Equatorial Guinea

The rest of the country lies north of the equator, despite its name.

Offshore discoveries in the 1990s made it one of sub-Saharan Africa's larger oil producers.

The peak rises to about 3,011 meters.

Río Muni sits on the African mainland, while Bioko and Annobón are islands.

It became independent on October 12, 1968.

While Portuguese is an official language, Equatorial Guinea is not traditionally considered a Lusophone country like Angola or Mozambique. It adopted Portuguese in 2007 to strengthen ties with the Lusophone world, despite very few native speakers.

Bioko Island, part of Equatorial Guinea, is a biodiversity hotspot, home to several endemic species, particularly primates like the Bioko red colobus and drills. Its isolated volcanic origins have fostered a unique evolutionary path for its flora and fauna.

Equatorial Guinea boasts one of Africa's highest GDPs per capita, primarily due to its significant oil reserves. However, this wealth is not evenly distributed, leading to a stark contrast where a large portion of the population still lives in poverty with limited access to basic services.

Equatorial Guinea is the only sovereign African nation where Spanish is an official language, a direct result of its colonial past. This linguistic uniqueness sets it apart from other African countries, most of which speak English, French, or Portuguese due to their colonial heritage.

Despite being an African nation, Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo, is located on Bioko Island, over 200 kilometers off the mainland coast. This unique geographical setup makes it one of the few national capitals situated entirely on an island separate from the primary landmass.