Globalio

Flag of Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, a distinction reflecting its colonial history as a Spanish territory. It consists of a mainland region called Río Muni and several islands including Bioko, where the capital Malabo is located. The discovery of significant offshore oil deposits in the 1990s dramatically increased national income, though wealth distribution remains highly unequal among the population.

• CapitalMalabo
• RegionAfrica
• Current flag since1979
• Main coloursGreen, White, Red, Blue
• Populationabout 1.7 million
• Areaabout 28,000 km²
• Flags in history3

Population and area are rounded.

What the flag of Equatorial Guinea means

Green represents the natural resources and forests, white peace, red the fight for independence, and the blue triangle the sea that links the mainland with the islands. The coat of arms shows a silk-cotton tree and six stars for the mainland and the five main islands, with the motto “Unidad, Paz, Justicia”. The flag was adopted at independence from Spain in 1968.

More about the flag

Equatorial Guinea became independent from Spain on 12 October 1968. Under the dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema in the 1970s the coat of arms was replaced with one showing a rooster and work tools; the original arms returned after his overthrow in 1979. The six stars stand for the mainland, Río Muni, and the islands of Bioko, Annobón, Corisco, Elobey Grande and Elobey Chico. It is the only African country with Spanish as an official language.

How to recognise it

Horizontal green-white-red with a blue triangle at the hoist and a silk-cotton tree coat of arms.

Did you know?

Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish-speaking country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Easily confused with

Equatorial Guinea's flag is often mixed up with these. Learn to tell them apart:

Flag history of Equatorial Guinea

Every flag that has flown over Equatorial Guinea, from today back through time.

Neighbouring countries

Equatorial Guinea shares a land border with 2 countries: Cameroon and Gabon.

Other flags in green, white, red and blue

4 other national flags use the same main colours as Equatorial Guinea's.

Play Globalio and learn Equatorial Guinea's flag