Equatorial Guinea – country information

Country name	Equatorial Guinea
Official name	Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Capital	Blurry
continent	Africa
Area	28,051 km
Population	736 296 (2012)
Foundation of a state	12. 10. 1968
The highest mountains	Pico de Santa Isabel 3,007 m (on Bioko Island)
Longest rivers	Benito 275 km
State system	transitional government
The biggest cities	Bata 55,000, Malabo (capital) 45,000
Official language	Spanish
Ethnicity/National Composition	Fang 73%, Bubi 14.5%, Dual 2.5%, Ibi 1.2%, Maka 1.2%, others 7.6%
Religious affiliation	Roman Catholic 89%, traditional faith 5%, Muslim 0.5%, other 5.5%
Currency	1 CFA franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$26,487 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	49.54 let (2006)

Equatorial Guinea – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Populace
Gabon	Libreville	267,668 km	1 672 000
Cameroon	Yaounde	475 442 km	20 386 799

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, the mainland of Equatorial Guinea lies on the Gulf of Guinea. It used to be called Rio Muni. It borders Cameroon to the north, and Gabon to the south and east. Five islands belong to Equatorial Guinea, the largest of which is the volcanic Bioko off the coast of Cameroon. The Pagalu (Annobón) archipelago lies about 500 km to the southwest.

Country data

Location: West Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea

Time zone: CET (during summer time: CET – 1)

Total area: 28,051 km²

Land area: 28,051 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 528 km

Bordering countries:
Gabon: 345 km
Cameroon: 183 km

Coastline: 296 km

Capital: Malabo

Regions: 7
Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Electric current: 220/240 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 240 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Population

Population: approx. 722,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 2.5% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 26

Life expectancy: 62 (male), 65 (female)

Official language: Spanish, French, Portuguese

Religions:

• 90% Christian
• 10% other

Climate

There is a year-round, humid tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 25 ° C.

The rainy season on the mainland runs from February to June and from September to November, while the rainy season on Bioko is from May to October.

It is strongly recommended to take an effective mosquito repellent with you.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: CFA franc (CFA francs)

Classification: 1 Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes

ATMs: Only a few devices in the big cities. Devices are often out of order.

International credit cards: Only individual hotels are accepted.

Regulations:
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported, but must be declared upon entry. The export of foreign currencies is only permitted in the amount of the declared import.

The national currency may only be imported in small quantities. The export is permitted up to an amount of 25,000 CFA Francs.

A re-exchange is not possible outside the countries of the CFA Francs zone.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 g tobacco
• 1 liter of alcoholic drink and 1 liter of wine

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

When bringing items of high value (video camera, laptop, photographic equipment) with you, a declaration is recommended upon entry.

There is an import ban for

• pornographic literature / images
• Books and films about war and terror
• uniform-like clothing
• Binoculars
• professional cameras

Travel advice

An international vaccination card with valid proof of a yellow fever vaccination is required upon entry

After nightfall, people should no longer go into town alone. Side streets should also be avoided during the day.

The passport must be carried with you at all times.

Security forces (police, military) also often act at their own discretion. This concerns the harassment and blackmail of people (including foreigners).

Since there is no German embassy in Equatorial Guinea, residents of the European Union must contact the representations of Spain or France.

Behavioral advice

Only take as much money with you during the day as you will probably need.

Jewelry and other valuable items should not be imported into the country.

Economy

The largest branches of industry are the production of crude oil, cocoa, coffee and various precious woods. These goods also make up most of the country’s export goods.

Industries: Oil extraction, natural gas extraction, fishing, wood processing, agriculture

Natural resources: petroleum, wood, gold, manganese, uranium

Land use:

• Usable land: 5%
• Grain cultivation: 4%
• Pasture area: 4%
• Forests: 46%
• other: 41%

Plants

The tropical rainforest dominates large areas of the country. Mahogany trees, oil palms and cola trees are widespread.

The smaller plants include ferns, lianas and various shrubs.

,

There are many mangrove swamps along the coast.

Animals

Equatorial Guinea has a very diverse fauna. Gorillas, mangabians and chimpanzees are common in the rainforests.

Antelopes, leopards and forest elephants are popular objects on photo safaris.