Factbook
History of Equatorial Guinea — Timeline
Key dates in the history of Equatorial Guinea, from the Magna Factbook and the Universal Encyclopedia.
1778In 1778, Portugal ceded its colonial hold over present-day Equatorial Guinea to Spain in the Treaty of El Pardo.
1778The borders of modern-day Equatorial Guinea would evolve between 1778 and 1968 as the area remained under European colonial rule.
1968In 1968, Equatorial Guinea was granted independence from Spain and elected Francisco MACIAS NGUEMA as its first president.
1968Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain).
1979In 1979, present-day President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo, then a senior military officer, deposed MACIAS in a violent coup.
1994Languages: Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Fa d'Ambo spoken in Annobon) 32.4% (1994 est.) Religions: Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.) Urban population: 74.4% of total population (2023).
1996Equatorial Guinea experienced rapid economic growth in the early years of the 21st century due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves in 1996.
2004Production peaked in 2004 and has declined since.
2018Major urban areas: 297,000 MALABO (capital) (2018) growing CEMAC economy and new OPEC member; large oil and gas reserves; targeting economic diversification and poverty reduction; still recovering from CEMAC crisis; improving public financial management; persistent poverty; hard-hit by COVID-19 Inflation: 4.8% (2022 est.).
2022OBIANG has ruled since and has been elected in non-competitive contests several times, most recently in 2022.
2023Generation mix — fossil fuels: 68.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 31.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) Energy use: 54.509 million Btu/person (2023 est.).
2023Industries: petroleum, natural gas, sawmilling Agriculture: sweet potatoes, cassava, plantains, oil palm fruit, root vegetables, bananas, coconuts, coffee, cocoa beans, chicken (2023) Electricity access: 67% (2022 est.).
