World Country Guide

General Information

Area
28,051 sq km (10,831 sq miles).

Population
481,000 (UN estimate 2002).

Population Density
17.1 per sq km.

Capital
Malabo. Population: 33,000 (2001).

Geography
Equatorial Guinea is bordered to the south and east by Gabon, to the north by Cameroon and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea. The country also comprises the island of Bioko, formerly Fernando Poo, 34km (21 miles) off the coast of Cameroon, and the small offshore islands of Corisco, Great Elobey, Small Elobey and Annobn (formerly Pagalu). The mainland province, Ri Muni, is mainly forest, with plantations on the coastal plain and some mountains. Bioko rises steeply to two main peaks in the north and south. The southern area is rugged and inaccessible. Cultivation and settlements exist on the other slopes; above the farming land, the forest is thick. The beaches around the islands are extremely beautiful.

Government
Republic. Declared independence from Spain in 1968. Head of State: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo since 1979. Head of Government: Miguel Abia Biteo Borico since 2004.

Language
Spanish and French are the official languages. The main African dialects spoken are Fang and Bubi (which is common on Bioko).

Religion
No official religion, but around 90 per cent are Roman Catholic, with an animist minority.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 240. Operator assistance may be required when making international calls from the country.

Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network, operated by GETESA. Coverage limited to Malabo and a few other inhabited areas.

Internet
Main ISP is run by GETESA (website: www.getesa.com).

Post
Service to Western Europe takes up to two weeks.

Press
Spanish language weekly publications include Hoja Parroquial and El Sol, produced in Equatorial Guinea. There's also the state-owned Ebano and the privately-owned La Nacion and La Opinion.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.