Equatorial Guinea :: Africa
Introduction
Background:
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule; it is one of the smallest countries in Africa consisting of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands. The capital of Malabo is located on the island of Bioko, approximately 25 km from the Cameroonian coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. Between 1968 and 1979, autocratic President Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA virtually destroyed all of the country's political, economic, and social institutions before being deposed by his nephew Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO in a coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979. He has been elected several times since 1996, and was most recently reelected in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have generally been labeled as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has placed legal and bureaucratic barriers that hinder political opposition. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in late 2004 and has slowly declined since, although aggressive searches for new oil fields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, the drop in global oil prices as of 2014 has placed significant strain on the state budget and pushed the country into recession. Oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure and there have been limited improvements in the population's living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy and to increase foreign investment. The country hosts major regional and international conferences and continues to seek a greater role in international affairs, and leadership in the sub-region.
Geography
Location:
Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates:
2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total:
28,051 sq km
land:
28,051 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 145
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total:
528 km
border countries (2):
Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km
Coastline:
296 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
Climate:
tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation:
mean elevation:
577 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use:
agricultural land:
10.1%
(2011 est.)
arable land:
4.3%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent crops:
2.1%
(2011 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
3.7%
(2011 est.)
forest:
57.5%
(2011 est.)
other:
32.4%
(2011 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA
Population distribution:
only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards:
violent windstorms; flash floods
++ volcanism: Santa Isabel (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
Environment - current issues:
deforestation (forests are threatened by agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution (tap water is non-potable); wildlife preservation
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; despite its name, no part of the Equator passes through Equatorial Guinea; the mainland part of the country is located just north of the Equator
People and Society
Population:
836,178
(July 2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
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)
Languages:
Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official)) 32.4%
(1994 census)
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, Muslim, Baha'i, animist, indigenous
Demographic profile:
Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest and least populated countries in continental Africa and is the only independent African country where Spanish is an official language. Despite a boom in oil production in the 1990s, authoritarianism, corruption, and resource mismanagement have concentrated the benefits among a small elite. These practices have perpetuated income inequality and unbalanced development, such as low public spending on education and health care. Unemployment remains problematic because the oil-dominated economy employs a small labor force dependent on skilled foreign workers. The agricultural sector, Equatorial Guinea's main employer, continues to deteriorate because of a lack of investment and the migration of rural workers to urban areas. About three-quarters of the population lives below the poverty line.
++ Equatorial Guinea's large and growing youth population – about 60% are under the age of 25 – is particularly affected because job creation in the non-oil sectors is limited, and young people often do not have the skills needed in the labor market. Equatorial Guinean children frequently enter school late, have poor attendance, and have high dropout rates. Thousands of Equatorial Guineans fled across the border to Gabon in the 1970s to escape the dictatorship of MACIAS NGUEMA; smaller numbers have followed in the decades since. Continued inequitable economic growth and high youth unemployment increases the likelihood of ethnic and regional violence.
Age structure:
0-14 years:
38.73%
(male 164,417/female 159,400)
15-24 years:
19.94%
(male 84,820/female 81,880)
25-54 years:
32.72%
(male 137,632/female 135,973)
55-64 years:
4.69%
(male 17,252/female 22,006)
65 years and over:
3.92%
(male 13,464/female 19,334)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
64.4
youth dependency ratio:
60.5
elderly dependency ratio:
3.9
potential support ratio:
25.5
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
20.3 years
male:
19.9 years
female:
20.7 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
Population growth rate:
2.35%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
Birth rate:
30.7 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
Death rate:
7.3 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Population distribution:
only two large cities over 30,000 people (Bata on the mainland, and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko); small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization:
urban population:
73.1% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
4.28% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
297,000 MALABO (capital)
(2018)
Sex ratio:
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:
1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.78 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.7 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Maternal mortality rate:
301 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Infant mortality rate:
total:
59.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
60.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
58.6 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
65.7 years
male:
64.4 years
female:
66.9 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Total fertility rate:
4.11 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
12.6%
(2011)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
81.7% of population
rural:
32.1% of population
total:
67.6% of population
unimproved:
urban:
18.3% of population
rural:
67.9% of population
total:
32.4% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
3.1%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.4 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Hospital bed density:
2.1 beds/1,000 population
(2010)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
81.2% of population
rural:
63.4% of population
total:
76.2% of population
unimproved:
urban:
18.8% of population
rural:
36.6% of population
total:
23.8% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
7%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
65,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
1,800
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
very high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and dengue fever
animal contact diseases:
rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
8%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 156
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
5.6%
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 80
Education expenditures:
NA
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
95.3%
male:
97.4%
female:
93%
(2015)
Government
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
etymology:
the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name:
Malabo; note - a new capital of Cuidad de la Paz (formerly referred to as Oyala) is being built on the mainland near Djibloho; Malabo is on the island of Bioko
geographic coordinates:
3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after Malabo Lopelo Melaka (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi, the ethnic group indigenous to the island of Bioko; the name of the new capital, Cuidad de la Paz, translates to "City of Peace" in Spanish
Administrative divisions:
8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
history:
previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991
amendments:
proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012
Legal system:
mixed system of civil and customary law
International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
10 years
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); Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue(since 2012)
head of government:
Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Eyegue OBAMA Asue (since 23 June 2016); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister
elections/appointments:
president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 24 April 2016 (next to be held in 2023); 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 (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%
Legislative branch:
description:
bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional consists of: Senate or Senado (70 seats; 55 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote and 15 appointed by the president) ++ Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Diputados (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed paryt-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections:
Senate - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023) ++ Chamber of Deputies - last held on 12 November 2017 (next to be held in 2022/2023)
election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE and aligned coalition 70; composition - men 60, women 10, percent of women 14.3% ++ Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 99, CI 1; composition - men 78, women 22, percent of women 22%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 18.8%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the chief justice - who is also chief of state - and 9 judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); 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, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies; note - judges subject to dismissal by the president at any time
subordinate courts:
Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
Political parties and leaders:
Citizens for Innovation or CI [Gabriel Nse Obiang OBONO] ++ Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO] ++ Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MBASOGO] ++ Electoral Coalition or EC ++ Juntos Podemos (coalition includes CPDS, FDR, UDC) ++ National Congress of Equatorial Guinea [Agustin MASOKO ABEGUE] ++ National Democratic Party [Benedicto OBIANG MANGUE] ++ National Union for Democracy [Thomas MBA MONABANG] ++ Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Carmelo MBA BACALE] ++ Popular Union or UP [Daniel MARTINEZ AYECABA] ++ Union for the Center right or UDC [Avelino MOCACHE MEHENGA] ++ not officially registered parties: Democratic Republican Force or FDR [Guillermo NGUEMA ELA] ++ Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]
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, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UN Security Council (temporary), UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Miguel Ntutumu EVUNA ANDEME (since 23 February 2015)
chancery:
2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 518-5700
FAX:
[1] (202) 518-5252
consulate(s) general:
Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Susan N. STEVENSON (since 7 May 2019)
telephone:
[240] 333 09 57 41 or 1-301-985-8750
embassy:
Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo
mailing address:
US Embassy Malabo, 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
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 symbol(s):
silk cotton tree; national colors: green, white, red, blue
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
Economic overview:
Exploitation of oil and gas deposits, beginning in the 1990s, has driven economic growth in Equatorial Guinea; a recent rebasing of GDP resulted in an upward revision of the size of the economy by approximately 30%. Forestry and farming are minor components of GDP. Although preindependence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy since independence has diminished the potential for agriculture-led growth. Subsistence farming is the dominant form of livelihood. Declining revenue from hydrocarbon production, high levels of infrastructure expenditures, lack of economic diversification, and corruption have pushed the economy into decline in recent years and limited improvements in the general population's living conditions. Equatorial Guinea's real GDP growth has been weak in recent years, averaging -0.5% per year from 2010 to 2014, because of a declining hydrocarbon sector. Inflation remained very low in 2016, down from an average of 4% in 2014.
++ As a middle income country, Equatorial Guinea is now ineligible for most low-income World Bank and the IMF funding. The government has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and misuse of oil revenues and has attempted to address this issue by working toward compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. US foreign assistance to Equatorial Guinea is limited in part because of US restrictions pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
++ Equatorial Guinea hosted two economic diversification symposia in 2014 that focused on attracting investment in five sectors: agriculture and animal ranching, fishing, mining and petrochemicals, tourism, and financial services. Undeveloped mineral resources include gold, zinc, diamonds, columbite-tantalite, and other base metals. In 2017 Equatorial Guinea signed a preliminary agreement with Ghana to sell liquefied natural gas (LNG); as oil production wanes, the government believes LNG could provide a boost to revenues, but it will require large investments and long lead times to develop.
GDP real growth rate:
-3.2%
(2017 est.)
-8.6%
(2016 est.)
-9.1%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2%
(2019 est.)
1.3%
(2018 est.)
0.7%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$23.885 billion
(2019 est.)
$25.295 billion
(2018 est.)
$27.012 billion
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$10.634 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,228
(2019 est.)
$10,123
(2018 est.)
$11,213
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
country comparison to the world: 120
Gross national saving:
6.1% of GDP
(2017 est.)
3.6% of GDP
(2016 est.)
8.5% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
2.5%
(2017 est.)
industry:
54.6%
(2017 est.)
services:
42.9%
(2017 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
50%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
21.8%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
10.2%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
0.1%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
56.9%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-39%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
41.1
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (manioc, tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate:
-6.9%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Labor force:
195,200
(2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Unemployment rate:
8.6%
(2014 est.)
22.3%
(2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Population below poverty line:
44%
(2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
NA
highest 10%:
NA
Budget:
revenues:
2.114 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
2.523 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
16.9% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-3.3% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
Public debt:
37.4% of GDP
(2017 est.)
43.3% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$738 million
(2017 est.)
-$1.457 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
Exports:
$8.776 billion
(2019 est.)
$8.914 billion
(2018 est.)
$9.94 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Exports - partners:
China 28%, India 11.8%, South Korea 10.3%, Portugal 8.7%, US 6.9%, Spain 4.9%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum products, timber
Imports:
$6.245 billion
(2019 est.)
$6.129 billion
(2018 est.)
$5.708 billion
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment, construction materials, vehicles
Imports - partners:
Spain 20.5%, China 19.4%, US 13%, Cote dIvoire 6.2%, Netherlands 4.7%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$45.5 million
(31 December 2017 est.)
$62.31 million
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Debt - external:
$1.211 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$1.074 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
605.3
(2017 est.)
593.01
(2016 est.)
593.01
(2015 est.)
591.45
(2014 est.)
494.42
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
electrification - total population:
67%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
75%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
45%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
500 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Electricity - consumption:
465 million kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
331,000 kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
61% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
38% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
2% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
Crude oil - production:
172,000 bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Crude oil - exports:
308,700 bbl/day
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
5,200 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
Refined petroleum products - imports:
5,094 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
Natural gas - production:
6.069 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
Natural gas - consumption:
1.189 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
Natural gas - exports:
4.878 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Natural gas - proved reserves:
36.81 billion cu m
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
3.062 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
6,779
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
368,920
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
45.17
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and decent mobile cellular coverage; 3G technology has allowed for estimated 9.5% of growth during 2016 -2021; mobile data will be the fastest-growing segment 2016-2021
(2018)
domestic:
fixed-line density is about 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is 45 per 100
(2019)
international:
country code - 240; landing points for the ACE, Ceiba-1, and Ceiba-2 submarine cables providing communication from Bata and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea to numerous Western African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
the state maintains control of broadcast media with domestic broadcast media limited to 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son (who is the Vice President), 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 generally accessible
(2019)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet users:
total:
209,253
percent of population:
26.24%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
1,620
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
6
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
15
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
466,435
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
350,000
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
3C
(2016)
Airports:
7
(2013)
country comparison to the world: 167
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
6
(2019)
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
under 914 m:
2
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
1
(2013)
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
(2013)
Pipelines:
42 km condensate, 5 km condensate/gas, 79 km gas, 71 km oil
(2013)
Roadways:
total:
2,880 km
(2017)
country comparison to the world: 164
Merchant marine:
total:
38
by type:
bulk carrier 1, general cargo 7, oil tanker 6, other 24
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 124
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Bata, Luba, Malabo
LNG terminal(s) (export):
Bioko Island
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army), Navy, Air Force; Guardia Civil (paramilitary force for internal security)
(2019)
Military expenditures:
1.1% of GDP
(2018)
1.1% of GDP
(2017)
1.2% of GDP
(2016)
1% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 112
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE) have approximately 1,400 active duty troops (1,100 Army; 200 Navy; 100 Air Force)
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
the FAGE is armed with mostly second-hand Russian and Soviet-era weapons; Ukraine is the leading provider of equipment since 2010 followed by Israel
(2019 est.)
Military service age and obligation:
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 Navy
(2013)
Transnational Issues
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 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
Trafficking in persons:
current situation:
Equatorial Guinea is a source country for children subjected to sex trafficking and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor; Equatorial Guinean girls may be encouraged by their parents to engage in the sex trade in urban centers to receive groceries, gifts, housing, and money; children are also trafficked from nearby countries for work as domestic servants, market laborers, ambulant vendors, and launderers; women are trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for forced labor or prostitution
tier rating:
Tier 3 – Equatorial Guinea does not fully comply with the minimum standards on the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so; in 2014, the government made no efforts to investigate or prosecute any suspected trafficking offenders or to identify or protect victims, despite its 2004 law prohibiting all forms of trafficking and mandating the provision of services to victims; undocumented migrants continued to be deported without being screened to assess whether any were trafficking victims; authorities did not undertake any trafficking awareness campaigns, implement any programs to address forced child labor, or make any other efforts to prevent trafficking (2015)
