POPULATION 498,144
ROMAN CATHOLIC 80 percent
PROTESTANT 5 percent
MUSLIM 4.1 percent
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL 3.4 percent
ANIMIST 2.1 percent
BAHAI 0.5 percent
NONRELIGIOUS 4.9 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea consists of a number of islands and islets—including Bioko (previously known as Fernando Po), Annobón, Corisco, and the two Elobeys—off the west coast of Africa in the Gulf of Guinea. In addition, the country includes the mainland enclave of Río Muni (also known as Mbini), which is bordered by Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the east and south.

At the time of its discovery by Portuguese mariners in the 1470s, Fernando Po was inhabited by Bubi speakers who sought to avoid Europeans during the Atlantic slave trade period. Inhabitants in heavily forested Río Muni—including Ndowe and other coastal groups, Bayele, and the majority Fang ethnic group—entered into sustained contact with Europeans in...