Equatorial Guinea
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 violent coup. President OBIANG has ruled since October 1979 and has been elected several times, most recently in 2016. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, presidential and legislative elections since 1996 have been considered 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 oilfields continue. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in massive increases in government revenue in past years, generally lower global oil prices since 2014 and depreciating oil fields have placed significant strain on the state budget. While oil revenues have mainly been used for the development of infrastructure, corruption has hindered socio-economic development 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.
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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 - 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
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 577 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use
agricultural land: 10.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 57.5% (2018 est.)
other: 32.4% (2018 est.)
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
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
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 est.)
Languages
Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Portuguese-based Creoles spoken in Ano Bom) 32.4% (1994 est.)
major-language sample(s):
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Religions
Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)
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 two-thirds of the population lives below the poverty line as of 2020.
Equatorial Guinea’s large and growing youth population – about 60% are under the age of 25 as of 2022 – 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 Francisco 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: 36.05% (male 323,846/female 302,666)
15-64 years: 59.01% (male 561,260/female 464,130)
65 years and over: 4.94% (2023 est.) (male 44,561/female 41,232)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 72.2
youth dependency ratio: 66.7
elderly dependency ratio: 5.4
potential support ratio: 18.5 (2021 est.)
Median age
total: 20.3 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 20.7 years (2020 est.)
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: 74.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.21 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.08 male(s)/female
total population: 1.15 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
212 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45Infant mortality rate
total: 77.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 63.8 years
male: 61.53 years
female: 66.13 years (2023 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
2.06 (2023 est.)
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
3.8% of GDP (2020)
Physicians density
0.4 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
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 (2020 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high (2023)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever
animal contact diseases: rabies
note: on 27 March 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for Equatorial Guinea for an outbreak of Marburg virus disease; Marburg is a viral hemorrhagic fever spread by contact with blood or body fluids of a person infected with or who has died from Marburg; it is also spread by contact with contaminated objects (such as clothing, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) or by contact with animals, such as bats and nonhuman primates, who are infected with Marburg virus; infection with Marburg virus is often fatal and there are no approved vaccines or treatments for Marburg; avoid non-essential travel to the provinces where the outbreak is occurring; watch your health for symptoms of Marburg while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving the outbreak area; consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travel Health Notices for additional guidance (see attached map)
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 6.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
60.2% (2023 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.3%
male: 97.4%
female: 93% (2015)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 18.3%
male: 17.1%
female: 19.9% (2021 est.)
Environment
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, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate
tropical; always hot, humid
Land use
agricultural land: 10.1% (2018 est.)
arable land: 4.3% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 3.7% (2018 est.)
forest: 57.5% (2018 est.)
other: 32.4% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 45.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 5.65 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 11.21 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 198,443 tons (2016 est.)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)
Total renewable water resources
26 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Republique de Guinee Equatoriale (French)
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Guinee Equatoriale (French)
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 - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; in 2017, some governmental offices began to move to a new capital of Ciudad de la Paz (formerly referred to as Oyala) on the mainland near Djibloho, but a lack of funds has halted progress on construction
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after King MALABO (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, Ciudad 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 Manuela ROKA Botey (since 1 February 2023); 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 20 November 2022 (next to be held in 2029); 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% (2016)
Legislative branch
description: bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional consists of:
Senate or Senado (70 seats statutory, 72 seats for current term; 55 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, 15 appointed by the president, and 2 ex-officio)
Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Diputados (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 19 January 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 19 January 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; elected seats by party - PDGE 55; composition (including 2 ex-officio and 15 appointed) - men 58, women 16, percent of women 21.6%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 100; composition - men 69, women 31, percent of women 31%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 22%
Judicial branch
highest court(s): 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
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO]
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Teodoro Obiang NGUEMA MBASOGO]
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]
Center Right Union or UCD [Avelino MOCACHE MEHENGA]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, 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, , 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
email address and website:
info@egembassydc.com
https://www.egembassydc.com/
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)
embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo
mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41
email address and website:
Malaboconsular@state.gov
https://gq.usembassy.gov/
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
growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$23.924 billion (2021 est.)
$24.152 billion (2020 est.)
$25.222 billion (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real GDP growth rate
-0.95% (2021 est.)
-4.24% (2020 est.)
-5.48% (2019 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$14,600 (2021 est.)
$15,100 (2020 est.)
$16,200 (2019 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$10.634 billion (2019 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
4.77% (2020 est.)
1.24% (2019 est.)
1.35% (2018 est.)
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.)
Agricultural products
sweet potatoes, cassava, roots/tubers nes, plantains, oil palm fruit, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa, eggs
Industries
petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
Unemployment rate
9.24% (2021 est.)
9.9% (2020 est.)
8.68% (2019 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 18.3%
male: 17.1%
female: 19.9% (2021 est.)
Population below poverty line
44% (2011 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: $2.604 billion (2018 est.)
expenditures: $2.535 billion (2018 est.)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Current account balance
-$738 million (2017 est.)
-$1.457 billion (2016 est.)
Exports
$8.776 billion (2019 est.)
$8.914 billion (2018 est.)
$9.94 billion (2017 est.)
Exports - partners
China 34%, India 19%, Spain 11%, United States 7% (2019)
Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, industrial alcohols, lumber, veneer sheeting (2021)
Imports
$6.245 billion (2019 est.)
$6.129 billion (2018 est.)
$5.708 billion (2017 est.)
Imports - partners
United States 22%, Spain 19%, China 12%, United Kingdom 6%, United Arab Emirates 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities
gas turbines, beer, ships, industrial machinery, excavation machinery (2019)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$40.817 million (31 December 2019 est.)
$48.93 million (31 December 2018 est.)
$45.503 million (31 December 2017 est.)
Debt - external
$1.211 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$1.074 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Exchange rates
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
554.531 (2021 est.)
575.586 (2020 est.)
585.911 (2019 est.)
555.446 (2018 est.)
580.657 (2017 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification - total population: 67% (2019)
electrification - urban areas: 75% (2019)
electrification - rural areas: 45% (2019)
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 349,000 kW (2020 est.)
consumption: 1,002,960,000 kWh (2019 est.)
exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 183 million kWh (2019 est.)
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 89.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
hydroelectricity: 10.6% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Coal
production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 142,600 bbl/day (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 22,300 bbl/day (2019 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate exports: 184,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 4,569,369,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
consumption: 1,080,003,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
exports: 3,568,030,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)
imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
proven reserves: 139.007 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
4.528 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 2.409 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 2.119 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
57.596 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 11,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 650,000 (2021 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 39 (2021 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: the telecom service is forecasted to register a growth of more than 6% during the period of 2022-2026; mobile data is the largest contributor to total service revenue in 2021, followed by mobile voice, fixed broadband, mobile messaging, and fixed voice; the launch of the international submarine cable ACE, which connects 13 West African countries with Europe, will improve international capacity, bringing opportunities to data center providers; 4G network expansion and 4G service promotion will allow consumers and businesses to leverage 4G services (2022)
domestic: fixed-line density is less than 1 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular subscribership is roughly 39 per 100 (2021)
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)
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 users
total: 864,000 (2021 est.)
percent of population: 54% (2021 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000 (2020 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.1 (2020 est.)
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 (2018) mt-km
Airports - with paved runways
6
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
1
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Pipelines
42 km condensate, 5 km condensate/gas, 79 km gas, 71 km oil (2013)
Merchant marine
total: 46
by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 12, oil tanker 7, other 26 (2022)
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 (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, GNGE (Army)), Navy, Air Force; Gendarmerie (2022)
note: the Gendarmerie reports to the Ministry of National Defense and is responsible for security outside cities and for special events; military personnel also fulfill some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas
Military expenditures
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2019 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2018 est.)
1.1% of GDP (2017 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 1,500 active duty troops; approximately 500 Gendarmerie (2022)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and second-hand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel (2022)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 24-month service obligation (2023)
Military - note
the FAGE’s National Guard (Army) has only three small infantry battalions with limited combat capabilities; the country has invested heavily in naval capabilities in recent years to protect its oil installations and combat piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea; while the Navy was small, its inventory includes a light frigate and a corvette, as well as several off-shore patrol boats; the Air Force has only a few operational combat aircraft and ground attack-capable helicopters (2023)
Maritime threats
the International Maritime Bureau reported two incidents in the offshore waters of Equatorial Guinea in 2022; one incident involved a boarding and kidnapping and the other where a ship was fired upon; the territorial and offshore waters in the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2023-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 3 January 2023, which states in part, "Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea”
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Equatorial Guinea-Cameroon: 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
Equatorial Guinea-Gabon: 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
tier rating:
Tier 2 Watch List — Equatorial Guinea does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so; the government increased anti-trafficking awareness campaigns, as well as finalized and began implementing an updated 2022-2024 national action plan and standard operating procedures on victim protection and care; officials improved internal coordination, trained local leaders and law enforcement officials in trafficking indicators, victim identification, and investigation; however, the government did not demonstrate overall increased anti-trafficking efforts compared with the previous year; officials have never convicted a trafficker under its 2004 anti-trafficking law, did not prosecute traffickers or identify victims during the reporting period, and the law did not criminalize all forms of trafficking; senior government officials allegedly were complicit in trafficking crimes; because the government devoted sufficient resources to a plan that, if implemented, would constitute significant efforts to meet minimum standards, Equatorial Guinea was granted a waiver per the TVPA from an otherwise required downgrade to Tier 3, and therefore remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the third consecutive year (2022)
trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Equatorial Guinea and Equatoguineans abroad; the majority of trafficking victims are subjected to forced domestic service and commercial sex in cities, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant sector; local and foreign women, including Latin Americans, are exploited in commercial sex domestically, while some Equatoguinean women are sex trafficked in Spain; some children from rural areas have been forced into domestic servitude; children from nearby countries are forced to labor as domestic workers, market workers, vendors, and launderers; individuals recruited from African countries and temporary workers from Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela are sometimes exploited in forced labor and sex trafficking; observers report LGBTQI+ youth are often left homeless and stigmatized by family and society, increasing their vulnerability to trafficking (2022)