World Factbook
Equatorial Guinea
Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ République de Guinée équatoriale (French)
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red, with a blue isosceles triangle based on the left side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six six-pointed yellow stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield with a silk-cotton tree; below is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice) meaning: green stands for the jungle and natural resources, blue for the sea, white for peace, and red for the fight for independence
Capital
name
Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.
etymology
English settlers who founded the city in 1827 named it Port Clarence after the Duke of CLARENCE; the Spanish renamed it Santa Isabel in 1843, for Queen ISABELLA II of Spain; it was renamed again in 1973 after King MALABO (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi (local ethnic group)
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
3 45 N, 8 47 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president
Country name
former
Spanish Guinea
etymology
the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator
local long form
Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ République de Guinée équatoriale (French)
local short form
Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/Guinée équatoriale (French)
conventional long form
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form
Equatorial Guinea
Independence
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Legal system
mixed system of civil and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the President of the Supreme Court and nine judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)
subordinate courts
Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for five-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister
chief of state
President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979)
election results
2022: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 95%, other 6.1% 2016: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 93.5%, other 6.5%
head of government
Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua (since 17 August 2024)
most recent election date
20 November 2022
election/appointment process
president directly elected by simple-majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
expected date of next election
2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
National color(s)
green, white, red, blue
Political parties
Center Right Union or UCD Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD Liberal Party or PL National Congress of Equatorial Guinea (CNGE) National Democratic Party (PNDGE) National Democratic Union or UDENA National Union for Democracy PUNDGE Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE Popular Union or UP Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP Social and Popular Convergence Party or CSDP Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) Social Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSDGE Social Democratic Union or UDS Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea
Legislative branch
legislature name
Parliament (Parlamento)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)
history
adopted 1968
lyrics/music
Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)
National symbol(s)
silk cotton tree
National coat of arms
the national symbol, the silk cotton tree, is in the center of the coat of arms; the tree represents the location where the first treaty was signed between local rulers and the Portuguese; the stars above the tree symbolize the mainland and the five offshore islands; a ribbon below the shield displays the national motto, “Unidad, Paz, Justicia” (Unity, Peace, Justice)
Administrative divisions
8 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Chamber of Deputies (Cámara de los Diputados)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
100 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/20/2022
expected date of next election
November 2027
percentage of women in chamber
31%
parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (100)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Senate (Senado)
term in office
5 years
number of seats
70 (55 directly elected; 15 appointed)
electoral system
proportional representation
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/20/2022
expected date of next election
November 2027
percentage of women in chamber
25%
parties elected and seats per party
Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) and its allies (55)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 518-5252
chancery
2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 518-5700
chief of mission
Ambassador Dr. Crisantos OBAMA ONDO (since 27 February 2024)
consulate(s) general
Houston
email address and website
info@egembassydc.com https://www.egembassydc.com/
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy
Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo
telephone
[240] 333 09-57-41
mailing address
2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520
chief of mission
Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)
email address and website
Malaboconsular@state.gov https://gq.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction