Head of state: Queen Beatrix Prime minister: Mark Rutte
Population
685,991
16,730,632
Life Expectancy
62.750 years
80.910 years
Capital City
Malabo
Amsterdam
Largest city
Bata (population: 173,046)
Amsterdam (population: 741,636)
Human Development Index
0.717
0.958
GDP per capita
$19,600 US
$42,700 US
Literacy Rate
87%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
1.7
8.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
6%
37.8%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken ($4.6bn US)
Unemployment Rate
22.300%
4.400%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; on 26 July 1581 they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration; however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of Westphalia that Spain recognized this independence)
Religions
nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Roman Catholic 30%, Dutch Reformed 11%, Calvinist 6%, other Protestant 3%, Muslim 5.8%, other 2.2%, none 42% (2006)
Languages
Spanish 67.6% (official), other 32.4% (includes French (official), Fang, Bubi) (1994 census)
Dutch (official), Frisian (official)
Exports
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
External Debt
$1,051,000,000 $
$2,655,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar 441.72 (2008 est.), 481.83 (2007), 522.4 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004)
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.6734 (2008 est.), 0.7345 (2007), 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.100%
1.600%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
16
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany
