Equatorial Guinea

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Equatorial Guinea's Information


Capital	Malabo
Languages	Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) 32.4% (1994 census)
Ethnic Groups	Fang 85.7%, Bubi 6.5%, Mdowe 3.6%, Annobon 1.6%, Bujeba 1.1%, other 1.4% (1994 census)
Religion	nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Area	28,051.00 km²
Land Area	28,051.00 km²
Population	759,451.00
Location	Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
No. Bordering Countries	2
Bordering Countries	Cameroon 183 km, Gabon 345 km
GDP(PPP)	$31,770,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$38,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are China, South Korea, and Spain.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are petroleum products and timber.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the Netherlands, Spain, and China.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include petroleum sector equipment, construction materials, and vehicles.
Climate	Tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain	Coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Where is Equatorial Guinea?

Located in Central Africa, Equatorial Guinea has a 528.00 km border with Cameroon (183 km) and Gabon (345 km). It has a 296.00 km coastline. In 2002, the International Court of Justice ruled on an equidistance settlement of the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary.

The capital city of Equatorial Guinea is Malabo, located on the north coast of Bioko Island. The island that houses the capital is closer to Cameroon than the mainland of Equatorial Guinea and resides in the Gulf of Guinea. The island was discovered in 1472 and Portuguese, British, and Spanish settlers have all had a presence here at one point or another. The city was officially founded in 1827 by the British who called it Port Clarence.

Equatorial Guinea is an African country covering 28,051.00 km². This makes it the 54th smallest country in the world and slightly smaller than Maryland. Its geographic coordinates are 2 00 N, 10 00 E and Malabo is the capital city.

The country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa.

Its ISO code is GQ.

Geography

Equatorial Guinea has a mean elevation of 577 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate that is hot and muggy. Its terrain consists of coastal plains, interior hills, and volcanic islands.

Population

Equatorial Guinea has a population of 759,451 making it the 163rd largest in the world.

Spanish is the official language. The major ethnic groups reported are Fang, Bubi, Mdowe, and Annobon. The population is mostly Christian.

The official languages of Equatorial Guinea are Spanish, French, and Portuguese. The country was formerly known as Spanish Guinea (while under colonial administration from Spain and this is reflected in the wide use of the language. Spanish is taught in schools and is also used widely as an inter-ethnic communication tool. In addition, Spanish is used by the majority of media outlets in the nation. Minority languages in Equatorial Guinea include Annobonese which is a Portuguese-Creole language, Creole English, Ibo, German, and Pichinglis.

The dialing code for the country is 240.

Government

Equatorial Guinea is an independent country. It gained independence from Spain in 1968. Its constitution was last ratified in 1991.

Equatorial Guinea's government is considered a presidential republic in which the President of the country holds the head of government and head of state position. The country is considered a one-party state, ruled by the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). Executive power is held by the government and legislative power is vested in the Chamber of People's Representatives as well as the ruling government.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Equatorial Guinea's GDP is $31,770,000,000.00 (USD) with $38,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 128th largest economy and its citizens the 43rd richest in the world. The currency of Equatorial Guinea is the Franc (XAF).

Its major export partners are China, South Korea, and Spain. Its main exports are petroleum products and timber. Its major import partners are the Netherlands, Spain, and China. Its major imports include petroleum sector equipment, construction materials, and vehicles.

Flag

Equatorial Guinea's official flag features three stripes of white, green, and red with a blue isosceles triangle on the mast side. The Coat of Arms of Equatorial Guinea is depicted in the center of the flag in the white stripe. This flag was officially adopted in August of 1979 but greatly resembles the flags used from 1968-1973 and 1973-1979.