Equatorial Guinea

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

Equatorial Guinea as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 118 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
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon
1994

Every edition of Equatorial Guinea

Populationas each edition published it
409,550 people July 1994 est. · 368,935 in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.59% 1994 est. · 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
5.28 children per woman 1994 est. · 5.5 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
102.6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 118 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$700 1993 est. · $380 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition -1% in 1993

Geography

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

23 fields
Land boundaries
539km
total · Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Location

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

Map references

Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

28,050 sq km

land area

28,050 sq km

comparative area

slightly larger than Maryland

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

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

Natural resources

timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium

arable land

8%

permanent crops

4%

meadows and pastures

4%

forest and woodland

51%

other

33%

current issues

desertification

natural hazards

subject to violent windstorms

international agreements

party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Note

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

People

22 fields
Population
409,550
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 2.59% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth
40.65Death
14.73Net migration
0
Labor force
172,000
(1986 est.)
Literacy
15and over can read and write
age · (1990 est.)

Infant mortality rate

102.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

52.09 years

male

49.97 years

female

54.27 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.28 children born/woman (1994 est.)

noun

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

adjective

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic divisions

Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Religions

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Languages

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

total population

50%

male

64%

female

37%

by occupation

agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)

note

labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)

Government

Republic in transition to multiparty democracy

32 fields

Legislature, 82 seatsone dot, one seat

PDGE 72various opposition parties 10

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

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

Suffrage

universal adult at age NA

chief of state

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979) election 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

head of government

Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Vice Prime Minister Anatolio NDONG MBA (since November 1993);

cabinet

Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

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

ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader; Progressive Democratic Alliance (ADP), Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea (APGE),Casiano Masi Edu, leader; Liberal Democratic Convention (CLD), Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president;

Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS),Santiago Obama Ndong, president; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence (CSDP), Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition (PCSD), Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinater; Liberal Party (PL), leaders unknown;

Party of Progress (PP), Severo MOTO Nsa, president; Social Democratic Party (PSD), Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga Alene, general secretary; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea (PSGE), Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary; National Democratic Union (UDENA), Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president; Democratic Social Union (UDS), Jesus Nze Obama Avomo, general secretary; Popular Union (UP), Juan Bitui, president

Member of

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

chief of mission

Ambassador DAMASO Obiang Ndong

chancery

(temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553

telephone

(914) 738-9584 or 667-6913

FAX

(914) 667-6838

chief of mission

Ambassador John E. BENNETT

embassy

Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo

mailing address

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

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing account for about half of GDP and | nearly all exports.

26 fields
GDP per capita, PPP
$700
(1993 est.)
External debt
$260million
(1992 est)

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 international donor community have failed to revitalize export agriculture. There is little industry; businesses for the most part are owned by government officials and their family members. 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. Increased production from recently discovered natural gas fields will provide a greater share of exports by 1995.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $280 million (1993 est.)

revenues

$32.5 million

expenditures

$35.9 million, including capital expenditures of $3 million (1992 est.)

Exports

$52.8 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

coffee, timber, cocoa beans

partners

Spain 55.2%, Nigeria 11.4%, Cameroon 9.1% (1992)

Imports

$63.6 million (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities

petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery

partners

Cameroon 23.1%, Spain 21.8%, France 14.1%, US 4.3%

capacity

23,000 kW

production

60 million kWh

consumption per capita

160 kWh (1991)

Industries

fishing, sawmilling

Agriculture

  • accounts for almost 50% of GDP, cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko;
  • food crops - rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock

recipient

  • 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

Currency

1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

Exchange rates

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 592.05 (January 1994), 273,16 (1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989)

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

Communications

12 fields

total

2,760 km (2,460 km on Rio Muni and 300 km on Bioko)

paved

NA

unpaved

NA

Ports

Malabo, Bata

Merchant marine

2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,412 GRT/6,699 DWT, cargo 1, passenger-cargo 1

total

3

usable

3

with permanent-surface runways

2

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

1

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

1

Telecommunications

  • 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

Branches

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

Manpower availability

males age 15-49 86,957; fit for military service 44,174

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Equatorial Guinea.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/equatorial-guinea/1994.

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