Discover Fascinating Equatorial Guinea Facts
Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea
Background
๐ Equatorial Guinea is a fascinating country located on the west coast of Africa! ๐ It gained its independence in 1968 after being under Spanish rule for a whopping 190 years. ๐ช This makes it one of the smaller nations in Africa, as it consists of a mainland territory and five inhabited islands! ๐๏ธ
In the late 1990s, major oil reserves were discovered offshore, giving hope for the country's economic growth. However, systemic corruption has been a significant roadblock to development. ๐ง
Year of Independence
1968
Duration of Spanish Rule
190 years
Year Oil Reserves Discovered
1990s
Exports - commodities
Equatorial Guinea has an exciting array of exports! ๐ In 2022, the country exported various important commodities that contributed to its economy. Hereโs what they traded:
- Crude Petroleum ๐ข๏ธ
- Natural Gas ๐ฅ
- Fertilizers ๐ฑ
- Packaged Medicine ๐
- Cars ๐
These exports highlight the diverse resources and products that Equatorial Guinea offers to the world! Each of these commodities plays a vital role in global trade.
Exported Commodities
5
Exports - partners
Let's take a look at who Equatorial Guinea trades with the most! ๐ Here are the top partners for exports in 2022:
- Zambia leads the pack with a whopping 21%! ๐
- Spain and China are tied, each contributing 15% to the total exports. ๐ช๐ธ๐จ๐ณ
- Following them is India with 10%. ๐ฎ๐ณ
- Last but not least, Italy rounds it out with 6%. ๐ฎ๐น
It's interesting to see how Equatorial Guinea connects with these countries through trade!
Total top export partners
5
Highest export partner
Zambia (21%)
Exports Partners for Equatorial Guinea in 2022
Capital
๐ Malabo is the capital city of Equatorial Guinea. It is located on the enchanting island of Bioko. ๐๏ธ Fun fact: Sometimes, the government works from Bata, which is on the mainland! This means Malabo is special, but it also shares some responsibilities with its mainland buddy! ๐
Capital City
Malabo
Alternative Government Location
Bata
Island of Capital
Bioko
Imports - commodities
Equatorial Guinea has a diverse range of imports! ๐ In 2022, the country brought in various commodities that help support its economy. Notable imports include:
- Ships: Essential for trade and transportation
- Refined Copper: A vital material used in electrical applications
- Iron Alloys: Important for construction and manufacturing
- Raw Copper: A critical raw material for various industries
- Poultry: A popular source of protein for the people! ๐
These commodities show how Equatorial Guinea connects with the global market. ๐ผโจ
Total Types of Commodities Imported
5
Climate
๐ด Equatorial Guinea enjoys a tropical climate ๐! It's always hot and humid, which means lots of sunshine and warm weather throughout the year. This climate supports lush green forests and diverse wildlife. ๐๐
Executive branch
๐๏ธ Executive Branch of Equatorial Guinea
In the fascinating world of Equatorial Guinea's government, the chief of state is President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, who has been leading since 3 August 1979! That's over 44 years of leadership! ๐
On the other hand, the head of government is Prime Minister Manuela ROKA Botey, who took office on 1 February 2023. ๐๏ธ It's exciting to see new leadership emerging right now!
This combination shows a blend of long-term and new leadership styles guiding the nation! ๐โจ
Years in Office for President
44
Days in Office for Prime Minister
237
Legislative branch
In Equatorial Guinea, the Legislative branch is a fascinating bicameral system! It is made up of two main parts:
- Senate: This part of the Assembly has 70 seats ๐๏ธ.
- Chamber of Deputies: This consists of 100 seats ๐๏ธ.
Together, these two chambers work to make important decisions for the country!
Total seats in the Legislative Assembly
170
Seats in Equatorial Guinea's Legislative Assembly
Natural resources
๐ Equatorial Guinea is rich in natural resources that are vital to its economy! Hereโs a fun list of what this beautiful country has to offer:
- Petroleum โ A major natural resource driving the nation's economy! ๐
- Natural gas โ Another energy powerhouse that plays a key role! ๐
- Timber โ Perfect for building and crafting! ๐ฒ
- Gold โ Sparkly and valuable! ๐ฐ
- Bauxite โ The key ingredient for aluminum production! ๐ฉ
- Diamonds โ Precious gems that sparkle! ๐
- Tantalum โ A tech metals superstar used in electronics! ๐ฑ
- Sand and gravel โ Essential building materials! ๐๏ธ
- Clay โ Used in ceramics and pottery! ๐ถ
These resources help fuel the economy and support the daily lives of the people in Equatorial Guinea! What a treasure trove! ๐๐
Economic overview
๐ Economic Overview of Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea is part of the CEMAC (Central African Economic and Monetary Community) and is on the rise! ๐ The country is experiencing a growing economy and has recently joined OPEC, thanks to its large oil and gas reserves. They're on a mission to diversify the economy and reduce poverty. โ
However, the country is still recovering from the CEMAC crisis and faces challenges such as persistent poverty. The COVID-19 pandemic hit them hard, but they're working on improving public financial management to turn things around. ๐
Despite the challenges, Equatorial Guinea is aiming for a brighter economic future! ๐
Economic membership
OPEC member
Economic crisis recovery
Still recovering from CEMAC crisis
Poverty challenges
Persistent poverty
COVID-19 impact
Hard-hit by COVID-19
Government type
In Equatorial Guinea, the government is a presidential republic ๐ฌ๐ถ. This means that the country is headed by a president who holds significant power and authority in the government. The president is elected by the people and can make important decisions that affect the country's laws and policies.
Type of Government
Presidential Republic
Ethnic groups
In Equatorial Guinea, the population is made up of various ethnic groups. Let's dive into the fascinating diversity! ๐ Hereโs the breakdown:
- Fang: 78.1% - The largest ethnic group! ๐ฅ
- Bubi: 9.4% - The second-largest group! ๐ฅ
- Ndowe: 2.8%
- Nanguedambo: 2.7%
- Bisio: 0.9%
- Foreigners: 5.3% - Bringing in a bit of international flavor! ๐
- Other: 0.7%
- Unspecified: 0.2%
This data helps us see how diverse Equatorial Guinea truly is! ๐
Percentage of Fang
78.1%
Percentage of Bubi
9.4%
Percentage of Ndowe
2.8%
Percentage of Nanguedambo
2.7%
Percentage of Bisio
0.9%
Percentage of Foreigners
5.3%
Percentage of Other
0.7%
Percentage of Unspecified
0.2%
Ethnic Groups in Equatorial Guinea
Religions
In Equatorial Guinea, the religious landscape is primarily shaped by the Roman Catholic Church, which is followed by a whopping 88% of the population! ๐ Next in line, we have Protestants at 5% and Muslims at 2%. The remaining 5% encompasses various other faiths, including animism, Baha'ism, and Judaism. This colorful tapestry of beliefs reflects a unique cultural blend! ๐โจ
Percentage of Roman Catholics
88%
Percentage of Protestants
5%
Percentage of Muslims
2%
Percentage of Other Religions
5%
Religious Distribution in Equatorial Guinea (2015 est.)
Languages
In Equatorial Guinea, the primary language spoken is Spanish, which is also the official language. ๐โจ It accounts for a whopping 67.6% of the languages spoken! On the other hand, the other languages, which include Fang, Bubi, Portuguese, French, and Fa d'Ambo, make up 32.4%! ๐ This mix of languages shows how diverse the culture is in Equatorial Guinea!
Percentage of Spanish speakers
67.6%
Percentage of Other languages speakers
32.4%
Distribution of Languages in Equatorial Guinea
Imports - partners
๐ Let's take a peek at where Equatorial Guinea gets its imports from! In 2022, their top partners were:
- Zambia ๐ฅ: 38%
- China ๐จ๐ณ: 14%
- Spain ๐ช๐ธ: 10%
- Nigeria ๐ณ๐ฌ: 7%
- United States ๐บ๐ธ: 4%
As you can see, Zambia takes the lead with a whopping 38%! The percentages show how much each country contributes to Equatorial Guinea's imports. Isnโt it interesting how different countries work together? ๐
Total Import Percentage from Top Partners
73%
Equatorial Guinea's Import Partners (2022)
Population
๐ Population of Equatorial Guinea: As of the latest data, the total population of Equatorial Guinea is 1,795,834 people! That's a lot of friends, families, and communities living in this beautiful country. Let's explore how this population contributes to the culture and economy of Equatorial Guinea! ๐
Total Population
1,795,834
Area
๐ Equatorial Guinea is a small nation with a total area of 28,051 square kilometers! This area is entirely land, as it has 0 square kilometers of water. That's rightโevery bit of its territory is solid ground! ๐๏ธ
Total Area
28,051 sq km
Land Area
28,051 sq km
Water Area
0 sq km
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
๐ Equatorial Guinea's economy is represented by its Real GDP (purchasing power parity) which shows how much value it produces when adjusted for costs of living. Hereโs how it looked over the last few years:
- 2021: $29.585 billion ๐ฐ
- 2022: $30.685 billion ๐
- 2023: $28.938 billion ๐
Itโs quite interesting to see how the economy has ticks up and down in the last few years! Let's visualize this data! ๐
Real GDP in 2021
29.585 billion USD
Real GDP in 2022
30.685 billion USD
Real GDP in 2023
28.938 billion USD
Real GDP (PPP) of Equatorial Guinea Over Time
Real GDP per capita
๐ The Real GDP per capita in Equatorial Guinea has seen some interesting changes over the years! In 2023, the GDP per capita is estimated at $16,900. This is a decrease from $18,300 in 2022 and a slight decrease from $18,100 in 2021. Let's take a closer look at how these numbers have evolved! ๐
GDP per capita in 2023
16,900
GDP per capita in 2022
18,300
GDP per capita in 2021
18,100
Real GDP per Capita Over Time in Equatorial Guinea
Imports
๐ Let's take a look at Equatorial Guinea's imports over the years. Imports are essential for bringing in goods and services from other countries that help boost the economy! ๐ Here's how the imports have changed:
- 2020: $3.669 billion
- 2021: $4.351 billion
- 2022: $4.297 billion
As we can see, the value of imports rose from 2020 to 2021, but then slightly decreased in 2022. ๐
This data not only shows the import trends but also gives us insights into the economic activities of Equatorial Guinea. With numbers reaching billions, itโs a vital part of their economy! ๐ฐ
Total Import Value in 2022
$4.297 billion
Total Import Value in 2021
$4.351 billion
Total Import Value in 2020
$3.669 billion
Equatorial Guinea Imports Over Time
Exports
๐ Let's explore the exports of Equatorial Guinea! In 2022, the country exported goods worth $6.231 billion. That's a big jump from $5.851 billion in 2021 and significantly higher than $4.041 billion in 2020. ๐
Here's how the exports have evolved over these years!
Exports in 2022
$6.231 billion
Exports in 2021
$5.851 billion
Exports in 2020
$4.041 billion
Exports of Equatorial Guinea (2020-2022)
Population Growth Rate
๐ Equatorial Guinea is experiencing a population growth rate of 3.23% as estimated for the year 2024! This means the number of people in this beautiful country is steadily increasing. Let's celebrate the growth of communities and cultures in Equatorial Guinea! ๐
Estimated Population Growth Rate for 2024
3.23%