| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Africa |
| Geographical Location |
2° 00' North Latitude
10° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
28,051 sq km |
| Climate |
Tropical; always hot, humid |
| Natural Resources |
Petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay |
|
| Political Information |
 |
|
| Country Name |
Republic of Equatorial Guinea |
| Capital City |
Malabo |
| Government Type |
Republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas |
| Independence Day |
12 October 1968 (from Spain) |
|
| Demographical Information |
|
|
| Population |
535,881 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean |
| Ethnic Groups |
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish |
| Religion |
Nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices |
| Languages |
Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.42% (2005 est.) |
|
| Economical Information |
|
|
| Currency |
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF);
note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States |
| Industries |
Petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas |
| Labor Force |
NA |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
NA |
| Agriculture Products |
Coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber |
| Export Commodities |
Petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa |
| Export Partners |
US 34%, China 23.7%, Spain 21.1%, Canada 8.6% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Petroleum sector equipment, other equipment |
| Import Partners |
US 32.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 16.9%, Spain 13.7%, France 8.6%, UK 7.4% (2004) |
|
| Transportation |
|
|
| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
2,880 km (1999 est.) |
| Pipelines |
Condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km (2004) |
| Airports |
4 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Bata, Luba, Malabo |
|
| Communication |
|
|
| Phone Code |
+240 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.gq |
|
| Other |
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|
| Short History |
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 OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country for over two decades since seizing power from his uncle,
then President MACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999
legislative elections - were widely seen as being flawed. The president controls most opposition parties through the judicious use of patronage.
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 country's living standards. |
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