Middle Africa · AfricaEquatorial Guinea
Discover Equatorial Guinea - the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, oil-rich and mysterious, with volcanic peaks, rainforests, and a surreal capital built from scratch.
Where Is Equatorial Guinea?
Equatorial Guinea is a country in Middle Africa. Its capital is Ciudad de la Paz, on the mainland, which replaced Malabo in January 2026.
- Capital Ciudad de la Paz
- Population 1.94M
- Area 28,051 km²
Equatorial Guinea is Africa's great enigma. It's the only Spanish-speaking country on the continent, one of the smallest by population, and - thanks to offshore oil discovered in the 1990s - briefly had one of the highest GDP per capita figures in the world. The wealth, however, is distributed in ways that would make a medieval king blush. The Obiang family has ruled since 1979, making President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world.
The country itself is split in two: the mainland chunk called Rio Muni, covered in dense equatorial rainforest, and the island of Bioko in the Gulf of Guinea, where the old capital Malabo sits beneath the cloud-shrouded peak of Pico Basile. In a move that baffled diplomats, the government built an entirely new capital city called Oyala (now Ciudad de la Paz) in the middle of the mainland jungle - complete with a golf course, luxury hotels, and conference centers in a forest clearing - and in January 2026 made it the official capital. Despite all the oil money and marble government buildings, most of the population still lives on less than two dollars a day. It's a country of staggering contrasts where you can find a Lamborghini dealership and a village without running water within the same hour's drive.
At a glance
Largest cities in Equatorial Guinea
Malabo
Bata
Ciudad de la Paz
Famous people from Equatorial Guinea
Leoncio Evita Enoy
LiteratureWrote 'Cuando los Combes luchaban' in 1953, considered the first novel published by a sub-Saharan African author in Spanish
Emiliana - Eric Moussambani
SportThe 'Eric the Eel' swimmer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics who had never seen an Olympic-sized pool, became a beloved symbol of Olympic spirit
Juan Tomas Avila Laurel
LiteratureLeading contemporary writer whose novels and essays offer rare critical perspectives on Equatorial Guinean society from exile in Spain
Traditional cuisine of Equatorial Guinea
- Succotash (Sopa de Pescado)
- Rich fish stew made with palm oil, tomatoes, and whatever the day's catch provides, a staple along the coast and on Bioko Island
- Pepesoup
- Intensely spicy soup made with goat, fish, or chicken in a pepper-heavy broth, popular across the mainland and islands
- Akwadu
- Baked bananas with coconut and sugar, a simple but addictive dessert that showcases the island's abundant tropical fruit
- Pangolin Stew
- Traditional bushmeat dish from the mainland forests, though conservation concerns are increasingly limiting its preparation
Nature and landmarks in Equatorial Guinea
- Pico BasileMountain
- Highest point in the country at 3,012 meters on Bioko Island, a volcanic peak draped in cloud forest and home to endemic primates
- Monte Alen National ParkNational Park
- Dense equatorial rainforest on the mainland protecting gorillas, forest elephants, and some of Central Africa's most untouched jungle
- Bioko IslandIsland
- Volcanic island in the Gulf of Guinea with black sand beaches, drill monkey colonies, and some of Africa's highest primate biodiversity
Sports in Equatorial Guinea
- Football
- Co-hosted the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and 2015, the Nzalang Nacional (National Thunder) reaching the quarterfinals on home soil
- Swimming
- Eric Moussambani became a global sensation at the 2000 Olympics, later became the national swimming coach and federation head
Did you know?
Equatorial Guinea is the only country in Africa where Spanish is an official language, a legacy of being a Spanish colony until 1968
President Obiang has been in power since 1979, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world
The government built an entire capital city, Ciudad de la Paz, from scratch in the middle of the jungle - complete with a golf course
Eric Moussambani, 'Eric the Eel,' had only started swimming eight months before his famous Olympic appearance in 2000
Despite having one of Africa's highest GDP per capita figures due to oil, most citizens live on less than two dollars a day
Bioko Island was originally called Fernando Po after the Portuguese navigator who first reached it in 1472
Read more about Equatorial Guinea
Can you find Equatorial Guinea on a map?
Drop a pin where you think it is and see how close you got. A few rounds and you will place Equatorial Guinea and its neighbours without a second thought.
