THE WORLD FACTBOOK — Reference Edition 2026

Background: 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

Location: Central Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon
Geographic coordinates: 2 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: Africa
Area: total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
Land boundaries: total: 528 km
border countries: Cameroon 183 km; Gabon 345 km
Coastline: 296 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic
Elevation: highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 577 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay
Land use: agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 86.4% (2023 est.)
other: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Irrigated land: NA
Population distribution: 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
Natural hazards: violent windstorms; flash floods volcanism: Santa Isabel (3,007 m), which last erupted in 1923, is the country's only historically active volcano; Santa Isabel and two dormant volcanoes form Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea
Geography - note: 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: total: 1,795,834 (2024 est.)
male: 962,385
female: 833,449
Nationality: noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups: 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.)
Languages: 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.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 35.6% (male 330,636/female 309,528)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 585,139/female 481,121)
65 years and over: 5% (2024 est.) (male 46,610/female 42,800)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 68.4 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 60 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 8.4 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 11.9 (2024 est.)
Median age: total: 22.3 years (2025 est.)
male: 22.7 years
female: 21.5 years
Population growth rate: 3.1% (2025 est.)
Birth rate: 28.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate: 11.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution: 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
Urbanization: urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population: 297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.22 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.09 male(s)/female
total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio: 174 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 63.9 years (2024 est.)
male: 61.6 years
female: 66.2 years
Total fertility rate: 4.05 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.99 (2025 est.)
Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.4% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density: 0.15 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 8% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 6.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 3.83 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 1.24 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.99 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Environmental issues: deforestation (agricultural expansion, fires, and grazing); desertification; water pollution; tap water non-potable; wildlife preservation
International environmental agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Land use: agricultural land: 3.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 1.9% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 1.7% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 0.2% (2023 est.)
forest: 86.4% (2023 est.)
other: 9.9% (2023 est.)
Urbanization: urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions: 5.471 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 1 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 896,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 4.575 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.5 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Methane emissions: energy: 129.8 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture: 0.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste: 10 kt (2019-2021 est.)
other: 2.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 198,400 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 23.9% (2022 est.)
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 15.8 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural: 1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 26 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ République de Guinée équatoriale (French)
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/Guinée équatoriale (French)
former: Spanish Guinea
etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: English settlers who founded the city in 1827 named it Port Clarence after the Duke of CLARENCE; the Spanish renamed it Santa Isabel in 1843, for Queen ISABELLA II of Spain; it was renamed again in 1973 after King MALABO (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi (local ethnic group)
Administrative divisions: 8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Legal system: mixed system of civil and customary law
Constitution: history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991
amendment 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
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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 minister
election/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 president
most recent election date: 20 November 2022
election 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
Legislative branch: legislature name: Parliament (Parlamento)
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de los Diputados)
number of seats: 100 (all directly elected)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/20/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (100)
percentage of women in chamber: 31%
expected date of next election: November 2027
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate (Senado)
number of seats: 70 (55 directly elected; 15 appointed)
electoral system: proportional representation
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 5 years
most recent election date: 11/20/2022
parties elected and seats per party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (55)
percentage of women in chamber: 25%
expected date of next election: November 2027
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 Deputies
subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
Political parties: Center Right Union or UCDConvergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD Liberal Party or PL National Congress of Equatorial Guinea (CNGE) National Democratic Party (PNDGE) National Democratic Union or UDENA National Union for Democracy PUNDGE Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE Popular Union or UP Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP Social and Popular Convergence Party or CSDP Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) Social Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSDGE Social Democratic Union or UDS Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Crisantos OBAMA ONDO (since 27 February 2024)
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252
email address and website: info@egembassydc.comhttps://www.egembassydc.com/
consulate(s) general: Houston
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)
embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo
mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41
email address and website: Malaboconsular@state.govhttps://gq.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation: 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)
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Flag: description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six six-pointed yellow stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield with a silk-cotton tree; below is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)meaning: green stands for the jungle and natural resources, blue for the sea, white for peace, and red for the fight for independence
National symbol(s): silk cotton tree
National color(s): green, white, red, blue
National coat of arms: 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)
National anthem(s): title: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)
lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)
history: adopted 1968

Economic overview: 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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $29.248 billion (2024 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $28.985 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $30.539 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024: 0.9% (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023: -5.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2024: $15,500 (2024 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023: $15,700 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $16,900 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $12.766 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: -0.1% (2021 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020: 4.8% (2020 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 3.1% (2024 est.)
industry: 45.8% (2024 est.)
services: 51.1% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 52.9% (2024 est.)
government consumption: 28.3% (2024 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 9.1% (2024 est.)
investment in inventories: -0.1% (2024 est.)
exports of goods and services: 35.2% (2024 est.)
imports of goods and services: -25.4% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023)
Industries: petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling
Industrial production growth rate: 0.8% (2024 est.)
Labor force: 715,000 (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024: 7.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 8.4% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 8.5% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 14.7% (2024 est.)
male: 13.9% (2024 est.)
female: 15.7% (2024 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 38.5 (2022 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.6% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 29.1% (2022 est.)
Remittances: Remittances 2023: 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget: revenues: $3.62 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $2.051 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt: Public debt 2016: 43.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Taxes and other revenues: 6.6% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Exports: Exports 2024: $4.489 billion (2024 est.)
Exports 2023: $4.516 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2022: $7.25 billion (2022 est.)
Exports - partners: China 27%, Netherlands 12%, Spain 10%, Italy 7%, Germany 6% (2023)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, natural gas, alcohols, wood, scrap iron (2023)
Imports: Imports 2024: $3.24 billion (2024 est.)
Imports 2023: $3.065 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2022: $3.948 billion (2022 est.)
Imports - partners: China 20%, Spain 17%, USA 10%, Gabon 5%, UK 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities: ships, poultry, plastic products, beer, valves (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $1.538 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $1.458 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $44.271 million (2021 est.)
Exchange rates: Currency: Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2024: 606.345 (2024 est.)
Exchange rates 2023: 606.57 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2022: 623.76 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2021: 554.531 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2020: 575.586 (2020 est.)

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 67% (2022 est.)
electrification - urban areas: 89.8%
electrification - rural areas: 1.4%
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 349,000 kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 1.402 billion kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 170.527 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 68.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 31.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal: imports: 8 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 98,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 6,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas: production: 6.013 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 2.332 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
exports: 3.63 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 139.007 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 54.509 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 11,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 893,441 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media: 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)
Internet country code: .gq
Internet users: percent of population: 60% (2023 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 2,000 (2022 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 3C
Airports: 7 (2025)
Merchant marine: total: 53 (2023)
by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 16, oil tanker 7, other 29
Ports: total ports: 7 (2024)
large: 0
medium: 0
small: 1
very small: 6
ports with oil terminals: 6
key ports: Bata, Ceiba Terminal, Cogo, Luba, Malabo, Punta Europa Terminal, Serpentina Terminal

Military and security forces: Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de Guinea Ecuatorial, FAGE): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (Guardia Civil) (2025)
Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024: 1% of GDP (2024)
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 1.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths: estimated 2,000 active Armed Forces, including Gendarmerie (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: 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)
Military service age and obligation: 18-25 for voluntary military service; selective compulsory military service for men; 24-month service obligation (2025)
Military - note: 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)

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 5 (2024 est.)

Equatorial Guinea