Editing Equatorial Guinea (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Equatorial Guinea}}
[[File:Equatorial Guinea population.svg|thumb|left|Timeline of the Equatoguinean population between 1960 and 2017. Population in thousands of inhabitants.]]

{|class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px"
|+Population in Equatorial Guinea{{UN Population|ref}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNData app: Ecuatorial Guinea population 2020|url=http://data.un.org/en/iso/gq.html|access-date=23 September 2021|website=UN Data|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811193236/http://data.un.org/en/iso/gq.html}}</ref>
! Year
! Million
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|1950 ||style="text-align:right;"|0.2
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|2000 ||style="text-align:right;"|0.6
|-
|style="text-align:left;"|2020 ||style="text-align:right;"|1.4
|}

The majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea are of [[Bantu people|Bantu]] origin.<ref>{{cite book|title=Well Oiled: Oil and Human Rights in Equatorial Guinea|first=Alex|last=Vines|page=9|publisher=Human Rights Watch|year=2009|isbn=978-1-56432-516-7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CnlkA-QBizAC&pg=PA9|access-date=19 December 2012|archive-date=16 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216172501/https://books.google.com/books?id=CnlkA-QBizAC&pg=PA9|url-status=live}}</ref> The largest ethnic group, the [[Fang people|Fang]], is indigenous to the mainland, but substantial migration to [[Bioko Island]] since the 20th century means the Fang population exceeds that of the earlier [[Bubi people|Bubi]] inhabitants. The Fang constitute 80% of the population<ref>{{cite news|title=Equatorial Guinea's God|access-date=26 May 2011|newspaper=BBC|date=26 July 2003|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3098007.stm|archive-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728131339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3098007.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and comprise around 67 clans. Those in the northern part of [[Río Muni]] speak Fang-Ntumu, while those in the south speak Fang-Okah; the two dialects have differences but are mutually intelligible. Dialects of Fang are also spoken in parts of neighboring Cameroon (Bulu) and Gabon. These dialects, while still intelligible, are more distinct. The Bubi, who constitute 15% of the population, are indigenous to Bioko Island. The traditional demarcation line between Fang and 'Beach' (inland) ethnic groups was the village of [[Niefang]] (limit of the Fang), east of Bata.

Coastal ethnic groups, sometimes referred to as [[Ndowe]] or "Playeros" (''Beach People'' in Spanish): [[Combe people|Combes]], [[Bujeba people|Bujebas]], [[Balengue people|Balengues]], and [[Benga people|Bengas]] on the mainland and small islands, and [[Fernandinos]], a [[Sierra Leone Krio people|Krio]] community on Bioko Island together comprise 5% of the population. Europeans (largely of Spanish or [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] descent, some with partial African ancestry) also live in the country, but most ethnic Spaniards left after independence.

[[File:bubi children.jpg|thumb|Equatorial Guinean children of [[Bubi people|Bubi]] descent]]

A growing number of foreigners from neighboring [[Cameroon]], Nigeria, and [[Gabon]] have immigrated to the country. According to the ''Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations'' (2002) 7% of Bioko islanders were [[Igbo people|Igbo]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: A-C|first=James|last=Minahan|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2002|isbn=0-313-32109-4|page=330}}</ref> Equatorial Guinea received [[Asians]] and native Africans from other countries as workers on cocoa and coffee plantations. Other black Africans came from [[Liberia]], Angola, and [[Mozambique]]. Most of the Asian population is [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]], with small numbers of [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Indians]].

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Equatoguinean Spanish|Academia Ecuatoguineana de la Lengua Española}}
[[File:Malabo (16511251451).jpg|thumb|left|Floral inscription with the name of the country in Spanish in [[Malabo]]]]

Since its independence in 1968, the main official language of Equatorial Guinea has been Spanish (the local variant is [[Equatoguinean Spanish]]), which acts as a lingua franca among its different ethnic groups. In 1970, during Macías' rule, Spanish was replaced by [[Fang language|Fang]], the language of its [[Fang people|majority ethnic group]], to which Macías belonged. That decision was reverted in 1979 after Macías' fall. Spanish remained as its lone official language until 1998, when French was added as its second one, as it had previously joined the [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]] (CEMAC), whose founding members are French-speaking nations, two of them (Cameroon and Gabon) surrounding its continental region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/anuario/anuario_09/gil_otero/p05.htm|title=5. Guinea Ecuatorial - Centro Virtual Cervantes|language=es|access-date=25 January 2022|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126002920/https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/anuario/anuario_09/gil_otero/p05.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CIA /> Portuguese was adopted as its third official language in 2010.<ref name="CPLP">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/id-258.aspx|title=Guiné Equatorial|publisher=CPLP|access-date=28 November 2014|language=pt|archive-date=27 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127113041/http://www.cplp.org/id-258.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sol">{{cite web|url=http://www.sol.pt/noticia/99354|title=Formação de professores e programas televisivos introduzem português na Guiné-Equatorial|language=pt|trans-title=Teacher formation and television programs introduce Portuguese in Equatorial Guinea|publisher=Sol|date=5 February 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000230/http://www.sol.pt/noticia/99354|url-status=live}}</ref> Spanish has been an official language since 1844. It is still the language of education and administration. 67.6% of Equatorial Guineans can speak it, especially those living in the capital, [[Malabo]].<ref name=obi>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216191116/http://actualidad.terra.es/internacional/articulo/obiang_comunidad_naciones_1710388.htm Obiang convierte al portugués en tercer idioma oficial para entrar en la Comunidad lusófona de Naciones], ''Terra''. 13 July 2007</ref> French was only made official in order to join the [[Organisation internationale de la Francophonie|Francophonie]], and it is not locally spoken, except in some border towns; and Portuguese was only made official in order to join the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]], so it too is not locally spoken, although the Annobonese and local Catholics have links to the language.

Aboriginal languages are recognised as integral parts of the "national culture" (Constitutional Law No. 1/1998, 21 January). Indigenous languages (some of them [[Creole language|creoles]]) include [[Fang language|Fang]], [[Bube language|Bube]], [[Benga language|Benga]], [[Combe language|Ndowe]], [[Balengue language|Balengue]], [[Bujeba language|Bujeba]], Bissio, Gumu, [[Igbo language|Igbo]], [[Pichinglis]], [[Annobonese language|Fa d'Ambô]] and the nearly extinct [[Baseke language|Baseke]]. Most African ethnic groups speak [[Bantu languages]].<ref name="GEpress_noticia134en">[http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=134&lang=en Oficina de Información y Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial, Ministerio de Información, Cultura y Turismo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109193517/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=134&lang=en |date=9 January 2014 }}. Guineaecuatorialpress.com. Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref>

[[File:Lenguas de Guinea Ecuatorial.png|thumb|African languages of Equatorial Guinea and its environment.]]

[[Annobonese language|Fa d'Ambô]], a Portuguese creole, is in use in [[Annobón Province]], in Malabo, and on Equatorial Guinea's mainland. Many residents of Bioko can also speak Spanish, particularly in the capital, and the local trade language, [[Pichinglis]], an English-based creole. Spanish is not spoken much in Annobón. In government and education, Spanish is used. Noncreolized Portuguese is used as a liturgical language by local Catholics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/language/fab|title=Fa d'Ambu|work=Ethnologue (Free All) |publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407195306/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/fab|url-status=live}}</ref> The Annobonese ethnic community tried to gain membership in the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]] (CPLP). The government financed an [[International Portuguese Language Institute|Instituto Internacional da Língua Portuguesa]] (IILP) sociolinguistic study in Annobón. It documented strong links with the Portuguese creole populations in São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.<ref name="sol" />

Due to historical and cultural ties, in 2010, the legislature amended Article 4 of the [[Constitution of Equatorial Guinea]] to establish Portuguese as an official language of the Republic. This was an effort by the government to improve its communications, trade, and bilateral relations with Portuguese-speaking countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equatorial-guinea-adds-portuguese-as-the-countrys-third-official-language-131882808.html|title=Equatorial Guinea Adds Portuguese as the Country's Third Official Language|publisher=PRNewsWire|date=14 October 2011|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163747/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equatorial-guinea-adds-portuguese-as-the-countrys-third-official-language-131882808.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GuineEqGov">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703l|title=El portugués será el tercer idioma oficial de la República de Guinea Ecuatorial|publisher=Gobierno de la Republica de Guinea Ecuatoria|access-date=15 November 2010|language=es|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222205/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703l}}</ref><ref name="GuineEqGovPDF">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/imgdb/2010/20-7-2010Decretosobreelportuguescomoidiomaoficial.pdf|title=Proyecto de Ley Constitucional|publisher=Gobierno de la Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial|date=14 October 2011|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103202646/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/imgdb/2010/20-7-2010Decretosobreelportuguescomoidiomaoficial.pdf}}</ref> It also recognises long historical ties with Portugal and with Portuguese-speaking peoples of Brazil, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde.

Some of the motivations for Equatorial Guinea's pursuit of membership in the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]] (CPLP) included access to several professional and academic exchange programmes and facilitated cross-border circulation of citizens.<ref name=obi /> The adoption of Portuguese as an official language was the primary requirement to apply for CPLP acceptance. In addition, the country was told it must adopt political reforms allowing effective democracy and respect for human rights.<ref>[http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703 "Portuguese will be the third official language of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104083320/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703 |date=4 November 2011 }}. ''Guinea Ecuatorial Press'', (20 July 2010). Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref> The national parliament discussed this law in October 2011.<ref name="GEpress_noticia1980">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=1980|title=S. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo clausura el Segundo Periodo Ordinario de Sesiones del pleno de la Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo|language=es|trans-title=President Obiang closes second session period of parliament|author=María Jesús Nsang Nguema (Prensa Presidencial)|publisher=Oficina de Información y Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial (D. G. Base Internet)|date=15 October 2011|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107084939/http://guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=1980|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, Equatorial Guinea's foreign minister signed an agreement with the IILP on the promotion of Portuguese in the country.<ref name="IILP_Blog2012-02-07">{{cite web|url=http://iilp.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/assinado-termo-de-cooperacao-entre-iilp-e-guine-equatorial/|title=Assinado termo de cooperação entre IILP e Guiné Equatorial|language=pt|trans-title=Protocol signed on cooperation between IILP and Guinea Equatorial|publisher=Instituto Internacional de Língua Portuguesa|date=7 February 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222061328/http://iilp.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/assinado-termo-de-cooperacao-entre-iilp-e-guine-equatorial/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CPLP_News1875">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1875|title=Protocolo de Cooperação entre a Guiné-Equatorial e o IILP|language=pt|trans-title=Protocol on cooperation between IILP and Guinea Equatorial|publisher=CPLP|date=7 February 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713062429/http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1875|url-status=live}} This note contains a link to the text of the protocol in PDF format.</ref> In July 2012, the CPLP refused Equatorial Guinea full membership, primarily because of its continued serious violations of human rights. The government responded by legalising political parties, declaring a moratorium on the death penalty, and starting a dialog with all political factions.<ref name="sol" /><ref name="expr">{{cite web|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/cplp-vai-ajudar-guine-equatorial-a-assimilar-valores=f890337|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141124094752/http://expresso.sapo.pt/cplp-vai-ajudar-guine-equatorial-a-assimilar-valores=f890337|archive-date=24 November 2014|title=CPLP vai ajudar Guiné-Equatorial a "assimilar valores"|language=pt|publisher=Expresso|date=20 September 2014|access-date=24 November 2012}}</ref> Additionally, the IILP secured land from the government for the construction of Portuguese language cultural centres in Bata and Malabo.<ref name="sol" /> At its tenth summit in [[Dili]] in July 2014, Equatorial Guinea was admitted as a CPLP member. Abolition of the death penalty and the promotion of Portuguese as an official language were preconditions of the approval.<ref name="CPLP_NewsID1635">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1635|title=Nota informativa: Missão da CPLP à Guiné Equatorial|language=pt|publisher=CPLP|date=3 May 2011|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=12 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212105328/http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1635|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{bar box
|title = Religion in Equatorial Guinea
|titlebar=#ddd |left1=Religion |right1=per cent |float=right
|bars =
{{bar percent|[[Roman Catholicism in Equatorial Guinea|Roman Catholic]]|Blue|88}}
{{bar percent|Other (indigenous beliefs / [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼí]])|Gray|5}}
{{bar percent|[[Protestantism|Protestant]]|green|5}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Equatorial Guinea|Muslim]]|Green|2}}
}}
[[File:Santa Isabel Malabo 20131224 140204.jpg|thumb|upright|Santa Isabel Cathedral in Malabo]]

The principal religion in Equatorial Guinea is [[Christianity]], the faith of 93% of the population. [[Roman Catholicism in Equatorial Guinea|Roman Catholics]] make up the majority (88%), while a minority are Protestants (5%). Of the population, 2% follows [[Islam in Equatorial Guinea|Islam]] (mainly [[Sunni]]). The remaining 5% practise [[Animism]], [[Baháʼí Faith in Equatorial Guinea|Baháʼí]], and other beliefs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=280736#wrapper|title=International Religious Freedom Report for 2017|access-date=22 May 2019|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226044051/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2017&dlid=280736#wrapper}}</ref> and traditional animist beliefs are often mixed with Catholicism.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Matt |first1=Phillips |title=The Africa Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the Continent |last2=Andrew |first2=David |last3=Bainbridge |first3=James |last4=Bewer |first4=Tim |last5=Bindloss |first5=Joe |last6=Carillet |first6=Jean-Bernard |last7=Clammer |first7=Paul |last8=Cornwell |first8=Jane |last9=Crossan |first9=Rob |date=September 2007 |publisher=[[Lonely Planet]] |editor=Matt Phillips |isbn=978-1-74104-602-1 |location=[[Footscray, Victoria|Footscray]], Australia |page=116 |oclc=144596621}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{Main|Health in Equatorial Guinea}}

Equatorial Guinea's [[malaria]] programs in the early 21st century achieved success in reducing [[malaria]] infection and [[mortality rate|mortality]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Steketee|first1=R. W.|title=Good news in malaria control... Now what?|journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene|volume=80|issue=6|pages=879–880|year=2009|doi=10.4269/ajtmh.2009.80.879|pmid=19478241|doi-access=free}}</ref> Their program consists of twice-yearly indoor residual spraying (IRS), the introduction of [[Antimalarial medication|artemisinin]] combination treatment (ACTs), the use of [[Intermittent preventive therapy|intermittent preventive treatment]] in pregnant women (IPTp), and the introduction of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets (LLINs). Their efforts resulted in a reduction in all-cause under-five mortality from 152 to 55 deaths per 1,000 live births (down 64%), a drop that coincided with the launch of the program.<ref>[http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/882?ijkey=42e57e2ed496ad1cc91ad3c34a8636edd294d458&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha Marked Increase in Child Survival after Four Years of Intensive Malaria Control] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510015151/http://www.ajtmh.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/6/882?ijkey=42e57e2ed496ad1cc91ad3c34a8636edd294d458&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha |date=10 May 2011 }}. Ajtmh.org. Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref>

In June 2014, four cases of [[Poliomyelitis|polio]] were reported, making it the country's first outbreak of that disease.<ref name="EquatorialGuinea">{{cite news|title=Detection of poliovirus in São Paulo airport sewage: WHO|url=http://www.brazilnews.net/index.php/sid/223187509/scat/24437442923341f1/ht/Detection-of-poliovirus-in-Sao-Paulo-airport-sewage-WHO|access-date=23 June 2014|publisher=Brazil News.Net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710234957/http://www.brazilnews.net/index.php/sid/223187509/scat/24437442923341f1/ht/Detection-of-poliovirus-in-Sao-Paulo-airport-sewage-WHO|archive-date=10 July 2014}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Further|Education in Equatorial Guinea}}
[[File:Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Deportes (Malabo) (6510104101).jpg|thumb|Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (''Ministerio de Educación, Ciencia y Deportes'' in Spanish)]]

Among sub-Saharan African countries, Equatorial Guinea has one of the highest literacy rates.<ref name="cia.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/literacy/|title=Literacy - The World Factbook|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=13 April 2022|archive-date=1 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230401014237/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/field/literacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Central Intelligence Agency's World Factbook, {{as of|2015|lc=y}}, 95.3% of the population age 15 and over were able to read and write in the country.<ref name="cia.gov"/> Under [[Francisco Macias]], few children received any type of education. Under President Obiang, the illiteracy rate dropped from 73% to 13%,<ref name=CIA /> and the number of primary school students rose from 65,000 in 1986 to more than 100,000 in 1994. Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14.<ref name="web.archive.org" />

The Equatorial Guinea government has partnered with [[Hess Corporation]] and The Academy for Educational Development (AED) to establish a $20 million education program for primary school teachers to teach modern child development techniques.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081120025210/http://www.aed.org/News/Stories/equatorial_guinea_partnership.cfm HESS and AED Partner to Improve Education in Equatorial Guinea]. AED.org</ref> There are now 51 model schools whose active pedagogy will be a national reform.{{update inline|date=December 2018}}

The country has one university, the [[Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial]] (UNGE), with a campus in Malabo and a Faculty of Medicine located in Bata on the mainland. In 2009 the university produced the first 110 national doctors. The Bata Medical School is supported principally by the government of Cuba and staffed by Cuban medical educators and physicians.<ref>[https://www.voanews.com/a/equatorial-guinea-minister-seeks-strong-ties-with-us-89956902/153987.html Equatorial Guinea Minister Seeks Strong Ties With U.S] . Voanews.com (4 April 2010). Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref>