Equatorial Guinea

Full name of country: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Region: Africa

Official language: Spanish, French

Population: 1,795,834 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s) (noun), Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean (adjective)

Land area: 28,051 sq km (10,831 sq miles)

Capital: Malabo; in 2017 the government began relocating to the planned city Ciudad de la Paz, previously known as Oyala.

National anthem: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path), by Atanasio Ndongo Miyono/Atanasio Ndongo Miyono Or Ramiro Sanchez Lopez (Disputed)

National holiday: Independence Day, October 12 (1968)

Population growth: 3.23% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +1

Flag: The flag of Equatorial Guinea features a blue isosceles triangle, the base of which is positioned on the hoist (left) side of flag. The flag also features three horizontal bands: green (top), white (middle), and red (bottom). In the center of the white band rests the country’s coat of arms, which features six yellow stars, a gray shield, and a cotton tree, as well as the phrase “Unidad, Pax, Justicia,” which translates to “Unity, Peace, Justice.”

Motto: “Unidad, Paz, Justicia” (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Independence: October 12, 1968 (from Spain)

Government type: presidential republic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: mixed system of civil and customary law

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a small West African nation located on the Gulf of Guinea near the Bight of Biafra. The country consists of the mainland territory known as Río Muni, as well as five coastal islands; the capital, Malabo, is located on Bioko, the largest island. Mainland neighbors include Gabon to the south and east, and Cameroon to the north. The island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe lies off Equatorial Guinea's southwestern coast.

Until 1968, the country was the Spanish colony of Spanish Guinea. Since independence, it has been governed by a dictatorship, and allegations of political corruption and human rights abuses are widespread. Equatorial Guinea is rich in natural resources, particularly oil and natural gas. However, the revenue from these resources has not led to much improvement in living conditions, and most people remain severely impoverished.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The inhabitants of Equatorial Guinea (known as Equatorial Guineans or Equatoguineans) descend mostly from Bantu-speaking peoples. The Fang are the largest group on the mainland, while the islands represent a mix of peoples. The population of the island of Bioko, formerly known as Fernando Po, is a mix of Bubi, Fang, and Nigerians, as well as "Fernandinos," many of whom are descended from freed slaves. Other ethnic groups include Mdowe, Annobon, and Bujeba.

The majority of Equatorial Guineans live on the mainland; Bioko's population has grown rapidly, however, due to the oil boom that began in the mid-1990s. Tens of thousands of Equatoguineans live abroad and form a distinct diaspora community; many have settled in Spain.

The major urban center of Malabo (formerly Santa Isabel), is located on the island of Bioko and is the country's largest city, with an estimated population of 297,000 in 2018. The population grew significantly after the mid-1990s, when oil was discovered off the coast. The city became the nation's capital in 1969, replacing the mainland town of Bata. Malabo received its present name in 1973, as part of an effort to remove traces of European cultural influence. In the late 2010s, the government began building a planned city in the jungle of the eastern mainland to serve as a new capital. In 2017, efforts began to transfer administrative capacity to the new city, known variously as Oyala, Djibloho, or Ciudad de la Paz.

Spanish and French are the official languages. Spanish influence is greatest on Bioko, as the mainland was not fully colonized until the early twentieth century. The main Indigenous language is Fang, followed by Bubi and Ibo. A pidgin variety of English is also spoken, particularly by the Fernandinos and the Bubi. The population of Annabón has a strong Portuguese element, and the people speak a Portuguese-based creole.

Most of the population is Christian. The vast majority belong to the Roman Catholic Church, with a small number belonging to the Reform Church of Equatorial Guinea. Pope John Paul II visited Equatorial Guinea in 1982, as part of a West African tour. Animist and other Indigenous beliefs also have a strong influence. There are also populations of Muslims and members of the Baha'i faith.

Indigenous People: The history of Equatorial Guinea's native peoples reflects the country's unique geography as a combination of mainland territory and coastal islands. The mainland, known as Río Muni, has been inhabited since ancient times, with the forest peoples traditionally known as Pygmies as the original inhabitants. The population of Bioko, the largest island, is dominated by the Bubi, who began arriving in the 1600s.

The Portuguese began settling the islands in the mid-1470s, following explorer Fernão do Pó's 1472 discovery of Bioko (which was soon named after him). The Spanish took control of the islands, as well as the trade rights to the mainland in 1778, through a deal with Portugal.

The British leased Fernando Po from Spain from the late 1820s through the mid-1840s as a naval base to fight the slave trade. Many people who were freed from slavery chose to remain there and became the ancestors of the Fernandino people. After independence, many Fang migrated from the mainland to Bioko and dominated the majority Bubi. During the 1970s, the reign of terror instituted by dictator Francisco Macías Nguema forced up to one-third of the population to flee. The Fang continue to dominate national politics.

Education: The public education system essentially began in Equatorial Guinean in the early twentieth century. Before that, education was provided largely by religious (usually Roman Catholic) groups. During the twentieth century, the colonial authorities established schools and promoted Spanish culture. Most education was at the elementary or primary level. There were no local opportunities for higher education, though some students were able to travel to Spain for further education.

The educational system was severely damaged during the Nguema dictatorship, between 1968 and 1979. Conditions have improved only a little, despite revenues from the oil industry. Many schools are understaffed and lack supplies, but most of the population is literate. The literacy rate in 2015 was estimated at 95.3 percent (97.4 percent among men and 93 percent among women).

The country's main university is the National University of Equatorial Guinea, located in Malabo. However, many Equatoguineans still travel abroad to receive advanced education.

Health Care: Public health in Equatorial Guinea is extremely poor, the legacy of President Nguema's reign of terror in the 1970s. The health care system as it existed just before independence had been relatively extensive and well equipped, with around a dozen hospitals and trained personnel. Major infectious diseases, such as malaria, were generally under control.

In the early twenty-first century, the risk of major infectious diseases is high; the most dangerous are malaria, bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever.

The infant mortality rate is high, although conditions have improved in large part thanks to international aid agencies such as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). In 2024, the infant mortality rate was an estimated 77.4 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 125 deaths per 1,000 in the 1990s. Average life expectancy at birth is 63.9 years—61.6 for men and 66.2 for women (2024 estimates).

Food: Equatoguinean cuisine is a mixture of Indigenous African fare with strong Spanish and Portuguese influences. Traditional foods include taro, bananas, plantain, manioc, and yams. Wild game (or bushmeat) is also popular, although over-hunting may be threatening species such as the drill monkey (Mandrillus leucophaeus) with extinction.

The rapid population growth of Malabo, thanks to the discovery of oil, increased the demand for fine dining; the city has several Western-style restaurants that offer (among other things) French, Chinese, and Spanish food.

Arts & Entertainment: There are distinct differences between Equatoguinean culture found on the islands and that found on the mainland. The Spanish colonial influence is stronger in the islands, largely because the mainland was not under Spain's firm control until the twentieth century. The Fang and Bubi in particular have maintained many of their traditional customs in the face of European colonialism.

Although many people are literate, the Indigenous cultures have strong oral traditions, and are known for their distinct folksongs and dances. Most traditional music is in the call-and-response style, accompanied by drums. The country's best-known modern writer is Maria Nsué Angüe, whose Ekomo (1985) was the first novel published by a woman from Equatorial Guinea.

Broadcast media is the main means of communication in Equatorial Guinea, but the press is generally very weak and mostly under government control. The nonprofit organization Freedom House has consistently give Equatorial Guinea its worst possible scores for freedom, civil liberties, and political rights and reported that press freedom in the country is extremely limited despite constitutional protections. The government operates several radio stations, including Radio Malabo (Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial), and a national television station.

As in many African countries, football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Equatorial Guinea. The national team, part of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), competes internationally.

Holidays: The country's national holiday is Independence Day (October 12), which celebrates independence from Spain.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Equatorial Guinea is located on the Gulf of Guinea near the Bight of Biafra, where the "bulge" of West Africa turns southward. The mainland section, Río Muni, is located between Cameroon and Gabon. The coastal region is covered with plains, though the interior is hilly. Three large rivers (the Congo, Niger, and Volta) drain into the Gulf. Much of the mainland is covered with rainforest.

The coastal islands of Equatorial Guinea are volcanic and widely separated; Bioko is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Cameroon, while Annobón is almost 600 kilometers (370 miles) southwest of Bioko. There are three smaller islands, just off the coast of Río Muni: Corisco, Elobey Grande (Big Elobey), and Elobey Chico (Small Elobey).

The country's highest point is at Pico Basile, an extinct volcano 3,008 meters (9,869 feet) above sea level.

Natural Resources: Equatorial Guinea became a major producer of petroleum in the 1990s, thanks to the discovery of large offshore deposits. The Zafiro field is the country's largest, holding most of the total proven reserves of 1.1 billion barrels in 2017. Natural gas is another important energy resource, with at least 36.81 billion cubic meters of proven reserves according to 2017 estimates.

Mineral resources include gold and diamonds, and industrial minerals such as bauxite, sand, gravel, and clay. Timber has been an important resource for decades, but poor forestry practices as well as natural disasters have led to extensive deforestation.

Plants & Animals: Equatorial Guinea's wildlife is threatened with extinction due to human encroachment and poor resource management. The drill monkey, a kind of mandrill popular as "bushmeat," is threatened with extinction due to overhunting. The goliath frog (Conraua goliath), an immense frog that is a foot long and weighs seven pounds, is threatened with the loss of its rainforest habitat due to pollution, as well as illegal hunting. Other species found on the mainland include the forest elephant and the lowland gorilla.

Most of the vegetation in Río Muni is tropical rainforest. The rugged mountain terrain of the islands is also forested.

Climate: As the name suggests, Equatorial Guinea is located on the equator, and has a tropical climate. Conditions are hot and humid, especially on the mainland. The most rain falls in October, and the least in July.

Average temperatures in Equatorial Guinea range from 23.5 to 26 degrees Celsius (74 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit). February is typically the hottest month, and July the coolest

Economy

Equatorial Guinea gained immense wealth after the discovery of offshore petroleum in the mid-1990s, though growth slowed and then declined in the 2010s as global oil prices fell. In 2023, the estimated gross domestic product (GDP) was US$28.985 billion, or US$15,700 per capita.

Poverty remains widespread, despite the oil wealth, amid allegations of vast political corruption. Equatorial Guinea has lost much of its foreign aid partly because of corruption but also due to its newfound natural resources. The economy lacks diversification and is overly dependent on oil., though efforts have been made to expand into other areas, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Equatorial Guinea maintains strong economic links with other West African nations. It belongs to the Communauté Financière Africaine (CFA) franc currency zone, a monetary union mostly comprised of former French colonies. The currency's value is linked to that of the Euro.

Industry: Most industrial activity revolves around the oil industry, while natural gas and timber are also important economic sectors. Efforts have been made to develop the mining sector.

Agriculture: Most farming in Equatorial Guinea is at the subsistence level, focusing on food crops such as cassava, rice, and manioc. Less than 5 percent of the land is arable. Despite the country's extensive coastline, the fishing industry remains small.

During the colonial era, the country was known for its production of export crops such as cocoa, coffee, and timber, but these declined sharply during the period of dictatorship. Cocoa was grown largely on Bioko, while the others were grown on the mainland.

Tourism: Tourism in Equatorial Guinea is low. The country faces serious allegations of human rights abuse and poor health conditions. The majority of foreign visitors to the country are connected with the petroleum industry.

Government

The nation of Equatorial Guinea was established on October 12, 1968, out of the colony of Spanish Guinea. The colony had originally been two separate colonies: the coastal islands (governed from Fernando Po) and the mainland territory of Río Muni.

The first president of the new republic, Francisco Macías Nguema, was a former colonial administrator. He soon established a harsh dictatorship that destroyed the country's economic system and social infrastructure. Up to one-third of the population fled during his eleven-year rule. He was deposed and executed in 1979 by his nephew, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who became president.

Although less brutal than its predecessor, the new regime also received extensive criticism because of its poor record on human rights and lack of support for economic and social development. Multiparty democracy was officially established in the early 1990s, but foreign observers have alleged massive fraud in national elections. In March 2004, the government foiled a coup attempt, and Obiang remained in power into the 2020s; over his decades-long rule of Equatorial Guinea, his administration developed a reputation as one of the most repressive in Africa. The Fang ethnic group, from which the ruling dynasty comes, remained in power during this time.

Independent monitoring of elections has been extremely limited, and voting irregularities and intimidation of opposition candidates was reported. The president, who is popularly elected to a seven-year term, serves as head of state. The president appoints the prime minister, who serves as head of government, as well as the deputy prime ministers and the cabinet (Council of Ministers). In practice, all executive power is vested in the president.

Equatorial Guinea has a two-house parliament, the House of People's Representatives (Camara de Representantes del Pueblo) and the Senate (Senado). The 100 members of the House serve five-year terms and are elected by popular vote. Of the seventy members of the Senate (created in 2013), the president selects fifteen senators, and the rest are elected by popular vote. The major political party is President Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, which holds the vast majority of seats in the legislature.

The highest court in Equatorial Guinea is the Supreme Court of Justice. The legal system is a mixture of Spanish and tribal law. In tribal areas, local elders handle legal issues. The national constitution was approved by a referendum in November 1991 and was amended in 1995 and in 2012. International observers, however, argue that in practice the law is essentially in the hands of the executive branch and have noted multiple cases of human rights abuses, including torture of prisoners.

Interesting Facts

• The nineteenth-century British explorer and author Sir Richard Francis Burton, noted for his expedition to find the source of the Nile River, served in the 1860s as British consul on the island of Fernando Po (modern Biako). He later wrote a book about his experiences there.
• Snowflake, a rare albino gorilla who lived in Spain's Barcelona Zoo, was discovered in Equatorial Guinea in the mid-1960s. The gorilla died in late 2003.
• Equatorial Guinea was the first non-Francophone country to adopt the CFA franc as its currency.
• The planned capital of Ciudad de la Plaz (Oyala) was built with amenities such as a university, a golf course, and a five-star hotel.

Bibliography

"Equatorial Guinea." FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2022, www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/61. Accessed 17 Aug. 2022.

"Equatorial Guinea." Freedom House, 2022, freedomhouse.org/country/equatorial-guinea. Accessed 17 Aug. 2022.

"Equatorial Guinea." The World Bank, 2024, data.worldbank.org/country/equatorial-guinea. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

"Equatorial Guinea." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea/. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.