Demographics of Equatorial Guinea

Demographics of Equatorial Guinea
Population pyramid of the Equatorial Guinea in 2020
Population	1,679,172 (2022 est.)
Growth rate	3.5% (2022 est.)
Birth rate	29.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Death rate	8.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Life expectancy	63.7 years
• male	61.44 years
• female	66.03 years
Fertility rate	4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.)
Infant mortality rate	78.33 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate	13.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.)
Age structure
0–14 years	38.73%
65 and over	3.92%
Sex ratio
Total	1.15 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth	1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15	1.08 male(s)/female
65 and over	0.87 male(s)/female
Nationality
Nationality	Equatorial Guinean
Major ethnic	Fang (85.7%)
Language
Official	Spanish

Demographic features of the population of Equatorial Guinea include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.

According to the 2022 revision of the world factbook the total population was 1,679,172 in 2022.^[1] The proportion of children below the age of 14 in 2020 was 38.73%, 57.35% was between 15 and 65 years of age, while 3.92% was 65 years or older.^[1][2]

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.VII.2020) (Estimates or projections based on the 2015 population census.):^[3]

Registration of vital events is in Equatorial Guinea not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates. ^[2]

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):^[4]

Fertility data as of 2011 (DHS Program):^[4]

Period	Life expectancy in Years[5]
1950–1955	34.48
1955–1960	35.99
1960–1965	37.49
1965–1970	38.99
1970–1975	40.50
1975–1980	42.04
1980–1985	45.54
1985–1990	47.21
1990–1995	49.35
1995–2000	51.75
2000–2005	53.57
2005–2010	54.93
2010–2015	56.84

The majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea are of Niger-Congo origin. The largest ethnic group, the Fang, are indigenous to the mainland, but substantial migration to Bioko Island has resulted in Fang dominance over the earlier Bubi inhabitants. The Fang constitute 80% of the population and are themselves divided into 67 clans. Those in the northern part of Rio Muni speak Fang-Ntumu, while those in the south speak Fang-Okah; the two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The Bubi, who constitute 15% of the population, are indigenous to Bioko Island.

In addition, there are coastal ethnic groups, collectively referred to as Ndowe or Playeros ("Beach People" in Spanish): Combes, Bujebas, Balengues and Bengas on the mainland and small islands and a Fernandino community of Krio descended people on Bioko. Together, these groups compose 5% of the population.

Two small groups of Pygmies also inhabit the country, the Beyele and the Bokuign,^[7] the former being located in the Altos de Nsork region.^[8] Their population is dwindling, them being subjected to heavy pressure from their neighbours, who don't even consider them as human.^[9]

8,800 black and white mixed race people, named Fernandino peoples, also live in Equatorial Guinea.^[10] The Asian Africans, the Fernandino peoples and the White Africans represent 10% of the total population of Equatorial Guinea.

Some Europeans (largely of Spanish or Portuguese descent) – among them mixed with African ethnicity – also live in the nation. Most Spaniards left after independence. There is a growing number of foreigners from neighboring Cameroon, Nigeria, and Gabon. Equatorial Guinea received Asians and black Africans from other countries as workers on cocoa and coffee plantations. In the late 20th century, Equatorial Guinea became home to more than 80,000 Hispanics from Mexico, Central America, and other Spanish speaking nations in the Americas. 17,000^[11] Spanish people and 5,000^[12] Chinese people also live in Equatorial Guinea. The non-Africans living in Equatorial Guinea represent almost 10% of the nation's total population. Other black Africans came from Liberia, Angola, and Mozambique, and Asians are mostly Chinese with small numbers of Indians. Equatorial Guinea also allowed many fortune-seeking European settlers of other nationalities, including British, French and Germans. After independence, thousands of Equatorial Guineans went to Spain. Another 100,000 Equatorial Guineans went to Cameroon, Gabon, and Nigeria because of dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema. Some of its communities also live in Brazil, United States, Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Portugal, and France.

Spanish, French and Portuguese are the official languages and spoken as second languages. Spanish is the language of education, and for this reason a majority of the population (about 88%) can speak it.^[13] Annobonese speak a Portuguese Creole, named Annobonese, as their first language. Asian migrants and descendants of European settlers (mostly Spaniards, Britons and Portuguese) usually speak their ancestral languages along with Spanish. Other Africans usually speak their native languages and their nation's official languages – English and Igbo^[14][15] for Nigerians; English for Cameroonians and Liberians; French for Cameroonians and Gabonese; and Portuguese for Angolans and Mozambicans. The latter was made an official language since July 13, 2007. 82% of first foreign language learners choose the French language and 18% the English language.^[16] The Roman Catholic Church has greatly influenced both religion and education.

Equatoguineans tend to have both a Spanish first name and an African first and last name. When written, the Spanish and African first names are followed by the father's first name (which becomes the principal surname) and the mother's first name. Thus people may have up to four names, with a different surname for each generation.

Demographic statistics according to the World Population Review in 2022.^[17]

• One birth every 11 minutes
• One death every 41 minutes
• One net migrant every 41 minutes
• Net gain of one person every 11 minutes

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook.^[18]

1,679,173 (2022 est.)

836,178 (July 2020 est.)

note: 2002 census results claim 1,015,000 residents, although this was most likely inflated in anticipation for the December election.^[19]

Spanish (official) 67.6%, other (includes Fang, Bubi, Portuguese (official), French (official), Portuguese-based Creoles spoken in Ano Bom) 32.4% (1994 est.)

Roman Catholic 88%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2015 est.)

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 5%, Muslim 2%, other 5% (animist, Baha'i, Jewish) (2010 est.)^[20]

0-14 years: 38.73% (male 164,417 /female 159,400)

15-24 years: 19.94% (male 84,820 /female 81,880)

25-54 years: 32.72% (male 137,632 /female 135,973)

55-64 years: 4.69% (male 17,252 /female 22,006)

65 years and over: 3.92% (male 13,464 /female 19,334) (2020 est.)

3.5% (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 5th

2.35% (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 29th

29.95 births/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 30th

30.7 births/1,000 population (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 31st

8.95 deaths/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 62nd

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 112th

4.19 children born/woman (2023 est.) Country comparison to the world: 20th

4.26 children born/woman (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 24th

4.11 children born/woman (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 29th

total: 20.3 years. Country comparison to the world: 192nd

male: 19.9 years

female: 20.7 years (2020 est.)

12.6% (2011)

13.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2022 est.) Country comparison to the world: 3rd

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 81st

total dependency ratio: 72.16 (2022 est.)

youth dependency ratio: 60.5 (2020 est.)

elderly dependency ratio: 3.9 (2020 est.)

potential support ratio: 25.5 (2020 est.)

urban population: 74% of total population (2022)

rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population: 73.1% of total population (2020)

rate of urbanization: 4.28% annual rate of change (2015–20 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

total population: 63.7 years. Country comparison to the world: 206th

male: 61.44 years

female: 66.03 years (2022 est.)

total population: 65.7 years (2020 est.) Country comparison to the world: 192nd

male: 64.4 years (2020 est.)

female: 66.9 years (2020 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)

total population: 95.3% (2015 est.)

male: 97.4% (2015 est.)

female: 93% (2015 est.)

degree of risk: very high (2020)

food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever

animal contact diseases: rabies

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 This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2024 ed.). CIA. (Archived 2006 edition.)