Equatorial Guinea

Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Africa

slightly smaller than Maryland

296 km

tropical; always hot, humid

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

NA

the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map

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

Fang 78.1%, Bubi 9.4%, Ndowe 2.8%, Nanguedambo 2.7%, Bisio 0.9%, foreigner 5.3%, other 0.7%, unspecified 0.2% (2011 est.)

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

3.1% (2025 est.)

28.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

11.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

the two large cities are Bata on the mainland and the capital Malabo on the island of Bioko; small communities are scattered throughout the mainland and the five inhabited islands, as shown in this population distribution map

297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)

174 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

4.05 children born/woman (2025 est.)

1.99 (2025 est.)

0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

8% (2016)

presidential republic

mixed system of civil and customary law

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

silk cotton tree

green, white, red, blue

the national symbol, the silk cotton tree, is in the center of the coat of arms; the tree represents the location where the first treaty was signed between local rulers and the Portuguese; the stars above the tree symbolize the mainland and the five offshore islands; a ribbon below the shield displays the national motto, “Unidad, Paz, Justicia” (Unity, Peace, Justice)

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

$12.766 billion (2024 est.)

sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023)

petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling

0.8% (2024 est.)

715,000 (2024 est.)

6.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023)

crude petroleum, natural gas, alcohols, wood, scrap iron (2023)

China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023)

ships, poultry, plastic products, beer, valves (2023)

the state maintains control of broadcast media; 1 state-owned TV station, 1 private TV station owned by the president's eldest son, 1 state-owned radio station, and 1 private radio station owned by the president's eldest son; satellite TV service is available; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are generally accessible (2019)

.gq

3C

7 (2025)

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2025)

estimated 2,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)

the FAGE is armed with mostly older (typically Soviet-era) and secondhand weapons systems; in recent years, it has sought to modernize its naval inventory with purchases of vessels from several countries, including Bulgaria and Israel; China and Russia have also supplied some equipment to the FAGE (2025)

18-25 for voluntary military service; selective compulsory military service for men; 24-month service obligation (2025)

the Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea (FAGE) are responsible for defending the territory and sovereignty of the country; the FAGE also has some internal security duties, including fulfilling some police functions in border areas, sensitive sites, and high-traffic areas; maritime security, particularly protecting offshore oil installations and combating piracy and crime in the Gulf of Guinea, is a key priority (2025)