erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano;
Santa Isabel, along with two dormant volcanoes, forms Bioko Island
in the Gulf of Guinea
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
insular and continental regions widely separated
People ::Equatorial Guinea
Population:
650,702 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 134,823/female 130,308)
15-64 years: 54% (male 167,820/female 174,238)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,574/female 14,678) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.6 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.674% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
Birth rate:
36 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Death rate:
9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 74
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 14
male: 80.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.98 years
country comparison to the world: 182
male: 61.05 years
female: 62.94 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups:
Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other
1.4% (1994 census)
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official),
Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 8 years
male: 9 years
female: 7 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2003)
country comparison to the world: 185
Government ::Equatorial Guinea
Country name:
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
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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:
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January
1995
Legal system:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
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 Ignacio MILAM Tang (since 8 July
2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be
held in 2016); 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 95.8%, Placido Mico
ABOGO 3.6%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:
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 on 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all
executive authority in the president
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo];
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro OBIANG
NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Electoral Coalition or EC; Party for
Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action
of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); Global
Witness (anti-corruption)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto M. FERNANDEZ
embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El
Paraiso, Malabo; 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] 2220-1500
FAX: [237] 2220-1572
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); 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
National anthem:
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
Economy ::Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have
contributed to dramatic economic growth but fluctuating oil prices
have produced huge swings in GDP growth in recent years. Forestry,
farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence
farming is the dominate 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. Government officials and their family
members own most businesses, but corruption is rampant. Undeveloped
natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium,
and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2008, led by oil, but
dropped in 2009-10, as the price of oil fell.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$24.66 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$24.18 billion (2009 est.)
$22.96 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.55 billion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
5.3% (2009 est.)
11.3% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,900 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$38,200 (2009 est.)
$37,200 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 93.9%
services: 3.8% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
195,200 NA (2007)
country comparison to the world: 170
Unemployment rate:
30% (1998 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
29.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Public debt:
4.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
5.4% of GDP (2009 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.2% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
7.1% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.25% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 100
4.75% (31 December 2008)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2009 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$1.86 billion (31 December 2010 est)
country comparison to the world: 121
$1.295 billion (31 December 2009 est)
Stock of broad money:
$2.207 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
$1.473 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.534 billion (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 136
$3.579 billion (31 December 2008)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil
nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
1.8% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - production:
28 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - consumption:
26.04 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
346,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Oil - exports:
362,900 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - imports:
1,114 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Natural gas - production:
6.67 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - consumption:
1.5 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - exports:
5.17 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Natural gas - proved reserves:
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Current account balance:
-$1.477 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
-$1.883 billion (2009 est.)
Exports:
$10.24 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$8.495 billion (2009 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:
US 30.31%, China 12.54%, Japan 9.21%, Spain 7.5%, South Korea 7.01%,
Taiwan 5.63%, Italy 5.38%, Netherlands 4.09% (2009)
Imports:
$5.743 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$5.258 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
China 19.97%, US 17.28%, Spain 14.94%, France 9.49%, Cote d'Ivoire
6.34%, Italy 5.02% (2009)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.086 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$3.252 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Debt - external:
$832 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
$766 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs per US dollar -
506.04 (2010), 472.19 (2009), 447.81 (2008), 481.83 (2007), 522.4
(2006)
Communications ::Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 201
Telephones - mobile cellular:
445,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 161
Telephone system:
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 2009 stood
at about 70 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) (2009)
Broadcast media:
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)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet hosts:
9 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 221
Internet users:
14,400 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 199
Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea
Airports:
7 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 166
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)
Pipelines:
gas 38 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,880 km (2000)
country comparison to the world: 167
Merchant marine:
total: 4
country comparison to the world: 131
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Norway 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals:
Bata, Luba, Malabo (2010)
Military ::Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:
National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army),
with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; service
obligation 2 years; women hold only administrative positions in the
Coast Guard (2011)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 146,241
females age 16-49: 146,138 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 109,311
females age 16-49: 111,543 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 7,186
female: 6,920 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.1% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 173
Transnational Issues ::Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:
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 delay final delimitation;
UN urges 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
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination
country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and
possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been
trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market
labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may
also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other
neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting
and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize
mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government
made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation,
it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in
2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures
for providing care to victims (2008)
page last updated on January 24, 2011
======================================================================
@Eritrea (Africa)
Introduction ::Eritrea
Background:
The UN awarded Eritrea to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation.
Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later
sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with
Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was
overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year
border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN
auspices in December 2000. Eritrea hosted a UN peacekeeping
operation that monitored a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ)
on the border with Ethiopia. Eritrea's denial of fuel to the mission
caused the UN to withdraw the mission and terminate its mandate 31
July 2008. An international commission, organized to resolve the
border dispute, posted its findings in 2002. However, both parties
have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. On
30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely
demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving
Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory,
including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual
demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops
from the TSZ that it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not
accepted the virtual demarcation decision. In 2009 the UN imposed
sanctions on Eritrea after accusing it of backing anti-Ethiopian
Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
Geography ::Eritrea
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:
15 00 N, 39 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 117,600 sq km
country comparison to the world: 100
land: 101,000 sq km
water: 16,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:
2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the
central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June
to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain:
dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands,
descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest
to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4.78%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%)
per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent droughts; locust swarms
volcanism: Dubbi (elev. 1,625 m, 5,331 ft), which last erupted in
1861, is the country's only historically active volcano
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of
infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping
lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the
Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People ::Eritrea
Population:
5,792,984 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.8% (male 1,212,848/female 1,202,240)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 1,483,169/female 1,547,078)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 92,009/female 109,824) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.522% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Birth rate:
33.48 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Death rate:
8.25 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
country comparison to the world: 73
Urbanization:
urban population: 21% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 42.33 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 65
male: 47.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 36.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.15 years
country comparison to the world: 180
male: 60.06 years
female: 64.3 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.6 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.3% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
38,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
2,600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and
typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2009)
Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean
Ethnic groups:
nine recognized ethnic groups: Tigrinya 55%, Tigre 30%, Saho 4%,
Kunama 2%, Rashaida 2%, Bilen 2%, other (Afar, Beni Amir, Nera) 5%
(2010 est.)
Religions:
Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Languages:
Tigrinya (official), Arabic (official), English (official), Tigre,
Kunama, Afar, other Cushitic languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 6 years
male: 7 years
female: 5 years (2004)
Education expenditures:
2% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 168
Government ::Eritrea
Country name:
conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea