Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999, 2004, and 2008 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Africa

total: 28,051 sq km
country comparison to the world: 146
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km

slightly smaller than Maryland

total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

296 km

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

tropical; always hot, humid

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 2.5%
other: 92.87% (2011)

NA

26 cu km (2011)

total: 0.02 cu km/yr (80%/15%/5%)
per capita: 31.41 cu m/yr (2005)

violent windstorms; flash floods
volcanism: Santa Isabel (elev. 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

tap water is not potable; deforestation

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

insular and continental regions widely separated

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) 32.4% (1994 census)

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

704,001 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167

0-14 years: 41% (male 146,797/female 142,034)
15-24 years: 19.4% (male 69,547/female 67,096)
25-54 years: 31.3% (male 109,062/female 111,489)
55-64 years: 4.2% (male 12,647/female 16,708)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 12,163/female 16,458) (2013 est.)

total dependency ratio: 71.4 %
youth dependency ratio: 66.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 %
potential support ratio: 21 (2013)

total: 19.2 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19.8 years (2013 est.)

2.58% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

34.35 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

8.59 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

urban population: 39.5% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.16% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

MALABO (capital) 137,000 (2011)

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: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.76 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

240 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 49

total: 73.12 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 14
male: 74.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 72.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

total population: 63.12 years
country comparison to the world: 184
male: 62.09 years
female: 64.18 years (2013 est.)

4.74 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25

10.1% (2000)

4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 164

0.3 physicians/1,000 population (2004)

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2010)

5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15

20,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78

fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)

10.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 129

10.6% (2004)
country comparison to the world: 67

0.6% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 173

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 91.1% (2011 est.)

total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2002)

total number: 35,382
percentage: 28 % (2000 est.)

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

republic

name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

approved by referendum 17 November 1991; amended several times, last in 2012 (2012)

mixed system of civil and customary law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Vicente Ehate TOMI (since 22 May 2012)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (two term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president; note - according to the constitutional referendum on November 2011, elections are to be held in 2015 and the presidency is limited to two terms
election results: Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%, other 0.6%

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (70 seats; 55 seats directly elected and 15 appointed by the president) and the House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 26 May 2013 (next to be held in 2018)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 54, CPDS 1; House of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CPDS 1
note: note - Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president; the constitutional referendum of 2011 established a bicameral legislature formed following the May 2013 elections; the newly formed Senate consists of elected and appointed (by the President) members

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice and NA judges); 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
subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo]

ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform)

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, 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)

chief of mission: Ambassador Ruben Maye Nsue MANGUE (since 10 September 2013)
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
consul general(s): Houston

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark L. ASQUINO (since 29 June 2012)
embassy: K-3, Carretera de Aeropuerto, Al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [240] 333 09 88 95

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

silk cotton tree

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

The discovery and exploitation of large oil and gas reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth, but fluctuating oil prices have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. The economy is still dominated by hydrocarbon production. The government has solicited foreign investment, particularly from the United States, to diversify the economy. Undeveloped natural resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. Forestry and farming are also minor components of GDP. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth. The government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture. A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues. The government has made efforts to address this issue working towards compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in 2010. The economy recovered from the global recession in 2011-12 stimulated by higher oil prices and large investments in public infrastructure and hotels.

$19.7 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
note: data are in 2012 US dollars

$17.45 billion (2012 est.)

5.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

$26,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
note: data are in 2010 US dollars; population figures are uncertain for Equatorial Guinea; these per capita income figures are based on a estimated population of less than 700,000; some estimates put the figure as high as 1.2 million people; if true, the per capita GDP figures would be significantly lower

26.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40

household consumption: 27.4%
government consumption: 3.7%
investment in fixed capital: 42%
investment in inventories: 1%
exports of goods and services: 83.7%
imports of goods and services: -57.9%

agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 87.6%
services: 7.8% (2012 est.)

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (manioc), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

2.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

195,200 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 172

22.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

NA%

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

revenues: $6.429 billion
expenditures: $6.585 billion (2012 est.)

36.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

-0.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63

9.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

calendar year

6.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162

8.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

15% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

$3.023 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

$3.115 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

$-631.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183

$-2.945 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150

$14.86 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

petroleum products, timber

Japan 18.8%, France 16.1%, China 11.7%, US 11.3%, Netherlands 7.2%, Spain 7.1%, Italy 5.1% (2012)

$8.045 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles

Spain 18.4%, China 17.4%, US 11.1%, France 8%, Italy 5.9%, Cote dIvoire 5.3%, Brazil 4.4% (2012)

$4.397 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

$1.858 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143

Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

97 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

90.21 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191

0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

38,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

97.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81

2.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

318,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34

319,100 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 42

3,074 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

1,588 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194

2,320 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101

4,561 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160

6.88 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48

1.58 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

5.26 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 68

5.232 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

14,900 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 195

501,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 169

general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage
domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2011 stood at about 60 percent of the population
international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 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 accessible (2007)

.gq

7 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 227

14,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 200

7 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 166

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2013)

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)

condensate 42 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 79 km; oil 71 km (2013)

total: 2,880 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 168

total: 5
country comparison to the world: 128
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010)

major seaport(s): Bata, Luba, Malabo

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2013)

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 Coast Guard (2013)

males age 16-49: 151,147
females age 16-49: 150,345 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49: 113,277
females age 16-49: 115,320 (2010 est.)

male: 7,398
female: 7,126 (2010 est.)

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