Demographics of Equatorial Guinea
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The majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea are of Bantu origin. The largest tribe, the Fang, is indigenous to the mainland, but substantial migration to Bioko Island has resulted in Fang dominance over the earlier Bantu inhabitants. The Fang constitute 80% of the population and are themselves divided into 67 clans. Those in the northern part of Rio Muni speak Fang-Ntumu, while those in the south speak Fang-Okah; the two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The Bubi, who constitute 15% of the population, are indigenous to Bioko Island. In addition, there are coastal tribes, sometimes referred to as "Playeros": Ndowes, Bujebas, Balengues, and Bengas on the mainland and small islands, and "Fernandinos", a Creole community, on Bioko. Some Europeans (largely of Spanish of Portuguese descent) – most of them mixed with African ethnicity – also live in the nation. Together, these groups comprise 5% of the population. There is a growing number of foreigners from neighboring Cameroon, Nigeria and Gabon. Equatorial Guinea received Asians and black Africans from other countries as workers on cocoa and coffee plantations. Other black Africans came from Liberia, Angola, and Mozambique, and Asians are mostly Chinese and Japanese. Equatorial Guinea also allowed many fortune-seeking European settlers of other nationalities, including British, French and Germans. In 2001, there were about 280 Americans residing in Equatorial Guinea. After independence, thousands of Equatorial Guineans went to Spain. Another 100,000 Equatorial Guineans went to Cameroon, Gabon, and Nigeria because of dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema. Some of its communities also live in Brazil, some Spanish-speaking Latin American nations, United States, Portugal, and France.
Spanish and French are the official languages. The Roman Catholic Church has greatly influenced both religion and education.
Equatoguineans tend to have both a Spanish first name and an African first and last name. When written, the Spanish and African first names are followed by the father's first name (which becomes the principal surname) and the mother's first name. Thus people may have up to four names, with a different surname for each generation.
Current Demographic data (2006)
Population:
540,109 (July 2006 est.)
note: 2002 census results claim 1,015,000 residents, although this most likely was inflated in anticipation for the December election.[1]
Age structure:
0-14 years:
41.7% (male 113,083; female 111,989)
15-64 years:
54.5% (male 141,914; female 152,645)
65 years and over:
3.8% (male 8,886; female 11,592) (2006 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.05% (2006 est.)
Birth rate: 35.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.77 male(s)/female
total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 89.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
49.54 years
male:
48 years
female:
51.13 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate: 4.55 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective:
Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Religions: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices
Languages: Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo, Annobonese.
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
85.7%
male:
93.3%
female:
78.4% (2003 est.)
- See also : Equatorial Guinea