Equatorial Guinea

republic in transition to multiparty democracyIndependence 12 October 1968 (from Spain

Equatorial Guinea as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 71 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMalabo

Area28,050 km2

1992

Every edition of Equatorial Guinea

Populationas each edition published it

388,799 people July 1992 · 368,935 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.6% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 51.63 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.4 children per woman 1992 · 5.5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

107 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 118 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $380 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition -1% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Total area

28,050km2

Comparative area: slightly larger than Maryland

Coastline

296km

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

539km

Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Disputes

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

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Natural resources

timber, crude oil, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium

Land use

arable land 8%;
permanent crops 4%;
meadows and pastures 4%;
forest and woodland 51%;
other 33%

Note

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

People

14 fields

Population

388,799

(July 1992), growth rate 2.6% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

42Death

15Net migration

Labor force

172,000

(1986 est.); agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980); labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)

Literacy

50%

(male 64%, female 37%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Nationality

noun - Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s); adjective - Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic divisions

indigenous population of Bioko, primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos;
Rio Muni, primarily Fang;
less than 1,000 Europeans, mostly Spanish

Religions

natives all nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic; some pagan practices retained

Languages

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

Government

Republic in transition to multiparty democracy

18 fields

Type

republic in transition to multiparty democracy

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; formerly Spanish Guinea)

Legal system

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Executive branch

president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo)

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Cristino SERICHE BIOKO MALABO (since 15 August 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Isidoro Eyi MONSUY ANDEME (since 15 August 1989)

only party - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader; multipartyism legalized in new constitution of November 1991, promulgated January 1992

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA

Elections

Chamber of People's Representatives:: last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993);
results - PDGE is the only party;
seats - (41 total) PDGE 41
President:: last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without opposition

Member of

ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG;
Chancery (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553;
telephone (914) 667-9664

US:: Ambassador John E. BENNETT;
Embassy at Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo (mailing address is P.O. Box 597, Malabo);
telephone [240] (9) 2185, 2406, 2507;
FAX [240] (9) 2164

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

The economy, destroyed during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA, | is now based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about | half of GDP and nearly all exports.

17 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

3.6%

(1990 est.)

External debt

$213million

(1990)

Budget

Revenues

$27 millionExpenditures

$29 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (1990 est.)

Overview

The economy, destroyed during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA, is now based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about half of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, with cocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, and government revenues.

There is little industry. Commerce accounts for about 8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about 38%. 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.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $156 million, per capita $400; real growth rate 1.6% (1988 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: coffee, timber, cocoa beans
partners:: Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4 (1988)

Imports

$68.3 million (c.i.f., 1990)

commodities:: petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
partners:: France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, Germany 3.1%, Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8 (1988)

Industrial production

growth rate - 6.8% (1990 est.)

Electricity

23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)

Industries

fishing, sawmilling

Agriculture

cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for illicit drugs from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million

Communications

6 fields

Airports, 3 total, 3 usable

permanent-surface runways

2runways over | 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

poor system with adequate government services;
international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries;
2,000 telephones;
broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV;
1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police

3 fields

How to cite ← 1991 edition 1993 edition →