consulate(s): Boston, Elizabeth (New Jersey)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Robert BLAU
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3450, APO AA 34023; 3450 San Salvador Place, Washington, DC 20521-3450
telephone: [503] 2501-2999
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL; similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which has a different coat of arms centered in the white band - it features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five blue stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band
Economy ::El Salvador
Economy - overview:
The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third largest economy, but growth has been modest in recent years. Economic growth will decelerate in 2009 due to the global slowdown and to El Salvador's dependence on exports to the US and remittances from the US. El Salvador leads the region in remittances per capita with inflows equivalent to nearly all export income. In 2006 El Salvador was the first country to ratify the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA has bolstered the export of processed foods, sugar, and ethanol, and supported investment in the maquila sector. The SACA administration has sought to diversify the economy, focusing on regional transportation and tourism. El Salvador has promoted an open trade and investment environment, and has embarked on a wave of privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution, banking, and pension funds. In late 2006, the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a five-year, $461 million compact to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty in the country's northern region through investments in education, public services, enterprise development, and transportation infrastructure. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency in 2001, El Salvador lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$43.73 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 91 $42.66 billion (2007 est.)
$40.75 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$22.12 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
2.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 140 4.7% (2007 est.)
4.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,200 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 131 $6,100 (2007 est.)
$6,000 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 28.8%
services: 60.6% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
2.947 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 102
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 19%
industry: 23%
services: 58% (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 6.2% (2007 est.)
note: data are official rates; but the economy has much underemployment
Population below poverty line:
30.7% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 37% (2005)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
52.4 (2002) country comparison to the world: 18 52.5 (2001)
Investment (gross fixed):
14.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 136
Budget:
revenues: $4.016 billion
expenditures: $4.242 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
44.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 46 41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 4.6% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
12.33% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 109 7.81% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$213.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $209.7 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$788.7 million (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 $797.1 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.19 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 105 $1.15 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 79 $6.743 billion (31 December 2007)
$5.465 billion (31 December 2006)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef, dairy products
Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals
Industrial production growth rate:
1.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 117
Electricity - production:
5.559 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - consumption:
4.676 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 110
Electricity - exports:
7 million kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
38 million kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 178
Oil - consumption:
45,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 99
Oil - exports:
1,927 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 115
Oil - imports:
46,310 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 185
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 61
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183
Current account balance:
-$1.595 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 133 -$1.119 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$4.611 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 $4.035 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, textiles and apparel, gold, ethanol, chemicals, electricity, iron and steel manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 47.5%, Guatemala 14.2%, Honduras 11.5%, Nicaragua 4.6% (2008)
Imports:
$9.003 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 95 $8.108 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity
Imports - partners:
US 29.9%, Guatemala 11.8%, Mexico 9.7%, China 4.5%, France 4.4% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.545 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $2.199 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$10.69 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 $9.808 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$6.702 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $5.918 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$440 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $384 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001
Communications ::El Salvador
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.077 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 77
Telephones - mobile cellular:
6.951 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 72
Telephone system:
general assessment: multiple mobile-cellular service providers are expanding services rapidly and in 2008 mobile-cellular density stood at nearly 100 per 100 persons; growth in fixed-line services has slowed in the face of mobile-cellular competition
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 52, FM 144, shortwave 0 (2005)
Television broadcast stations:
5 (1997)
Internet country code:
.sv
Internet hosts:
8,177 (2009) country comparison to the world: 123
Internet users:
826,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 98
Transportation ::El Salvador
Airports:
65 (2009) country comparison to the world: 77
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 47 (2009)
Heliports:
1 (2009)
Railways:
total: 283 km country comparison to the world: 123 narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: railways have been inoperable since 2005 because of disuse and high costs that led to a lack of maintenance (2008)
Roadways:
total: 10,886 km country comparison to the world: 136 paved: 2,827 km (includes 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,059 km (2000)
Waterways:
Rio Lempa partially navigable for small craft (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco
Military ::El Salvador
Military branches:
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2008)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age for selective compulsory military service; 16-22 years of age for voluntary male or female service; service obligation - 12 months, with 11 months for officers and NCOs (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,634,816
females age 16-49: 1,775,474 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 1,201,290
females age 16-49: 1,547,278 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 77,473
female: 74,655 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 18
Transnational Issues ::El Salvador
Disputes - international:
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, in 1992, with final agreement by the parties in 2006 after an Organization of American States (OAS) survey and a further ICJ ruling in 2003; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca
Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; significant use of cocaine
page last updated on November 11, 2009
======================================================================
@Equatorial Guinea (Africa)
Introduction ::Equatorial Guinea
Background:
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 Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. 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 population's living standards.
Geography ::Equatorial Guinea
Location:
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon andGabon
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 28,051 sq km country comparison to the world: 145 land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries:
total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 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 extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use:
arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Total renewable water resources:
26 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (83%/16%/1%)
per capita: 220 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
violent windstorms; flash floods
Environment - current issues:
tap water is not potable; deforestation
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
insular and continental regions widely separated
People ::Equatorial Guinea
Population:
633,441 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 165
Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 134,823/female 130,308)
15-64 years: 54% (male 167,820/female 174,238)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 11,574/female 14,678) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.3 years
female: 19.6 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.703% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23
Birth rate:
36.52 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32
Death rate:
9.49 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73
Net migration rate:
Urbanization:
urban population: 39% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 81.58 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 18 male: 82.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.61 years country comparison to the world: 180 male: 60.71 years
female: 62.54 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:
5.08 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
3.4% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
11,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 98
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
370 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 101
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and yellow fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
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 census)
Religions:
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages:
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official),Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87%
male: 93.4%
female: 80.5% (2000 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 10 years
male: 10 years
female: 9 years (2000)
Education expenditures:
0.6% of GDP (2003) country comparison to the world: 181
Government ::Equatorial Guinea
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial/Republique de Guinee equatoriale
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale
former: Spanish Guinea
Government type:
republic
Capital:
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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)
head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July 2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held in 2010); 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 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 May 2008 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 89, EC 10, CPDS 1
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MICO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Electoral Coalition or EC; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Avelino MOCACHE]; Popular Union or UP
Political pressure groups and leaders:
ASODEGUE (Madrid-based pressure group for democratic reform); GlobalWitness (anti-corruption)
International organization participation:
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP (associate), FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: K-3, Carreterade Aeropuerto, al lado de Restaurante El Paraiso, Malabo; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 2220-1500
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)
Economy ::Equatorial Guinea
Economy - overview:
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993, because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Government officials and their family members own most businesses. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth remained strong in 2008, led by oil.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$23 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 114 $20.8 billion (2007 est.)
$16.98 billion (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$18.53 billion (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
10.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 9 22.5% (2007 est.)
1.2% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$37,300 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 $34,700 (2007 est.)
$29,100 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 93.7%
services: 3.9% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
Unemployment rate:
30% (1998 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Population below poverty line:
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
31.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Budget:
revenues: $6.599 billion
expenditures: $3.601 billion (2008 est.)
Public debt:
0.9% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 126 1.6% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
7.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 121 6% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
4.75% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 84 5.25% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 44 15% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$835.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$174.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
$NA (31 December 2008)
$NA (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber
Industries:
petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas
Industrial production growth rate:
11.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Electricity - production:
28 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - consumption:
26.04 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 203
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
359,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Oil - exports:
362,900 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Oil - imports:
1,114 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 188
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - production:
6.67 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 45
Natural gas - consumption:
1.5 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84
Natural gas - exports:
5.17 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 27
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 67
Current account balance:
$1.42 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 43 $540.9 million (2007 est.)
Exports:
$13.03 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 80 $10.25 billion (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
Exports - partners:
US 22.7%, Spain 18.2%, China 14.7%, France 7.9%, Italy 6%, SouthKorea 5.4% (2008)
Imports:
$3.114 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 $2.365 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment
Imports - partners:
China 17.7%, Spain 13.3%, US 11.8%, France 10.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.4%, Italy 5.5%, UK 5.1% (2008)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$4.431 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 $3.846 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
$190 million (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180 $338 million (31 December 2007 est.)
Exchange rates:
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar - 447.81 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
note: since 1 January 1999, the Central African CFA franc (XAF) has been pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 CFA francs per euro; Central African CFA franc (XAF) coins and banknotes are not accepted in countries using West African CFA francs (XOF), and vice versa, even though the two currencies trade at par
Communications ::Equatorial Guinea
Telephones - main lines in use:
10,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 204
Telephones - mobile cellular:
346,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 165
Telephone system:
general assessment: digital fixed-line network in most major urban areas and good mobile coverage
domestic: fixed-line density is about 2 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular subscribership has been increasing and in 2008 stood at about 55 percent of the population
international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
1 (2001)
Internet country code:
.gq
Internet hosts:
9 (2009) country comparison to the world: 221
Internet users:
12,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 198
Transportation ::Equatorial Guinea
Airports:
7 (2009) country comparison to the world: 166
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 38 km (2008)
Roadways:
total: 2,880 km (2000) country comparison to the world: 167
Merchant marine:
total: 1 country comparison to the world: 158 by type: cargo 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Bata, Malabo
Military ::Equatorial Guinea
Military branches:
National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Coast Guard (Navy) and Air Wing) (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for compulsory military service; women hold only administrative positions in the Coast Guard (2009)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 136,725
females age 16-49: 138,018 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 105,468
females age 16-49: 107,919 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 6,983
female: 6,726 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:
0.1% of GDP (2006 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Transnational Issues ::Equatorial Guinea
Disputes - international:
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 delay final delimitation; UN urges 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:
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is primarily a destination country for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and possibly for the purpose of sexual exploitation; children have been trafficked from nearby countries for domestic servitude, market labor, ambulant vending, and possibly sexual exploitation; women may also be trafficked to Equatorial Guinea from Cameroon, Benin, other neighboring countries, and China for sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is on the Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking, particularly in the areas of prosecuting and convicting trafficking offenders and failing to formalize mechanisms to provide assistance to victims; although the government made some effort to enforce laws against child labor exploitation, it failed to report any trafficking prosecutions or convictions in 2007; the government continued to lack shelters or formal procedures for providing care to victims (2008)
page last updated on November 11, 2009
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@Eritrea (Africa)
Introduction ::Eritrea
Background:
Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices in December 2000. Eritrea hosted a UN peacekeeping operation that monitored a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) on the border with Ethiopia. Eritrea's denial of fuel to the mission caused the UN to withdraw the mission and terminate its mandate 31 July 2008. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002. However, both parties have been unable to reach agreement on implementing the decision. On 30 November 2007, the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission remotely demarcated the border by coordinates and dissolved itself, leaving Ethiopia still occupying several tracts of disputed territory, including the town of Badme. Eritrea accepted the EEBC's "virtual demarcation" decision and called on Ethiopia to remove its troops from the TSZ which it states is Eritrean territory. Ethiopia has not accepted the virtual demarcation decision.
Geography ::Eritrea
Location:
Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan
Geographic coordinates:
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total: 117,600 sq km country comparison to the world: 100 land: 101,000 sq km
water: 16,600 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Pennsylvania
Land boundaries:
total: 1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km
Coastline:
2,234 km (mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km)
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually, heaviest June to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands
Terrain:
dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: near Kulul within the Danakil Depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m
Natural resources:
gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish
Land use:
arable land: 4.78%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
6.3 cu km (2001)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (3%/0%/97%)
per capita: 68 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
frequent droughts; locust swarms
Environment - current issues:
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993
People ::Eritrea
Population:
5,647,168 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 109
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.8% (male 1,212,848/female 1,202,240)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 1,483,169/female 1,547,078)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 92,009/female 109,824) (2009 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.577% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 29
Birth rate:
34.2 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Death rate:
8.43 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
Net migration rate:
Urbanization:
urban population: 21% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 5.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 43.33 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 62 male: 48.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 61.78 years country comparison to the world: 179 male: 59.71 years