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 Index191st 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
4Hong Kong0.952
5Australia0.951
...
142Timor-Leste (E. Timor)0.607
143Nepal0.602
144Swaziland0.597
145Equatorial Guinea0.596
146Zimbabwe0.593
147Cambodia0.593
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
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
...
96Paraguay$12 349
97Barbados$12 306
98Peru$12 246
99Equatorial Guinea$12 074
100St Lucia$12 048
101St Vincent & Grenadines$11 961
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12,13
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12,13
1Taiwan28.6
2Norway29.4
3Denmark31.2
4Sweden32.2
5Finland32.6
...
188Eritrea126.6
189Chad127.5
190Angola127.6
191Equatorial Guinea128.7
192Afghanistan129.8
193S. Sudan130.6
Africa Avg108.3
World Avg86.1
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.

Population (2018)2
Pos.
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
4Indonesia267.7m
5Pakistan212.2m
...
150Bahrain1.6m
151Trinidad & Tobago1.4m
152Estonia1.3m
153Equatorial Guinea1.3m
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.3m
155Mauritius1.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
163Guinea5.08
164Liberia5.08
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio (2016)15
Pos.Lower is better
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3Chad04.7
4Burkina Faso04.7
5Sierra Leone04.8
...
60Syria09.0
61Djibouti09.1
62Tajikistan09.1
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
64Kiribati09.5
65Guatemala09.5
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants (2017)16
Pos.
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
...
24Kazakhstan20.0%
25Austria19.0%
26Sweden17.6%
27Equatorial Guinea17.5%
28Ireland16.9%
29Cyprus16.0%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants (2010)17
Pos.
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
4Grenada65.5%
5St Kitts & Nevis61.1%
...
40Azerbaijan16.0%
41Bulgaria16.0%
42Lebanon15.6%
43Equatorial Guinea14.9%
44Seychelles14.6%
45New Zealand14.5%
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)18,19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18,19
1Sweden9.2
2Norway14.7
3Denmark14.7
4Netherlands15.8
5New Zealand17.5
...
168Congo, DR126.9
169Malaysia127.3
170Grenada128.6
171Equatorial Guinea128.6
172Myanmar (Burma)128.7
173Micronesia128.8
Africa Avg108.4
World Avg87.7
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 reports20, its nominal commitment to Human Rights21, freethought22 and in speed of uptake of HR treaties23. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in terms of supporting press freedom24. 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 desecrated25.

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)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Mauritius64.5
2Morocco73.1
3Eritrea77.0
4Tunisia80.1
5Algeria87.3
...
48Namibia125.9
49Gabon131.3
50Ivory Coast132.6
51Angola133.1
52Equatorial Guinea136.5
53Nigeria142.1
54S. Sudan146.5
Africa Avg108.2
q=54.
Health (2020)26,27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank26,27
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
4Singapore42.6
5Japan51.0
...
189Ivory Coast132.6
190Angola133.1
191Nauru134.8
192Equatorial Guinea136.5
193Nigeria142.1
194Palau146.0
195S. Sudan146.5
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 Maldives26. 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 Palau26.

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 Mediterranean26, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa26.

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 rate28, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance29 (still low for Africa) and in its alcohol consumption rate30 (amongst the highest in Africa). It sits amongst the bottom 20 for its fertility rate14, its adolescent birth rate31 and in its average life expectancy11. And finally, it is the worst in its immunizations take-up32. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years.

Life Expectancy (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
4Australia84.5
5Switzerland84.0
...
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption (2016)30
Pos.Lower is better
Per Capita30
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
4Mauritania0.0
5Somalia0.0
...
162Serbia11.1
163Belarus11.2
164Andorra11.3
165Equatorial Guinea11.3
166Hungary11.4
167UK11.5
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate (2013)14
Pos.2.0 is best14
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
4France1.99
5Turkey2.04
...
159Sierra Leone4.78
160Guinea-Bissau4.92
161Yemen4.98
162Equatorial Guinea5.02
163Guinea5.08
164Liberia5.08
Africa Avg4.31
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates (2014)28
Pos.Higher is worse28
182Montenegro4 125
181Belarus3 831
180Lebanon3 023
179Macedonia2 732
178Russia2 690
...
103Morocco 671
102Bangladesh 665
101Singapore 652
100Equatorial Guinea 649
99Cambodia 645
98Fiji 618
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
4UK4
5Norway5
...
99Vietnam99
100Lesotho100
101Tanzania101
102Equatorial Guinea102
103Barbados103
104Venezuela104
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults (2016)33
Pos.Lower is better
%33
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
4Ethiopia20.9
5Nepal21.0
...
23Central African Rep.26.2
24Mozambique26.4
25Guinea26.6
26Equatorial Guinea26.7
27Comoros27.1
28Bhutan27.1
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate (2015)31
Pos.Lower is better
Per 100031
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
4Hong Kong3.2
5Slovenia3.8
...
164Somalia103.9
165Cameroon104.6
166Burkina Faso108.5
167Equatorial Guinea108.7
168Liberia108.8
169Zimbabwe109.7
Africa Avg87.5
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 (2015)32
Pos.Higher is better
Avg %32
1Hungary99.0
2China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
4Niue98.8
5Mongolia98.7
...
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 Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1S. Africa52.8
2Egypt70.4
3Tunisia73.4
4Kenya79.8
5Seychelles81.3
...
43Benin143.3
44Gambia144.0
45Central African Rep.146.3
46Equatorial Guinea149.3
47Chad150.6
48Niger151.0
49Guinea157.5
Africa Avg120.7
q=53.
Modernity and Learning (2020)19
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank19
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
4Estonia15.8
5Denmark16.0
...
192Cambodia144.6
193Central African Rep.146.3
194Tuvalu148.0
195Equatorial Guinea149.3
196Papua New Guinea150.4
197Chad150.6
198Niger151.0
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Length of Schooling (2021)34
Pos.Higher is better
Years34
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
4Belgium19.6
5Sweden19.4
...
170Nigeria10.1
171Congo, DR9.8
172Guinea9.8
173Equatorial Guinea9.7
174Haiti9.7
175Ethiopia9.7
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
4Denmark4
5UK5
...
154Zambia154
155Paraguay155
156Tanzania156
157Equatorial Guinea157
158Guyana158
159Afghanistan159
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users (2016)35
Pos.Higher is better35
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
4Bermuda97%
5Andorra97%
...
146Botswana21%
147Libya21%
148Zimbabwe21%
149Equatorial Guinea21%
150Lesotho21%
151Indonesia20%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake (2017)36
Pos.Higher is better
Ratio36
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
4USA35.0
5Greece33.5
...
158Aruba0.0
159Bahrain0.0
160Palau0.0
161Equatorial Guinea0.0
162Belize0.0
163Suriname0.0
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.

7. National Culture

#corruption #politics

Corruption (2022)37
Pos.Higher is better
Points37
1Denmark90.0
2Finland87.0
3New Zealand87.0
4Norway84.0
5Singapore83.0
...
168Comoros19.0
169Turkmenistan19.0
170Chad19.0
171Equatorial Guinea17.0
172N. Korea17.0
173Libya17.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Creativity and Culture (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
4Switzerland4
5Sweden5
...
144Cameroon144
145Laos145
146Nigeria146
147Equatorial Guinea147
148Angola148
149Zambia149
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid and Development (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
4Netherlands4
5Switzerland5
...
158Mauritania158
159Brunei159
160Algeria160
161Papua New Guinea161
162Brazil162
163Equatorial Guinea163
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

8. Peace Versus Instability

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

Global Peace Index (2021)38
Pos.Lower is better38
1Iceland1.10
2New Zealand1.25
3Denmark1.26
4Portugal1.27
5Slovenia1.32
...
59Malawi1.91
60Moldova1.91
61Cyprus1.91
62Equatorial Guinea1.92
63Jordan1.92
64Panama1.92
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.08
q=163.
Peacekeeping and Security (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
...
108Ukraine108
109Belgium109
110Panama110
111Equatorial Guinea111
112Botswana112
113Slovakia113
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees and UN Treaties (2017)29
Pos.Lower is better
Rank29
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
4Sweden4
5Malta5
...
157St Lucia157
158Vietnam158
159Laos159
160Equatorial Guinea160
161Fiji161
162Tonga162
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism (2019)39
Pos.Lower is better
Score39
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.

9. The Natural Environment

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

Forest Area Change 1990-2015 (2015)40
Pos.Higher is better
%40
1Iceland+205.6
2Bahrain+144.4
3Uruguay+131.3
4Kuwait+81.2
5Dominican Rep.+79.5
...
147Dominica-13.3
148Liberia-15.2
149Belize-15.5
150Equatorial Guinea-15.7
151Haiti-16.4
152Tanzania-17.6
Africa Avg-08.0
World Avg+02.8
q=184.
Environmental Performance (2018)41
Pos.Higher is better41
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
4Malta80.9
5Sweden80.5
...
68Macedonia61.1
69Brazil60.7
70Sri Lanka60.6
71Equatorial Guinea60.4
72Mexico59.7
73Dominica59.4
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Pos.Earlier is better
Signed
1China1993 Dec 29
2Guinea1993 Dec 29
3Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
4Vanuatu1993 Dec 29
5Papua New Guinea1993 Dec 29
...
103Colombia1995 Feb 26
104Ivory Coast1995 Feb 27
105Congo, DR1995 Mar 03
106Equatorial Guinea1995 Mar 06
107Sierra Leone1995 Mar 12
108Lebanon1995 Mar 15
Africa Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy (2019)42
Pos.Higher is worse42
184Chad40.90
183Central African Rep.40.10
182Sierra Leone39.00
181Somalia38.90
180Nigeria37.10
179Mali36.70
178S. Sudan36.20
177Congo, DR36.10
176Benin34.90
175Equatorial Guinea34.60
174Cameroon33.50
173Ivory Coast33.30
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%
Jew0.1%
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: