Equatorial Guinea: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Equatorial Guinea

Download the flag of Equatorial Guinea as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇬🇶.

History of Equatorial Guinea

The mainland region of Rio Muni and the islands of Bioko and Annobon were inhabited by Bantu-speaking peoples and others before European contact. Portugal claimed the islands in the fifteenth century, and in 1778 ceded them to Spain under the Treaty of El Pardo. Spain later ruled the territory as Spanish Guinea, granting it autonomy in the late 1960s. Independence came in 1968, followed by a long period of authoritarian rule under Francisco Macias Nguema until a coup in 1979. Oil production began in the 1990s. Equatorial Guinea is a presidential republic, and Malabo is its capital.

Key dates

1. 1778Portugal cedes Bioko, Annobon and mainland trading rights to Spain by the Treaty of El Pardo.
2. 1900The Treaty of Paris fixes the Spanish and French boundaries on the mainland.
3. 1963Spain grants the territory limited autonomy.
4. 1968Equatorial Guinea becomes independent from Spain on 12 October.
5. 1979Teodoro Obiang Nguema overthrows Francisco Macias Nguema in a coup.
6. 1990sOffshore oil production begins and reshapes the economy.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea uses the Central African CFA franc (XAF, Fr). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Frequently asked questions

Neighbours of Equatorial Guinea

CameroonYaoundéGabonLibreville

More countries in Middle Africa

AngolaLuandaCameroonYaoundéCentral African RepublicBanguiChadN'DjamenaDR CongoKinshasaGabonLibrevilleRepublic of the CongoBrazzavilleSão Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé