Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a country on the west coast of Central Africa with an area of 28,000 square kilometres. Its name refers to its location near the Equator and in the African region of Guinea.

Coastlines and Equatorial Waters

The Equator runs through the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea, positioned about 1.4 degrees north of Annobón island, which serves as the southernmost territory of the nation. The country comprises two distinct parts. The mainland region, known as Río Muni, shares borders with Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the south and east, and includes small offshore islands such as Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico. The insular region contains the islands of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea and Annobón. Bioko Island forms the northernmost part of the country. Situated between Bioko and Annobón lies the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Oil Riches and Economic Landscapes

Since the mid-1990s, the nation has transformed into one of Sub-Saharan Africa's largest oil producers. This extraction boom propelled the country to become one of the richest per capita in Africa, though the resulting wealth is extremely unevenly distributed among the population. United States oil companies operate as the main entities driving the petroleum industry, supplying the primary support for government revenue.

For further geographical details, consult the GeoNames record for Equatorial Guinea and the Equatorial Guinea entry.

Equatorial Guinea is a sovereign nation situated on the west coast of Central Africa. The country comprises two distinct regions, namely the mainland territory of Río Muni and an insular sector featuring the islands of Bioko and Annobón.

The Equator runs through the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea, positioned approximately 1.4 degrees north of Annobón island. The mainland territory of Río Muni shares borders with Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the south and east. Río Muni also includes small offshore islands such as Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico, and serves as the location for Bata and the new capital city of Ciudad de la Paz. Bioko Island sits as the northernmost part of the country within the Gulf of Guinea and is the site of Malabo, the second largest city after Bata. Between Bioko and Annobón lies the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe.

Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is a sovereign country situated on the west coast of Central Africa. Spanning a total area of 28,000 square kilometres, it holds the distinction of being the only Spanish-speaking country on the African continent.

Continental mainland and Río Muni

The geographic makeup of Equatorial Guinea is divided into two primary parts. The mainland region, known as Río Muni, is bordered by Cameroon to the north and by Gabon to the south and east. Río Muni accommodates the majority of the nation's population and is home to Bata, which functions as the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. The mainland is also the site of Ciudad de la Paz, the country's new capital. Several small offshore islands lie adjacent to the mainland, including Corisco, Elobey Grande, and Elobey Chico.

Insular territories and gulf waters

Beyond the mainland, the insular region comprises Bioko Island and Annobón. Bioko Island sits in the Gulf of Guinea and forms the northernmost part of the country, serving as the location for Malabo, the second largest city after Bata. Further south, the island of Annobón represents the southernmost territory of the nation. The Equator runs directly through the territorial waters of Equatorial Guinea, positioned about 1.4 degrees north of Annobón. Pygmies were the first confirmed inhabitants to settle in the area of present-day Equatorial Guinea, followed later by a migration of Bantu-speaking groups arriving in the 6th century BC.

Colonial legacy and modern linguistic identity

European exploration of the region began in 1472 with the Portuguese explorer Fernando Pó. Under the 1778 Treaty of El Pardo, Portugal ceded territories in the Bight of Biafra to Spain, leading to the creation of Spanish Guinea. Following nearly two centuries of colonial rule, the territory gained independence in 1968. Because of this distinct history, Spanish remains the main official language of Equatorial Guinea, alongside French and Portuguese. The nation maintains a population of 1,853,559 as of 2025, with over 85 percent of residents belonging to the Fang people, while the Bubi people make up approximately 6.5 percent of the population on Bioko Island.