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Central Africa bordering the Atlantic Coast (facing the Americas), equivalent to 167 by 167 kilometers (105 by 105 miles).
Independence from Spain in 1968. One-man rule by President Obiang Nguema since he came to power in a coup in 1978. Phony elections gave him a 99 percent win in elections in 1996 -- the country's first multi-party elections. Transparency International puts the country in its list of the top ten countries for worst corruption. Nguema's government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and of suppressing political opposition.
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Factbook: "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."
Estimate per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)
2009: $36,600
2008: $38,300
2007: $35,100
2009: -1.8%
2008 12.3%
2007: 22.5%
Oil production, 2008: 358,200 barrels per day (ranks 35th, but in barrels per population Equatorial Guinea leads top ranked Saudi Arabia.)
Exports petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa.
Little of the profits from the sale of petroleum has accrued to the common people of Equatorial Guinea.
2009: 1.1% of GDP
Living in an urban area: 39%
July 2009: 633,441. Growth rate: 2.703% (ranks 23rd)
July 2008:
616,459
July 2005: 535,881
Population density: 16.6 per square kilometer. (2005)
2009: 81.58 (ranks 16th worse, compared to the better performing 146th for Saudi Arabia)
2008: 83.75
2005:
85.13
2009: 61.61 years (ranks 180th best, compared to 69th best for Saudi Arabia)
2008: 61.23 years
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 3.4 percent (2001).
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2010 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.