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Equatorial Guinea

Description

Equatorial Guinea is a nation found in the center of Africa, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Even though the region has a long and eventful history, the country as a whole is just a few decades old. The Portuguese were the first in the Gulf of Guinea during the European colonial expansion between the 15th and 16th centuries. However, given that their primary purpose was to circumnavigate Africa to arrive in India, they never actually set foot on the continent. Instead, they confined their efforts to constructing ports on the islands and along the coastlines.

The discovery of oil within their maritime boundaries led to a meteoric rise in their country’s economic output. But almost no investments or profits brought into the country over more than twenty years have ever been transferred to improve the quality of life in the region. On the contrary, the abundance of oil wealth has been a significant scourge.

According to the Human Development Index that the United Nations developed in 2020, Equatorial Guinea was placed in the 145th position out of 189, equal to having a low quality of life. This index included 189 different countries. In addition, there is a pervasive aura of social and political repression at all times. Nevertheless, Equatorial Guinea has a literate population of 95%, making it the country with the second-best literacy rate on the African continent.

Facts

President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Language: Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Currency: CFA Franc

Main Sport: Soccer

Figures

Population: 1,500,298

Land Area: 10,830 mi²

Unemployment Rate: 9.25%

Population Under Poverty Line: 70%

Faith

Roman Catholic: 80%

Evangelicals: 5%

Other: 15%