International Equatorial Guinea relations

Country profile & diplomacy overview · 13 relations tracked

Equatorial Guinea is a small country located on the west coast of Central Africa, bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south. It is the only sovereign African state in which Spanish is an official language. The country gained independence from Spain in 1968 and has a history of authoritarian rule. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of Equatorial Guinea, has been in power since 1979 and has been accused of widespread corruption and human rights abuses.

Population

1.4M#153 of 203

Land area

28.1K km²#140 of 203

GDP

$12.8B#150 of 197

Military expenditure

$113.1M#141 of 167

Global influence

#162Very Low

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Closest relations Strained relations Equatorial Guinea No data

The economy of Equatorial Guinea is largely dependent on oil and natural gas production, which accounts for the majority of its GDP and exports. The country is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and has large oil reserves. However, the country has faced criticism for its lack of transparency in the management of its oil wealth, and many citizens have not seen the benefits of the country's economic growth.

Equatorial Guinea has a small population of around 1.3 million people and is ethnically diverse, with a mix of Bantu and Pygmy groups. The country has a relatively high standard of living compared to other countries in the region, but there are still significant disparities between the wealthy elite and the majority of the population.

In terms of foreign relations, Equatorial Guinea has strong ties to Spain, its former colonizer, as well as to other countries in the region, such as Cameroon and Gabon. It has also sought to improve relations with the United States and other Western countries in recent years, in part through its membership in OPEC. However, the country's human rights record and lack of transparency in its governance has led to criticism and strained relations with some Western countries.

Geography & terrain

Split between a mainland region (Río Muni) of coastal lowland rising to forested hills, and Pacific-facing islands including Bioko, where the volcanic capital sits. Hot, humid equatorial climate with dense rainforest cover. Atlantic coastline on both mainland and islands. The rainforest interior slows overland movement, and the physical separation between island capital and mainland complicates any single invasion effort, though it also fragments the country's own defense.

Key facts

Diverse sources: UN, World Bank, Equatorial Guinea Statistics Office/Department. Most recent available data
Capital	Malabo (297.0K people, 21.2% of total population)
Population	1.4M (#153 of 203 countries)
Land area	28.1K km² (#140 of 203 countries)
Main religion	Christianity
Life expectancy	59 years

Source: World Bank Open Data. Most recent available data (2025)
Currency	Central African CFA Franc
Main language(s)	Spanish, French
Government type	Presidential republic
Time zone	UTC+1.0
GDP	$12.8B (#150 of 197 countries)
GDP per capita	$6.6K (#108 of 198 countries)
International calling code	+240
Driving side	Right
UNESCO World Heritage Sites	0
Military expenditure	$113.1M
Land military expenditure (estimation)	$56.6M
Air military expenditure (estimation)	$22.6M
Naval military expenditure (estimation)	$33.9M
Military expenditure (% of GDP)	1.0%
Military expenditure per capita	$81
Nuclear power	No
European Union	Not a member
NATO	Not a member
Other groups	African Union

Shares a land border with 2 countries — here is how those relations stand

Equatorial Guinea's relations with its neighbors

Most similar countries, by language, currency, GDP per capita, borders & international groups

Rank #162 Very Low International Influence

Equatorial Guinea's actions have no significant effect on the world, and a very limited impact on other countries.

See the full world influence ranking →

Most intense relations

Top 5 relations of Equatorial Guinea by overall intensity. Intensity reflects the level and significance of interaction—not whether the relationship is positive or negative.