The Human Truth Foundation

Equatorial Guinea (Republic of Equatorial Guinea)

http://www.humantruth.info/equatorial_guinea.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#equatorial_guinea

Equatorial Guinea
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index192nd best
CapitalMalabo
Land Area 28 050km21
LocationAfrica
Population1.3m2
Life Expectancy60.59yrs (2017)3
GNI$12 074 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesGQ, GNQ, 2265
Internet Domain.gq6
CurrencyFranc (XAF)7
Telephone+2408

1. Overview

#spain

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, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999, 2004, and 2008 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, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverA country of two distinct halves, Equatorial Guinea is a nation divided not only by the sea but also by oil wealth and its attendant issues. Equatorial Guinea´s large reserves of black gold were discovered beneath the ocean´s floor off the coast of Bioko Island in the mid-1990s, and the subsequent industrial development forever changed the island´s landscape, economy and culture. The country´s mainland (Rio Muni), however, is much the same as it has been for centuries.With oil wealth came problems: failed coups, danger money, bushmeat and buckets of oil - you could say Equatorial Guinea has something of a reputation. However, this is also the land of primates with painted faces, soft clouds of butterflies and insects so colourful they belong in the realm of fiction. On the mainland, white beaches, forest paths and junglescapes await. And if the excited beats of Equatorial-Guinea hip hop don´t get you dancing, the architecture will - Gothic cathedrals, ancient wooden churches and butter-coloured homes.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Equatorial Guinea National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
142=Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.607
143Nepal0.602
144Swaziland0.597
145Equatorial Guinea0.596
146=Zimbabwe0.593
146=Cambodia0.593
148Angola0.586
149Myanmar (Burma)0.585
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
96Paraguay$12 349
97Barbados$12 306
98Peru$12 246
99Equatorial Guinea$12 074
100St Lucia$12 048
101St Vincent & Grenadines$11 961
102Egypt$11 732
103Dominica$11 488
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway28.6
2Denmark30.0
3Sweden30.7
...
188Afghanistan131.3
189Central African Rep.131.6
190Eritrea134.5
191Chad134.7
192Equatorial Guinea135.0
193Tuvalu135.8
194S. Sudan140.3
195Somalia152.8
Africa Avg110.5
World Avg86.8
q=195.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Equatorial Guinea's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Equatorial Guinea's population is predicted to fall to 1 102 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 5.02. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
150Bahrain1.6m
151Trinidad & Tobago1.4m
152Estonia1.3m
153Equatorial Guinea1.3m
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.3m
155Mauritius1.3m
156Cyprus1.2m
157Swaziland1.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
179Benin59.8
180Guinea-Bissau59.7
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
163Guinea5.08
164Liberia5.08
165Benin5.12
166Angola5.19
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
60Syria09.0
61=Djibouti09.1
61=Tajikistan09.1
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64=Kiribati09.5
64=Guatemala09.5
64=Saudi Arabia09.5
67Haiti09.6
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
24Kazakhstan20.0%
25Austria19.0%
26Sweden17.6%
27Equatorial Guinea17.5%
28Ireland16.9%
29Cyprus16.0%
30Belize16.0%
31San Marino15.7%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
40Azerbaijan16.0%
41Bulgaria16.0%
42Lebanon15.6%
43Equatorial Guinea14.9%
44Seychelles14.6%
45New Zealand14.5%
46Ukraine14.4%
47Israel14.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #Equatorial_Guinea #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
166Congo, DR126.7
167Malaysia127.2
168Grenada128.2
169Equatorial Guinea128.4
170Micronesia128.4
171Myanmar (Burma)128.5
Africa Avg108.2
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Equatorial Guinea is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Equatorial Guinea does worse than average in terms of commentary in Human Rights Watch reports18, its nominal commitment to Human Rights19, freethought20 and in speed of uptake of HR treaties21. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 in terms of supporting press freedom22. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has gripped power since 1979, ruling over a government rife with corruption and a people whose human rights are thoroughly desecrated23.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Equatorial Guinea's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #Equatorial_Guinea #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3=Eritrea77.0
...
46Mali122.1
47Congo, (Brazzaville)123.4
48Namibia125.9
49Gabon131.3
50Ivory Coast132.6
51Angola133.1
52Equatorial Guinea136.5
53Nigeria142.1
54S. Sudan146.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)24
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank24
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
189Ivory Coast132.6
190Angola133.1
191Nauru134.8
192Equatorial Guinea136.5
193Nigeria142.1
194Palau146.0
195S. Sudan146.5
196Marshall Islands158.3
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives25. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau25.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean25, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa25.

For more, see:

Health:

Equatorial Guinea is amongst the unhealthiest places in the world, causing serious issues for most of its citizens. Equatorial Guinea does worse than average for its smoking rate26, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance27 (still low for Africa) and in its alcohol consumption rate28 (amongst the highest in Africa). It sits amongst the bottom 20 for its fertility rate13, its adolescent birth rate29 and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it is the worst in its immunizations take-up30. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Equatorial Guinea in 1990 was 50.9yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +10.8yrs in the 30 years from then, better than the global average of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
179Benin59.8
180Guinea-Bissau59.7
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
28
Pos.2016
Per Capita28
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
162Serbia11.1
163Belarus11.2
164=Andorra11.3
164=Equatorial Guinea11.3
166Hungary11.4
167=UK11.5
167=Gabon11.5
167=Slovakia11.5
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
163Guinea5.08
164Liberia5.08
165Benin5.12
166Angola5.19
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
26
Pos.201426
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
97N. Korea 610
98Fiji 618
99Cambodia 645
100Equatorial Guinea 649
101Singapore 652
102Bangladesh 665
103Morocco 671
104New Zealand 680
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
99Vietnam99
100Lesotho100
101Tanzania101
102Equatorial Guinea102
103Barbados103
104Venezuela104
105Timor-Leste (E. Timor)105
106Serbia106
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better31
Pos.2016
%31
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
23Central African Rep.26.2
24Mozambique26.4
25Guinea26.6
26Equatorial Guinea26.7
27=Comoros27.1
27=Bhutan27.1
29Japan27.2
30Angola27.5
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
29
Pos.2015
Per 100029
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
164Somalia103.9
165Cameroon104.6
166Burkina Faso108.5
167Equatorial Guinea108.7
168Liberia108.8
169Zimbabwe109.7
170Nigeria110.6
171Uganda111.9
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
187Syria62.4
188Ukraine55.2
189Chad52.5
190Nigeria50.0
191Central African Rep.49.4
192Somalia46.0
193S. Sudan45.7
194Equatorial Guinea36.8
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Equatorial Guinea's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Compared to Africa (2023)32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32
1Seychelles55.3
2Kenya57.4
3=Zambia57.6
...
25Sierra Leone87.0
26=Malawi87.0
27Algeria87.8
28Equatorial Guinea88.0
29Senegal88.5
30Cape Verde92.3
31Angola93.2
32Togo96.0
33Rwanda96.3
Africa Avg90.1
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)32
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank32
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
106=Malawi87.0
106=Kiribati87.0
108Algeria87.8
109Equatorial Guinea88.0
110Honduras88.3
111Senegal88.5
112Papua New Guinea89.0
113Cambodia90.0
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Equatorial Guinea comes 109th in the world in terms of its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 3 data sets. Equatorial Guinea does better than average in terms of its environmental performance33. But that's it. Equatorial Guinea has problems. It does worse than average when it comes to how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity and in its forested percent change 1990-201534.

Forest Area Change 1990-2015
Higher is better
34
Pos.2015
%34
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
...
147Dominica-13.3
148Liberia-15.2
149Belize-15.5
150Equatorial Guinea-15.7
151Haiti-16.4
152Tanzania-17.6
153Ethiopia-17.8
154Malawi-19.2
Africa Avg-08.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
33
Pos.201833
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
68Macedonia61.1
69Brazil60.7
70Sri Lanka60.6
71Equatorial Guinea60.4
72Mexico59.7
73Dominica59.4
74Argentina59.3
75Malaysia59.2
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.0
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
103Colombia1995 Feb 26
104Ivory Coast1995 Feb 27
105Congo, DR1995 Mar 03
106Equatorial Guinea1995 Mar 06
107Sierra Leone1995 Mar 12
108Lebanon1995 Mar 15
109Jamaica1995 Apr 06
110Lesotho1995 Apr 10
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

7. Equatorial Guinea's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
...
43Benin143.3
44Gambia144.0
45Central African Rep.146.3
46Equatorial Guinea149.3
47Chad150.6
48Niger151.0
49Guinea157.5
50Comoros160.5
51S. Sudan164.0
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
192Cambodia144.6
193Central African Rep.146.3
194Tuvalu148.0
195Equatorial Guinea149.3
196Papua New Guinea150.4
197Chad150.6
198Niger151.0
199Solomon Islands152.7
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling
Higher is better
36
Pos.2021
Years36
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
170Nigeria10.1
171Congo, DR9.8
172Guinea9.8
173Equatorial Guinea9.7
174Haiti9.7
175Ethiopia9.7
176Sierra Leone9.6
177Gambia9.4
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
154Zambia154
155Paraguay155
156Tanzania156
157Equatorial Guinea157
158Guyana158
159Afghanistan159
160Indonesia160
161Bolivia161
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
37
Pos.201637
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
146Botswana21%
147Libya21%
148Zimbabwe21%
149Equatorial Guinea21%
150Lesotho21%
151Indonesia20%
152Marshall Islands20%
153Algeria20%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
38
Pos.2017
Ratio38
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
158=Aruba0.0
158=Bahrain0.0
158=Palau0.0
158=Equatorial Guinea0.0
158=Belize0.0
158=Suriname0.0
158=Grenada0.0
158=Gabon0.0
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Corruption
Higher is better
39
Pos.2022
Points39
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
168Comoros19.0
169=Turkmenistan19.0
169=Chad19.0
171Equatorial Guinea17.0
172=N. Korea17.0
172=Libya17.0
172=Haiti17.0
172=Burundi17.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.

On average through the 2010s, Equatorial Guinea scored the 10th-worst on the Corruption Perception Index.

Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
144Cameroon144
145Laos145
146Nigeria146
147Equatorial Guinea147
148Angola148
149Zambia149
150Pakistan150
151Guinea-Bissau151
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
156Venezuela156
157Bahrain157
158Mauritania158
159Brunei159
160Algeria160
161Papua New Guinea161
162Brazil162
163Equatorial Guinea163
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
40
Pos.2023
Score40
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
79Nepal2.01
80China2.01
81Tunisia2.01
82Equatorial Guinea2.01
83Dominican Rep.2.02
84=Morocco2.02
84=Angola2.02
86Uzbekistan2.03
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
108Ukraine108
109Belgium109
110Panama110
111Equatorial Guinea111
112Botswana112
113Slovakia113
114Suriname114
115Greece115
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
27
Pos.2017
Rank27
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
156Ivory Coast156
157St Lucia157
158Vietnam158
159Laos159
160Equatorial Guinea160
161Fiji161
162Tonga162
163Brunei163
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
41
Pos.2019
Score41
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
4Equatorial Guinea0.00
5Cambodia0.00
6Portugal0.00
7Croatia0.00
8Benin0.00
9Mauritania0.00
10Slovenia0.00
11Costa Rica0.00
12Romania0.00
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better42
Pos.201942
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
172Lesotho33.10
173Ivory Coast33.30
174Cameroon33.50
175Equatorial Guinea34.60
176Benin34.90
177Congo, DR36.10
178S. Sudan36.20
179Mali36.70
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below43:

Christian88.7%
Muslim4%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion1.7%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated5%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices44.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)45, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Equatorial Guinea states:

While the constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief, a 1992 presidential decree regulates the exercise of freedom of religion or belief. This decree provides official preference for the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea. While the decree does not hinder the practice of other religions or beliefs, its preferential effects can be observed in some circumstances; for example, Catholic masses are a normal part of any major ceremonial function46, such as the October 12 National Day and June 5 President's Birthday. In addition, Catholic and Reform church officials are exempt from airport entry and exit taxes.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)47

Links: