Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s smallest countries. It lies tucked into the coast of Central Africa, just above the Equator. The country is made up of a mainland portion, called Río Muni, and five small offshore islands. The largest island, Bioko, is where the capital, Malabo, is situated and lies about 40 kilometres (25 miles) off the coast of Cameroon. Much of the island is rugged, covered by volcanic mountains, and it has a hot, rainy climate nearly all year round. The mainland part, Río Muni, has a slightly drier climate, with shorter rainy seasons. The land is flat at the coast, but inland it rises to wooded hills.

People

Nearly all Equatorial Guineans are Bantu. The largest ethnic group, the Fang, make up nearly 90% of the population. The Bubi, whose ancestors have lived on Bioko island for centuries, are a much smaller group. They have suffered waves of ethnic violence since the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century. Today, fewer than 100,000 Bubi people remain.

Most Equatorial Guineans live along the coast of the mainland and on the islands, where they make a living from farming or fishing—tuna is an especially important catch. Many families have small plots of land where they grow crops such as cassava and sweet potatoes; some people also work on large cocoa or coffee plantations.

Oil and gas

In 1996, huge reserves of oil and gas were discovered in Equatorial Guinea, dramatically boosting the country’s economy. It soon became one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. However, most of the income from oil went to people who are already wealthy and most of the country's people still lived in poverty, without access to clean drinking water and electricity. Although new roads and apartment blocks have been built with the money from oil, most ordinary people could not afford to use them. Today, Equatorial Guinea's oil and gas reserves—all found in offshore fields—have shrunk. As of 2024, the US oil giant ExxonMobil has ceased production.

Facts about Equatorial Guinea

Population 1,795,834 (2024 estimate)

Area 28,051 sq km

Highest point Pico de Basilé 3008 m (9869 ft)

Capital Malabo, population 297,000

Other major cities Bata (250,770)

Languages Spanish, Fang, Bubi

Religions Christian (Roman Catholic), traditional beliefs

Ethnicity Fang 86%, Bubi 7%, Mdowe 4%, Annobon 2%, others 1%

Currency Central African CFA franc

Chief exports oil and petroleum products, timber