*Equatorial Guinea, Geography

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean between Cameroon and
  Gabon
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  28,050 km2
 land area:
  28,050 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly larger than Maryland
Land boundaries:
  total 539 km, Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km
Coastline:
  296 km
Maritime claims:
 exclusive economic zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over
  islands in Corisco Bay
Climate:
  tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain:
  coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Natural resources:
  timber, petroleum, small unexploited deposits of gold, manganese, uranium
Land use:
 arable land:
  8%
 permanent crops:
  4%
 meadows and pastures:
  4%
 forest and woodland:
  51%
 other:
  33%
Irrigated land:
  NA km2
Environment:
  subject to violent windstorms
Note:
  insular and continental regions rather widely separated

*Equatorial Guinea, People

Population:
  399,055 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  2.6% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  41.1 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  15.11 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  104.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  51.63 years
 male:
  49.56 years
 female:   53.76 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  5.33 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
 adjective:
  Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic divisions:
  Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang),
  Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions:
  nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
  Spanish (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 total population:
  50%
 male:
  64%
 female:
  37%
Labor force:
  172,000 (1986 est.)
 by occupation:
  agriculture 66%, services 23%, industry 11% (1980)
 note:
  labor shortages on plantations; 58% of population of working age (1985)

*Equatorial Guinea, Government

Names:
 conventional long form:
  Republic of Equatorial Guinea
 conventional short form:
  Equatorial Guinea
 local long form:
  Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
 local short form:
  Guinea Ecuatorial
 former:
  Spanish Guinea
Digraph:
  EK
Type:
  republic in transition to multiparty democracy
Capital:
  Malabo
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)
Constitution:
  new constitution 17 November 1991
Legal system:
  partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Political parties and leaders:
  ruling - Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
  Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, party leader
Suffrage:
  universal adult at age NA
Elections:
 President:
  last held 25 June 1989 (next to be held 25 June 1996); results - President
  Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO was reelected without
  opposition
 Chamber of People's Representatives:
  last held 10 July 1988 (next to be held 10 July 1993); results - PDGE is the
  only party; seats - (41 total) PDGE 41
Executive branch:
  president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers
  (cabinet)
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives of the People (Camara de Representantes
  del Pueblo)
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Tribunal
Leaders:
 Chief of State:
  President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August
  1979)
 Head of Government:
  Prime Minister Silvestre SIALE BILEKA (since 17 January 1992); Deputy Prime
  Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG MIFUMU (since 22 January 1992)

*Equatorial Guinea, Government

Member of:
  ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
  IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS (associate), NAM, OAS
  (observer), OAU, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG
 chancery:
  (temporary) 57 Magnolia Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10553
 telephone:
  (914) 667-9664
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador John E. BENNETT
 embassy:
  Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo
 mailing address:   P.O. Box 597, Malabo
 telephone:
  [240] (9) 2185
 FAX:
  [240] (9) 2164
Flag:
  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)

*Equatorial Guinea, Economy

Overview:
  The economy, devastated during the regime of former President Macias NGUEMA,
  is based on agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which account for about half
  of GDP and nearly all exports. Subsistence agriculture predominates, with
  cocoa, coffee, and wood products providing income, foreign exchange, and
  government revenues. There is little industry. Commerce accounts for about
  8% of GDP and the construction, public works, and service sectors for about
  38%. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese,
  uranium, and alluvial gold. Oil exploration, taking place under concessions
  offered to US, French, and Spanish firms, has been moderately successful.
  Increased production from recently discovered natural gas deposits will
  provide a greater share of exports by 1995.
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $144 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  -1% (1991 est.)
National product per capita:
  $380 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  1.4% (1990)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $26 million; expenditures $30 million, including capital
  expenditures of $3 million (1991 est.)
Exports:
  $37 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)
 commodities:
  coffee, timber, cocoa beans
 partners:
  Spain 38.2%, Italy 12.2%, Netherlands 11.4%, FRG 6.9%, Nigeria 12.4% (1988)
Imports:
  $63.0 million (c.i.f., 1990)
 commodities:
  petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
 partners:
  France 25.9%, Spain 21.0%, Italy 16%, US 12.8%, Netherlands 8%, FRG 3.1%,
  Gabon 2.9%, Nigeria 1.8% (1988)
External debt:   $213 million (1990)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.8% (1990 est.)
Electricity:
  23,000 kW capacity; 60 million kWh produced, 160 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  fishing, sawmilling
Agriculture:
  cash crops - timber and coffee from Rio Muni, cocoa from Bioko; food crops -
  rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, livestock
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY81-89), $14 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89) $130 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $55 million
Currency:
  1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
Exchange rates:
  Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 274.06 (January
  1993), 264.69 (1992), 282.11 (1991), 272.26 (1990), 319.01 (1989), 297.85
  (1988)

*Equatorial Guinea, Economy

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

*Equatorial Guinea, Communications

Highways:
  Rio Muni - 2,460 km; Bioko - 300 km
Ports:
  Malabo, Bata
Merchant marine:
  2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,413 GRT/6,699 DWT; includes 1 cargo
  and 1 passenger-cargo
Airports:
 total:
  3
 usable:
  3
 with permanent-surface runways:
  2
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  1
Telecommunications:
  poor system with adequate government services; international communications
  from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones;
  broadcast stations - 2 AM, no FM, 1 TV; 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT earth
  station

*Equatorial Guinea, Defense Forces

Branches:
  Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 84,323; fit for military service 42,812 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP