Equatorial Guinea
Republic of Equatorial GuineaRepublica de Guinea Ecuatorial
republic in transition to multiparty democracyIndependence 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Equatorial Guinea as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between | Cameroon and Gabon
18 fieldsLand use
- arable land:
- 5%
- permanent crops:
- 4%
- permanent pastures:
- 4%
- forests and woodland:
- 46%
- other:
- 41% (1993 est.)
Environment--international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1999 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 43% (male 100,334; female 99,826)
- 15-64 years:
- 53% (male 118,248; female 129,777)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 7,801; female 9,760) (1999 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: migration to Spain is a traditional and continuing factor; between 80% and 90% of Equatorial Guinean nationals going to Spain do not return
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.91 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.8 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.95 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Nationality
- noun:
- Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
- adjective:
- Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Government
Republic in transition to multiparty democracy; President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996)
18 fieldsLegislature, 80 seats, elected 21 November 1993one dot, one seat
Country name
- 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
Government type
republic in transition to multiparty democracy (the transition appears to have halted)
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996);
- First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998);
- Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since NA January 1998)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
- election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003);
- prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president
- election results:
- President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--PDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Political parties and leaders
- ruling party:
- Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE
- opposition parties:
- Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS BOKESA, president];
- Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD mayor of Malabo];
- Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP
International organization participation
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
- chancery:
- 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US
- the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995);
- US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon;
- the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description
- 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 discovery and exploitation of large oil | reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent | years.
30 fieldsGDP--composition by sector(1995 est.)
Electricity
Economy--overview
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Several large oil companies are expected to bid on oil licenses by May 1999. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. 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. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
Agriculture--products
- coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc (tapioca);
- livestock;
- timber
Exchange rates
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1--560.01 (December 1998), 589.95 (1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994)
Communications
6 fieldsTelephone system
poor system with adequate government services
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine, 12 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention | Force, National Police
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes--international
- maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay;
- maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Equatorial Guinea.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/equatorial-guinea/1999.