The World Factbook (1982)/Equatorial Guinea

by the Central Intelligence Agency

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

(See reference map VII)

LAND

28,051 km²; Rio Muni, about 25,900 km², largely forested; Fernando Po, about 2,072 km²

Land boundaries: 539 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 12 nm

Coastline: 296 km

PEOPLE

Population: 260,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 2.1%

Nationality: noun—Equatorial Guinean(s); adjective—Equatorial Guinean

Ethnic divisions: indigenous population of Province Bioko, primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos; of Rio Muni primarily Fang; less than 1,000 Europeans, primarily Spanish

Religion: natives all nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic; some pagan practices retained

Language: Spanish official language of government and business; also pidgin English, Fang

Literacy: school enrollment reportedly 90% for school age children, but overall literacy rate is only 38%

Labor force: most Equatorial Guineans involved in subsistence agriculture; labor shortages on plantations

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Type: republic

Capital: Malabo

Political subdivisions: 3 military regions; 7 provinces with appointed military governors

Legal system: in transition; law by decree issued by Supreme Military Council; in part based on Spanish civil law and custom

National holiday: 12 October

Branches: executive and legislative powers held by 11 member Supreme Military Council assisted by ministries headed by appointed military commissars; judicial process not clearly defined since coup

Government leader: Lt Col. Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO, President, Supreme Military Council (SMC), succeeded former President Masie Nguema after 3 August 1979 coup

Suffrage: popular suffrage has been deferred

Elections: last parliamentary elections held December 1973

Political parties and leaders: political activities suspended; before coup of 3 August 1979, National Unity Party of Workers (PUNT) was the sole legal party

Communists: no significant number of Communists, but some sympathizers

Member of: Conference of East and Central African States. ECA, G–77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IMCO, IMF, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UPU

ECONOMY

GNP: $100 million (1980); $417 per capita (Note: economy destroyed by former President Masie Nguema)

Agriculture: major cash crops—Rio Muni, timber, coffee: Fernando Po, cocoa; main food products—rice, yams, cassava, bananas, oil palm nuts, manioc, and livestock

Major industries: fishing, sawmilling

Electric power: 7,000 kW capacity (1980); 25 million kWh produced (1980), 99 kWh per capita

Exports: $13,3 million (1980 est.); cocoa, coffee, and wood

Imports: $37.1 million (1980 est.); foodstuffs, chemicals and chemical products, textiles

Major trade partner: Spain

Budget: (1976) receipts $2.8 million

Monetary conversion rate: 172.1 Ekuele=US$1 (March 1981)

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: Rio Muni—2,460 km, including approx. 185 km bituminous, remainder gravel and earth; Fernando Po—300 km, including 146 km bituminous, remainder gravel and earth

Inland waterways: Rio Muni has approximately 167 km of year-round navigable waterway, used mostly by pirogues

Ports: 1 major (Malabo), 3 minor

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: poor system with adequate government services; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; 2,000 telephones (0.6 per 100 popl.); 2 AM and no FM stations; no TV station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 58,000; 30,000 fit for military service

Military budget: for fiscal year ending 31 December 1981, $6.2 million; 21% of central government budget