+240 is the dialing code for Equatorial Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea consists of five islands in the Gulf of Guinea and an area on the Central African West Coast. The former Spanish colony is one of the world’s hardest dictatorships. The country is simply governed by the president and his clan. Oil resources offshore have provided huge revenue to the presidential family, while the population is kept in poverty.
- Abbreviationfinder: Brief profiles of Equatorial Guinea, including geography, history, politics, economics as well as common acronyms about this country.
Geography and climate
Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s smallest countries in terms of both surface and population. The country consists of a mainland part, Río Muni (formerly Mbini), and five islands.
The largest island is Bioko (formerly Fernando Póo), located just over three miles off the Cameroon coast, northwest of the mainland. At Bioko lies the capital Malabo, while the “economic capital”, Bata, is located on the mainland. The island of Annobón (or Pagalu) lies more than 40 miles south of the mainland. The three islands of Corisco, Great Elobey (Elobey grande) and Little Elobey (Elobey chico) are just off the coast.
The mainland part is mostly covered by rainforests. The terrain gradually rises from a coastal plateau a few miles wide towards the Crystal Mountains on the border with Gabon. The area is divided into two parts of the Benito River. Bioko is a volcanic island, mostly covered by jungle. Cocoa and coffee plantations are located on the fertile mountain slopes in the north. Annobón is also volcanic with dense forest of oil and coconut trees.
In Equatorial Guinea, it is warm (around 30 degrees Celsius) and humid (about 90 percent humidity) year-round; The climate is particularly stressful, especially on the island of Bioko.
Country Facts
Geography
| Cultivated land | 10.1 % |
| Land area | 28051 km 2 |
Population and health
| Population development | 2.51 ‰ |
| Urban population (Urbanization) | 39.9 % |
| Death rate | 8.19 per 1000 residents |
| Life expectancy: Women | 64.97 years |
| Life expectancy: Men | 62.76 years |
| Birth rate | 33.31 births per 1000 residents |
| HDI index | 0.587 |
| Population | 740743 |
| Infant mortality | 69.17 deaths / 1000 births |
Population Graph Source: Countryaah.com
Energy
| Electricity, production | 100 million kWh |
| Energy consumption per resident | 2641.9 kg. oil per resident |
| Natural gas, production | 6290 million cubic meters |
| Crude oil, production | 14 million tons |
Infrastructure
| Internet users | 15.9 per 100 residents |
| Mobile subscriptions | 72 per 100 residents |
| Passenger cars | 13 per 1000 residents |
Business and economics
| Unemployment | 22.3% of the workforce |
| GDP | 31800 per resident |
| Primary occupations | % |
| Secondary profession | % |
| Tertiary professions | % |
Southwest Bioko is one of the areas where it rains the most – it can reach up to 11,000 millimeters of rain in a year. Most of the rainfall comes in May to October; between November and April it is a bit drier.
The mainland has two rainy periods (March – May and September – November) and two slightly drier periods (December – February and June – August).
FACTS – GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE
Surface
28,051 km2 (2018)
Time
Swedish
Adjacent country (s)
Cameroon, Gabon
Capital with number of residents
Malabo 179 300
Other major cities
Bata 230 500, Ebebiyin 33 500 (Estimated 2010)
Highest mountain
Pico de Santa Isabel (at Bioko, 3 007 m asl)
Important rivers
Rio Benito, Rio Muni
Average Precipitation/month
Malabo 350 mm (Oct), 75 mm (Feb)
Average/day
Malabo 27 °C (Feb), 25 °C (July)
2014
November
Hosts for soccer tournament 2015
Equatorial Guinea will host the 2015 African Football Championship. The country is replacing Morocco who backed out for fear of a widespread Ebola epidemic in West Africa.
October
Obiang offers amnesty
President Obiang offers amnesty for political crimes in an attempt to get exile politicians and other opposition parties to participate in a “national dialogue”. In the opposition, one doubts that the president’s proposal is seriously meant.
Teodorín settles court in the United States
President Teodorín agrees with a US court to surrender property worth a little over $ 30 million, which, according to the court, he bought for money he snubbed from the Treasury in his home state. The money will be returned to Equatorial Guinea in the form of aid and support to a relief organization working in the country.
March
Theodorin is being investigated for money laundering
French prosecutors launch formal investigation into money laundering against Equatorial Guinea’s son Teodorín Obiang (see July 2012). He is suspected of embezzling state funds to buy real estate and luxury goods in France. Similar suspicions have been directed at him in the United States. Teodorín Obiang is the second vice president in charge of defense and state security.