People and Society of Equatorial Guinea

Nationality

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

Ethnic Groups

Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Population

650,702

Population in Major Urban Areas

MALABO (capital) 137,000

Medical facilities are very limited. Pharmacies in Malabo and Bata stock basic medicines including antibiotics, but cannot becounted on to supply advanced medications. Outside of these cities, many medicines are unavailable. You are advised to carry a supply of properly-labeled prescription drugs and other medications that you require for your entire stay; an adequate supply of prescription or over-the-counter drugs in local stores or pharmacies is generally not available. The sanitation levels in hospitals are very low, except for the new La Paz Hospitals in Bata and Malabo, which meet the medical standards of a modern hospital in a developed country. Doctors and hospitals often require immediate payment for health services, and patients are sometimes expected to supply their own bandages, linen, and toiletries. Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. The national government, along with international oil companies in the country, has taken aggressive steps to control the mosquito population and limit the impact of malaria on the population centers in Malabo and Bata. Plasmodium falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in Equatorial Guinea, is resistant to the anti-malarial drug chloroquine. Travelers to the country are at high risk for contracting malaria; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise that you take one of the following anti-malarial drugs: mefloquine,doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone™). If you become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, you should seek prompt medical attention and tell your physician your travel history and what anti-malarials you have been taking. Visit the CDC's Travelers' Health page for additional information on malaria, including protective measures. There are periodic outbreaks of cholera in Equatorial Guinea. Yellow fever can cause serious medical problems, but the vaccine, required for entry, is very effective in preventing the disease. Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Equatorial Guinea. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB. Many insect-borne illnesses are present. Insect precautions are encouraged at all times. Avoid non-chlorinated freshwater contact on the mainland to lessen the risk of Schistosomiasis.

Major Infectious Diseases

Very high

Literacy Definition

Age 15 and over can read and write

Classroom

Education in general has not been given a great priority here and there is no real development for schools and materials that are involved in learning. Schools in Equatorial Guinea face some of the greatest challenges anywhere in Africa. The teachers themselves are not usually many and very few of them are properly trained to be teachers. This leads to a high student teacher ratio which makes it very hard for the teachers to have time to concentrate on assisting any child who may have special needs in the class. Many classes, which are made of earth bricks, are crumbling. Materials such as blackboards and chalk, books and any other teaching materials are usually very hard to come by so the teacher must do with the little that the government provides. There are some areas where teachers face politically instigated violence because they are perceived to be friendly to the government. This makes it difficult for children to have access to qualified teachers because the teachers fear being victimized.

Learning

Classes are conducted in Spanish and everyone tries to learn the language because it is the language in which business is conducted, although English and French are sometimes used.

To School

The journey to school is on foot. Because schools are sparse, children from neighboring villages will all congregate in one school, which leads to overcrowding. The journey to school may be long with some children having to walk for over 5 kilometers. Classes begin at about 7:30 am and the lessons usually take close to 40 minutes, with a short break at around 10:30 am when children will play and catch up with their friends from neighboring villages. There is usually a lunch break which is followed thereafter by afternoon classes. Although primary education is free and compulsory, there are several obstacles preventing universal access to the benefits offered by the education system. No legal provision has yet been adopted to determine the scope of the principle of free primary education. The poor rate of school attendance by girls remains a cultural problem. Despite legislation establishing gender equality, the persistence of cultural and/or traditional factors is impeding universal attendance by girls.

• Roman Catholic (est)60.0%
• Christian (est.)25.0%
• Pagan (est.)10.0%
• Other5.0%

Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo

• French
• Pidgin
• Spanish

Crime Information

Violent crime is rare and the overall level of criminal activity is low in comparison to other countries in the region. However, there has been a rise in non-violent street crime and residential burglaries. You should exercise prudence and normal caution, including avoiding dark alleys, remote locations, and traveling alone. Sexual assault is either rare or not reported (there are no crime statistics or studies) and there is no specific group of people specifically targeted. There is little evidence of racially motivated hate crimes and U.S. citizens are not specifically targeted. There is also limited evidence of scams or confidence schemes. In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are widely available. You will find such products widely available on the streets, local shops, and in market places. Transactions involving such products may be illegal under local law. In addition, carrying them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or fines.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Equatorial Guinea, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. Persons violating Equatoguinean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Equatorial Guinea are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Equatorial Guinea, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.