- Equatorial Guinea is located on the western coast of central Africa. The mainland borders on Cameroon to the north and Gabon to the south and east. The island of Bioko is off the coast of Cameroon, while other islands lie further offshore.
- Despite its name, it does not lie on the equator. However, Equatorial Guinea does have a tropical climate. The coastal plains give way to inland hills, with the islands being volcanic in nature. There have been issues in recent years with deforestation.
- The country's population is around 630,000 people, making it one of the least populated nations in the world. According to the 1994 census, there were five main ethnic groups, the Bantu and the Fang being the largest. Spanish and French are the official languages.
- Though small, the nation has recently discovered oil reserves that make it the third largest oil producer in that region of Africa. Agriculture is mostly on a subsistence basis because of poor conditions in rural areas.
- After seizing power in a coup, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled the country since 1979. Although there have been elections since, and despite being a constitutional democracy, the president wields complete control.
