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| The World Factbook |
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Equatorial Guinea |
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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)
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Introduction |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Background:
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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 and 2002
presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 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, there have been few improvements in the population's living
standards. |
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Geography |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the
Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon |
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00 N, 10 00 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than
Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km |
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Coastline:
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296 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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tropical; always hot, humid
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Terrain:
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coastal plains rise to
interior hills; islands are volcanic |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas,
timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay |
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA |
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Natural hazards:
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violent windstorms, flash
floods |
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Environment - current issues:
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tap water is not potable;
deforestation |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
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Geography - note:
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insular and continental
regions widely separated |
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Population:
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540,109 (July 2006 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 41.7%
(male 113,083/female 111,989)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 141,914/female 152,645)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,886/female 11,592) (2006 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 18.8 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2006 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.05% (2006 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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35.59 births/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Death rate:
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15.06 deaths/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 89.21
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
49.54 years
male: 48 years
female: 51.13 years (2006 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.55 children born/woman
(2006 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.4% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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5,900 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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370 (2001 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree of risk: very
high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2005) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Equatorial
Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bioko (primarily Bubi, some
Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly
Spanish |
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Religions:
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nominally Christian and
predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), French
(official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.) |
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Government |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time) |
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Administrative divisions:
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7 provinces (provincias,
singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem,
Litoral, Wele-Nzas |
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Independence:
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12 October 1968 (from Spain)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 12 October
(1968) |
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Constitution:
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approved by national
referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995 |
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Legal system:
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partly based on Spanish civil
law and tribal custom |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
adult |
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Executive branch:
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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 Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA (since
14 August 2006); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono NTUTUMU (since
15 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held
December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;
percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio
BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral 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 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PDGE 98, CPDS 2
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all
executive authority in the president |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Tribunal |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Convergence Party for Social
Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial
Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Party for
Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of
Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres
Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia
BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC,
CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: the
US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea
embassy: adjacent to the golf course at the base of Mont Febe; note -
relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue
to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00
FAX: [237] 220 16 20 |
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Flag description:
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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) |
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Economy |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Economy - overview:
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The discovery and
exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic
growth in recent years. 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 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. No longer eligible
for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has
been trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World
Bank and IMF. 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. Growth remained
strong in 2005, led by oil. Equatorial Guinea now has the second highest per
capita income in the world, after Luxembourg. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$25.69 billion (2005 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$7.644 billion (2005 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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18.6% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$50,200 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 90.6%
services: 6.2% (2005 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA |
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Unemployment rate:
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30% (1998 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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5% (2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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39.9% of GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.973
billion
expenditures: $711.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.) |
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Public debt:
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6.4% of GDP |
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Agriculture - products:
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coffee, cocoa, rice, yams,
cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber |
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Industries:
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petroleum, fishing,
sawmilling, natural gas |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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30% (2002 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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29.43 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 94.3%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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27.37 million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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1,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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563.5 million bbl (1 January
2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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1.27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.27 billion cu m (2003 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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36.81 billion cu m (1 January
2002) |
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Current account balance:
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$264 million (2005 est.) |
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Exports:
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$6.727 billion f.o.b. (2005
est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, methanol, timber,
cocoa |
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Exports - partners:
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US 25.8%, China 22.9%, Spain
11.4%, Canada 7.7%, Taiwan 7.5%, Portugal 5.7%, Netherlands 5.5%, France
4.2% (2005) |
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Imports:
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$1.864 billion f.o.b. (2005
est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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petroleum sector equipment,
other equipment |
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Imports - partners:
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US 24.6%, Italy 20.7%, France
12.1%, Spain 10.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.7%, UK 7% (2005) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.103 billion (2005 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$353 million (2005 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$33.8 million $NA |
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Currency (code):
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Communaute Financiere
Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the
Central African States |
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Currency code:
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XAF |
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere
Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2
(2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Communications |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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10,000 (2005) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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96,900 (2005) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment:
poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 240; international communications from
Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station -
1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5
(2002) |
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Radios:
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180,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2002) |
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Televisions:
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4,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.gq |
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Internet hosts:
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19 (2006) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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1 (2002) |
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Internet users:
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5,000 (2005) |
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Transportation |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Airports:
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4 (2006) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006) |
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Pipelines:
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condensate 46 km;
condensate/gas 5 km; gas 47 km; oil 31 km (2006) |
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Roadways:
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total: 2,880 km (1999)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1 ship (1000
GRT or over) 1,745 GRT/3,434 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Malabo |
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Military |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (est.) (2004)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 18-49:
104,563
females age 18-49: 109,923 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 18-49:
56,462
females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$152.2 million (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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2.1% (2005 est.) |
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Transnational Issues |
Equatorial Guinea |
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Disputes - international:
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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, imprecisely defined
maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasi
allocation contribute to the delay in implementation; UN has been pressing
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to pledge to resolve the sovereignty dispute
over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and create a maritime boundary in the
hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay |
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Trafficking in persons:
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current situation:
Equatorial Guinea is a transit and destination country for women and
children trafficked for forced labor, involuntary domestic servitude, and
commercial sexual exploitation from surrounding countries - primarily Benin,
Nigeria, Mali, and Cameroon; victims work in the agricultural and commercial
sectors of Malabo and Bata, where demand is high due to a booming oil
sector; children work as farmhands, street vendors, or household servants;
girls and women are also trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is placed on the
Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide adequate evidence of concrete
measures to address trafficking over the past year |
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This page was last updated on 19 December, 2006
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