World Atlas 2010 (4th edition)

212

Equatorial Guinea

AFRICA

FACTFILE

OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Equatorial

Equatorial Guinea

DATE OF FORMATION: 1968

CAPITAL: Malabo

POPULATION: 676,300

TOTAL AREA: 10,830 sq. miles

(28,051 sq. km)

DENSITY: 62 people per sq. mile

LANGUAGES: Spanish*, Fang, Bubi,

French*

RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 90%,

other 10%

ETHNIC MIX: Fang 85%, other 11%, Bubi 4%

GOVERNMENT: Presidential system

CURRENCY: CFA franc = 100 centimes

Comprising the mainland territory of Río Muni and five

islands on the west coast of central Africa, Equatorial Guinea,

despite its name, lies just north of the equator.

GEOGRAPHY

The islands are mountainous and

volcanic. The mainland is lower, with

mangrove swamps along the coast.

CLIMATE

The island of Bioko is extremely

wet and humid. The mainland is only

marginally drier and cooler.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Equatorial Guinea is the only

Spanish-speaking country in Africa. Río

Muni is sparsely populated and most

people there are Fang, an ethnic group

also found in Cameroon and northern

Gabon. Bioko is populated by Bubi and

a minority of Creoles known as

Fernandinos. Tensions between the two

territories have been reignited by the

discovery of oil off Bioko. Wealth is

concentrated in the ruling clan; oil

revenue in the last decade has made

little impact on most people.

THE ECONOMY

Oil and gas now account for 97% of

exports; the government has promised to

reinvest the new funds in development.

Timber, cocoa, coffee.

INSIGHT: In 2003, state radio

declared President Obiang Nguema

to be “like God in Heaven”

40 km

40 miles

0

0

2000m/6562ft

1000m/3281ft

500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

CAMEROON

G A B O N

Gulf

of

Guinea

Cabo

San

Juan

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

Río

Muni

Uolo

Isla de

Corisco

Bata

Mongomo

Niefang

Mbini

Etembue

Cogo Nsoc

Micomeseng

Bight of Biafra

Isla

da

Bioco

MALABO