Equatorial Guinea Population, Official Language And More.

Equatorial Guinea is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of GDP per capita, thanks to its oil and gas revenues. However, it is also one of the most unequal and undemocratic countries in the world, according to various indicators and rankings. It has a low human development index, a high poverty rate, a low literacy rate, a high infant mortality rate, a low life expectancy, a high corruption perception index, a low democracy index, a low press freedom index, a low human rights index, and a high environmental degradation index. It also faces several challenges and threats, such as ethnic tensions, social unrest, political instability, regional conflicts, climate change, pandemics, and terrorism.

Read about the history Here…

The population

Equatorial Guinea has an estimated population of 1.7 million people as of 2022, according to the African Development Bank. The majority of the population belongs to the Fang ethnic group, which accounts for about 85.7% of the total. The Bubi people, who are native to Bioko Island, are the second largest group with 6.5%. Other ethnic groups include the Ndowe, the Annobon, and the Bujeba. The official languages are Spanish, French, and Portuguese, but there are also several regional languages spoken by different communities. The main religion is Christianity, followed by Islam and traditional faiths.

The landmarks

Equatorial Guinea has a variety of natural and cultural landmarks that attract visitors from around the world. Some of the most famous landmarks are:

• St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral: A Gothic-style church located in Malabo, the capital city. It was built in 1897 and features stained glass windows, an ornate altar, and a 60-meter tall tower that offers a panoramic view of the city.
• Plaza de la Mujer: A public square in Malabo that features beautiful gardens, fountains, sculptures, and seating areas. It also has a towering statue of a woman holding a baby, which symbolizes motherhood on Bioko Island.
• Bioko Island: An island off the west coast of Africa that belongs to Equatorial Guinea. It has pristine beaches, lush rainforests, and abundant wildlife. It is also home to Bata, the largest city on the island, which offers cultural sites and local markets.
• Pico Basile National Park: A national park on Bioko Island that covers an area of 330 square kilometers. It has stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife, including gorillas, chimpanzees, and hundreds of species of birds.
• Annobón Island: A volcanic island south of the equator that is part of Equatorial Guinea. It has a unique culture and language influenced by Portuguese settlers. It also has scenic beaches and fishing villages.

The official language

Equatorial Guinea is the only country in Africa where Spanish is the official language. Spanish was introduced by colonialists and missionaries during the colonial period. It is spoken by about 70% of the population and used as the primary language of education, administration, and communication. French and Portuguese are also official languages since 1988 and 2010 respectively. They were adopted to strengthen economic ties with other Francophone and Lusophone countries. French is spoken by less than 10% of the population, mainly in towns bordering French-speaking countries. Portuguese is taught in schools but not compulsory. A Portuguese creole language called Annobonese is spoken on Annobón and Bioko islands.

The culture

Equatorial Guinea has a rich and diverse culture that reflects its history and geography. Despite a veneer of Spanish culture and Roman Catholic religion that is thicker on Bioko than on the mainland, many Equatorial Guineans live according to ancient customs that have undergone a revival since independence. Among the Fang of the mainland, witchcraft, traditional music (in which the Fang harp, the xylophone, the great drums, and the wooden trumpet are used), and storytelling survive. Among the Bubi farmers of Bioko, some ancient customs are still followed as well. The various regions and communities of Equatorial Guinea each have their own typical cuisine that uses ingredients such as fish, shrimp, crayfish, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, vegetables, and chocolate. Equatorial Guinea also has a vibrant literary scene that has produced internationally acclaimed writers such as Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo, Juan-Tomás Ávila Laurel, and María Nsue Angüe.

The economic stability

Equatorial Guinea’s economy is heavily dependent on oil production, which accounts for about 80% of its GDP and 90% of its exports. The country experienced a prolonged recession from 2015 to 2021 due to low oil prices and declining oil reserves. However, the economy rebounded with 2.9% growth in 2022 thanks to higher oil production and prices. The fiscal and external balances also improved in 2022, with surpluses of 3.8% and 3.9% of GDP respectively. Inflation rose to 4.9% in 2022 due to higher global food and energy prices. The country faces several challenges to achieve economic stability and diversification in the medium term. These include aging oil wells, political instability, weak governance, low human development indicators, high poverty rates (67%), limited access to finance, and the effects of climate change. The country needs to implement structural reforms to improve the business environment, enhance public financial management, promote private sector development, invest in human capital, and foster regional integration.

The GDP

The gross domestic product (GDP) of Equatorial Guinea is the total value of all goods and services produced within the country in a given year. According to the World Bank, the GDP of Equatorial Guinea was 11.81 billion US dollars in 2022, which represents 0.01 percent of the world economy. The GDP per capita, which is the GDP divided by the population, was 5871.32 US dollars in 2022. The GDP per capita PPP, which is the GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity, was 14732.92 US dollars in 2022. The GDP growth rate, which measures how fast the economy is expanding or contracting, was -3.8 percent in 2022.

The currency

The currency of Equatorial Guinea is the Central African CFA franc, with symbol FCFA and currency code XAF. The CFA franc is the currency of six independent states in Central Africa: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. It is issued by the Bank of the Central African States, which is responsible for managing the currency. The CFA franc is pegged to the euro at a fixed exchange rate of 1 euro = 655.957 CFA francs. The physical currency consists of coins and banknotes. The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 CFA francs. The banknotes come in denominations of 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 CFA francs.

The food

The food of Equatorial Guinea is a blend of native tribes’ traditions with that of their Spanish colonial past. The staple foods in Equatorial Guinea include cassava, bananas, rice and yam with chicken, meat (often locally hunted game) or fish. Some of the most popular dishes in Equatorial Guinea are:

• Pepe-soup: A spicy soup made with water, salt, local spices and fish. It is eaten in the mornings with friends or family.
• Peanut soup: A soup made with peanut butter and tomato sauce and seasoned with salt and sometimes chicken or lobster broth. It is served with cassava, rice, taro or banana.
• Ocrosoup: A viscous dish made with okra and vegetables and served with banana or cassava. It is a typical dish of Bioko Island.
• Forest of the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Mbini River. It is the main port and commercial center of Equatorial Guinea. It has a tropical climate with high humidity and rainfall. It has several attractions such as the Clock Square, the Bata Cathedral, the Bata Stadium, and the Luba Crater Scientific Reserve .
• Malabo: The capital and the second largest city of Equatorial Guinea. It has a population of about 155,963 people according to a 2005 estimate . It is located on the northern coast of Bioko Island, in the Gulf of Guinea. It was founded by the British in 1827 as Port Clarence, and later renamed Santa Isabel by the Spanish in 1844. It became the capital of Spanish Guinea in 1969, and was renamed Malabo in 1973 after independence. It has a tropical climate with a dry season and a rainy season. It has several landmarks such as the St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the National University of Equatorial Guinea, and the Malabo National Park .
• Mongomo: The capital and the largest city of Wele-Nzas Province. It has a population of about 7,000 people according to a 2008 estimate . It is located near the border with Gabon, on the eastern part of Río Muni. It is the birthplace of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has invested heavily in developing the city. It has a tropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall. It has several monuments such as the Basilica of Our Lady of Mongomo, the Mongomo Conference Center, and the Presidential Palace .
• Ebebiyin: The capital and the largest city of Kié-Ntem Province. It has a population of about 24,831 people according to a 2001 census . It is located at the tripoint where Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and Gabon meet, on the northeastern part of Río Muni. It is a major trade hub and transportation junction for the region. It has a tropical climate with high temperatures and rainfall. It has several facilities such as the Ebebiyin Regional Hospital, the Ebebiyin Stadium, and the Ebebiyin Airport .

Major airport, sea port and schools

• Equatorial Guinea has several airports, sea ports and schools that serve its population and visitors. Some of them are:
• Malabo International Airport: The main airport in Equatorial Guinea, located near Malabo on Bioko Island. It handles domestic and international flights to destinations such as Bata, Douala, Libreville, Addis Ababa, Madrid, Paris, Istanbul, and Casablanca . It has a modern terminal building that was inaugurated in 2011. It also hosts a military base and a presidential hangar .
• Bata Airport: The second largest airport in Equatorial Guinea, located near Bata on Río Muni. It handles domestic and regional flights to destinations such as Malabo, Douala, Libreville, Yaoundé, and Sao Tome . It has a single runway that was extended in 2012. It also serves as a base for the national airline Ceiba Intercontinental .
• Port of Malabo: The main sea port in Equatorial Guinea, located in Malabo on Bioko Island. It handles cargo and passenger traffic to destinations such as Bata, Douala, Libreville, Lagos, Abidjan, Dakar, and Tangier . It has several facilities such as berths, warehouses, cranes, tugboats, and customs offices . It also serves as a hub for oil exploration and production activities in the Gulf of Guinea .
• Port of Bata: The second largest sea port in Equatorial Guinea, located in Bata on Río Muni. It handles cargo and passenger traffic to destinations such as Malabo,
• Douala, Libreville, Lagos, Abidjan, Dakar, and Tangier. It has similar facilities as the Port of Malabo, but with a smaller capacity. It also serves as a gateway for trade and tourism in the mainland region.
• National University of Equatorial Guinea: The main public university in Equatorial Guinea, located in Malabo on Bioko Island. It was founded in 1995 and has six faculties: Social Sciences and Humanities, Health Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, Law, Economics and Business Administration, and Education Sciences. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields of study. It has about 5,000 students and 300 faculty members .
• National Institute of Technology: The main public technical institute in Equatorial Guinea, located in Bata on Río Muni. It was founded in 2009 and has four departments: Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science, and Telecommunications. It offers vocational and professional training in various technical fields. It has about 1,000 students and 100 faculty members .
• American International School of Malabo: The main private international school in Equatorial Guinea, located in Malabo on Bioko Island. It was founded in 2004 and follows the American curriculum from kindergarten to grade 12. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools. It has about 200 students and 30 faculty members from different nationalities .