Equatorial Guinea

Location

• Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
• insular and continental regions widely separated; despite its name, no part of the equator passes through Equatorial Guinea -- the mainland part of the country is located just north of the equator

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Bata	173,046
Malabo	155,963	Capital
Ebebiyin	24,831

Size

• 10,830 square miles
• 28,051 square kilometers
• slightly smaller than Maryland

History

Equatorial Guinea consists of a continental territory and five inhabited islands; it is one of the smallest countries by area and population in Africa. The mainland region was most likely predominantly inhabited by Pygmy ethnic groups prior to the migration of various Bantu-speaking ethnic groups around the second millennium BC. The island of Bioko, the largest of Equatorial Guinea’s five inhabited islands and the location of the country’s capital of Malabo, has been occupied since at least 1000 B.C. In the early 1470s, Portuguese explorers landed on Bioko Island, and Portugal soon after established control of the island and other areas of modern Equatorial Guinea. In 1778, Portugal ceded its colonial hold over present-day Equatorial Guinea to Spain in the Treaty of El Pardo. The borders of modern-day Equatorial Guinea would evolve between 1778 and 1968 as the area remained under European colonial rule.In 1968, Equatorial Guinea was granted independence from Spain and elected Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA as its first president. MACIAS consolidated power soon after his election and ruled brutally for over a decade. Under his regime, Equatorial Guinea experienced mass suppression, purges, and killings. Some estimates indicate that a third of the population either went into exile or was killed under MACIAS’ rule. In 1979, present-day President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, then a senior military officer, deposed MACIAS in a violent coup. OBIANG has ruled since and has been elected in non-competitive contests several times, most recently in 2022. The president exerts near-total control over the political system. Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996. Production peaked in 2004 and has declined since. The country's economic windfall from oil production resulted in massive increases in government revenue, a significant portion of which was earmarked for infrastructure development. Systemic corruption, however, has hindered socio-economic development, and the population has seen only limited improvements to living standards. Equatorial Guinea continues to seek to diversify its economy, increase foreign investment, and assume a greater role in regional and international affairs.&nbsp

Climate

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Languages

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.)major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Government

presidential republic

• Constitution: history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991amendment process: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed system of civil and customary law
• Executive Branch: chief of state: President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979)head of government: Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua (since 17 August 2024)cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime ministerelection/appointment process: president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the presidentmost recent election date: 20 November 2022election results: 2022: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 95%, other 6.1%2016: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%expected date of next election: 2029
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the President of the Supreme Court and nine judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for five-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputiessubordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Parliament (Parlamento)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19
• Budget: revenues: $3.62 billion (2022 est.)expenditures: $2.051 billion (2022 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
• Industries: petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
• Agricultural Products: sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 3.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 1.9% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 1.7% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 0.2% (2022 est.)forest: 86.7% (2022 est.)other: 9.6% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: ships, poultry, plastic products, beer, valves (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, alcohols, wood, scrap iron (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports