Spain; some children from rural areas have been forced into domestic servitude; children from nearby countries are forced to labor as domestic workers, market workers, vendors, and launderers; individuals recruited from African countries and temporary workers from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela are sometimes exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List Equatorial Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated, and for the first time since 2010, initiated the prosecution of alleged human traffickers; the government partnered with an international organization to provide training for more than 700 officials and civil society actors; authorities developed and implemented formal screening procedures to identify victims within vulnerable populations, an effort that had stalled for five years; however, the government still has not convicted a trafficker or any complicit government employees under its 2004 anti-trafficking law; a lack of training among judicial officials has resulted in potential trafficking crimes being tried under related statutes; victim services remained inadequate; authorities did not report referring any trafficking victims to government housing that was supposed to serve as temporary shelter (2020)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 7 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 6 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2019) under 914 m: 2
Airports - with unpaved runways
[time series]
total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
3C
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 42 by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 8, oil tanker 6, other 27 (2021)
National air transport system
[time series]
number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 466,435 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 350,000 mt-km (2018)
Pipelines
[time series]
42 km condensate, 5 km condensate/gas, 79 km gas, 71 km oil (2013)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
major seaport(s): Bata, Luba, Malabo LNG terminal(s) (export): Bioko Island
Roadways
[time series]
total: 2,880 km (2017)