12 Things You May Not Know about Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Malabo is the capital city of Republic of Equatorial Guinea, located near Gulf of Guinea and the Equator. The republic’s commercial and financial center is also the oldest city in the country.

Malabo was first founded in 1827, by British people. It was called Port Clarence and was used as a naval station. It later came to be known as Santa Isabel when it was returned to Spanish control, until 1973.

Malabo is one of the very few capitals that are not located on the mainland. It is on the northern coast of Bioko island, on the rim of a sunken volcano.

Though Spanish is the official language, Equatorial Guinean Pidgin is widely used for communication in the city and across Bioko Island.

The city is one of the cloudiest, wettest, and lightning-prone capitals in the world. The city only gets 1,020 hours of sunshine in a year. Even in dry months, Malabo is covered with fog.

Exports majorly include timber, coffee, cocoa, crude oil, and many more.

Though fairly unknown, Malabo holds a bigger share in international trade from Equatorial Guinea.

Malabo harbor is one of the deepest seaports in the region. It is used for exports and can dock several ships at one time.

Malabo has the highest population density in the country, an average of 37,126 residents per square mile. The city was estimated to have a population of 2,97,000 residents in 2018.

The Museum of Modern Art Equatorial Guinea in Malabo showcases the traditional art of the whole country.

Basilé Peak, standing tall at 9,878 feet, is the highest mountain in Equatorial Guinea and can be seen from anywhere in the city of Malabo.

Nuevo Estadio de Malabo is the main sports facility in the city and can accommodate more than 15,000 spectators. It is also home to the national football team of Equatorial Guinea.

Only 8 square miles (21 square kilometers) come under the city limits of Malabo.