The capital city of Equatorial Guinea is Malabo, located on the north coast of Bioko Island. The island that houses the capital is closer to Cameroon than the mainland of Equatorial Guinea and resides in the Gulf of Guinea. The island was discovered in 1472 and Portuguese, British, and Spanish settlers have all had a presence here at one point or another. The city was officially founded in 1827 by the British who called it Port Clarence. The area has been known as Malabo since 1972.
The population of Malabo city is estimated at approximately 192,000 citizens which is about 25% of the population of the entire nation. 45% of the population is under 15 years of age and just 4% of citizens of Malabo are over 65 years old. Malabo is a city that is predominantly Catholic (80%) which is influenced by a Spanish colonial past. Islam, Judaism, and some Christian communities also exist in smaller numbers.
The city has preserved many buildings from the Spanish colonial era and the Palace of Justice of Malbo as well as the Presidential Palace are two of the best. Other architectural attractions include the Casa Teodolita, La Gaditana, Independence Square, and the City Hall. The island also offers boat trips as well as fishing and some diving available.
The climate of Malabo is classified as a tropical monsoon environment with large amounts of precipitation. Temperatures throughout the day are relatively consistent throughout the entire year and remain around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit). The wettest months in the country are September and October with a combined 500 millimetres (20 inches) of rain. Malabo is one of the cloudiest, lightning-prone, and wettest capital cities in the world averaging just 1,020 hours of sunshine per year.
This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018