Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea 

 
Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cameroon and Gabon

Area

Land Boundaries

Total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Coastline

296 km

Maritime Claims

International Disputes

Maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay

Climate

Tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain

Coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Malabo 3,008 m

Natural Resources

Land Use

Irrigated Land

NA

Environment

Note: Insular and continental regions rather widely separated

PEOPLE

Population

431,282 (July 1996 est.)
420,293 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

43% (male 93,319; female 92,753) (July 1996 est.)
43% (male 90,997; female 90,404) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

53% (male 108,706; female 120,129) (July 1996 est.)
53% ( male 105,724; female 117,124) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

4% (male 7,235; female 9,140) (July 1996 est.)
4% (male 7,075; female 8,969) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.58% (1996 est.)
2.59% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

39.77 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
40.22 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

14.01 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
14.36 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
all ages: 0.94 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

98 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
100.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

5.17 children born/woman (1996 est.)
5.23 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic Divisions

Religions

Languages

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

Literacy

Age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Labor Force

172,000 (1986 est.)

By occupation:

Note: Labor shortages on plantations

GOVERNMENT

Names

Digraph

EK

Type

Republic in transition to multiparty democracy

Capital

Malabo

Administrative Divisions

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

Independence

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Constitution

New constitution 17 November 1991

Legal System

Partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Suffrage

Universal adult at age NA

Executive Branch

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

House of People's Representatives

(Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) elections last held 21 November 1993; seats - (82 total) PDGE 72, various opposition parties 10

Judicial Branch

Supreme Tribunal

Political Parties and Leaders

Member of

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WTrO (applicant)

National Anthem

Flag

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)

ECONOMY

Overview

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. 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. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful. In 1995, exports responded to the devaluation of 12 January 1994, apparently resulting in a sizable surplus and strong GDP growth. Increased production from recently discovered oil and natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports in 1996-97.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $325 million (1995 est.); $280 million (1993 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

10% (1995 est.)
7.3% (1993 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$800 (1995 est.)
$700 (1993 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

41% (1994 est.)
1.6% (1992 est.)

Unemployment Rate

NA

Budget

Exports

$62 million (f.o.b., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

Imports

$60 million (c.i.f., 1993)

Commodities:

Partners:

External Debt

$268 million (1993 est.)
$260 million (1992 est)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 11.3% (1993 est.)

Electricity

Industries

Agriculture

Accounts for 47% of GDP, cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock

Economic Aid

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange Rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 500.56 (January 1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990)

Note: Beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

Highways

Ports

Bata, Luba, Malabo

Merchant Marine

Airports

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

2,000 telephones; poor system with adequate government services

Radio

Television

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

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

Manpower Availability

Males age 15-49 92,704; males fit for military service 47,124 (1996 est.)

Defense Expenditures

Exchange rate conversion - $2.5 million, NA of GDP (FY93/94)

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 15 december 1997