View source for Malabo

{{Short description|Former capital of Equatorial Guinea}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Malabo
| other_name         = Santa Isabel (before 1973)
| settlement_type    = City (Former Capital 1968–2026)<ref>https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/01/04/equatorial-guinea-relocates-capital-to-ciudad-de-la-paz_6749064_4.html</ref><ref>https://www.archdaily.com/1037773/equatorial-guinea-relocates-its-capital-from-malabo-to-ciudad-de-la-paz-on-central-africas-mainland</ref>
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 =Hotel de Federaciones 02.jpg
| photo2a                 = Katedrala,_Malabo08233.JPG
| photo2b                 = Sofitel Malabo President Palace.jpg
| photo3a                 = Centro Cultural de España en Malabo.jpg
| photo3b                 = Malabo (16511256061).jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 280
| foot_montage            = Top: Malabo skyline; Middle: Cathedral of Santa Isabel, Presidential Palace; Bottom: Spain Cultural Center, Bata Waterfront
}}
| pushpin_map        = Equatorial Guinea#Africa
| pushpin_relief     = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Equatorial Guinea
| pushpin_map1       = 
| pushpin_map_caption1 = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_shield       = Seal of Malabo.png
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Equatorial Guinea|Province]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
| subdivision_name1  = [[Bioko Norte]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Provinces of Equatorial Guinea|Region]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Insular Region (Equatorial Guinea)|Insular Region]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1827
| established_title2 = Current name
| established_date2  = Since 1973
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 21
| area_land_km2      = 
| area_water_km2     = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_as_of   = 2018
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109235259/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/equatorial-guinea|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 January 2021|title=Equatorial Guinea – The World Factbook|date=7 June 2018|website=cia.gov|access-date=24 June 2018}}</ref>
| population_total   = 297,000
| population_urban   = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_blank1  = [[Bubi people|Bubi]] • [[Fernandino people|Fernandinos]]
| population_demonym = Malabeño-a
| timezone           = [[West Africa Time|WAT]]
| utc_offset         = +01:00
| coordinates        = {{coord|3|44|44|N|8|46|28|E|region:GQ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 0
| elevation_m        = 0
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Tropical monsoon climate|Am]]
| blank_name_sec2    = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec2    = 0.710<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|#57994C|high}}
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Malabo''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|ɑː|b|oʊ}} {{respell|mə|LAH|boh}}, {{IPA|es|maˈlaβo|lang|Pronunciation_of_Malabo_in_Spanish.ogg}}; formerly '''Santa Isabel''' {{IPA|es|ˈsantajsaˈβel||Pronunciation of Santa Isabel in Spanish.ogg}}) is a city that served as the capital city of [[Equatorial Guinea]] from 1968 to 2 January 2026, located in the [[provinces of Equatorial Guinea|province]] of [[Bioko Norte]]. It is located on the north coast of the island of [[Bioko]] ({{langx|bvb|Etulá}}, historically known as ''Fernando Pó'' by the Europeans). In 2018, the city had a population of approximately 297,000 inhabitants.

[[Spanish language|Spanish]] is the official language of the city and of the country as well, but [[Pichinglis]] is also used as a language of wider communication across Bioko island, including Malabo.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Equatorial Guinea|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/country/GQ/status|access-date=2020-12-10|website=Ethnologue|language=en}}</ref>

Malabo is the oldest city in Equatorial Guinea and served as its former capital. [[Ciudad de la Paz]] became the new capital of Equatorial Guinea on 2 January 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2026-01-04 |title=En Guinée équatoriale, Ciudad de la Paz devient officiellement la nouvelle capitale |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/01/04/en-guinee-equatoriale-ciudad-de-la-paz-devient-officiellement-la-nouvelle-capitale_6660479_3212.html |access-date=2026-01-04 |language=fr}}</ref> The institutions of governance of Equatorial Guinea began the process of locating to Ciudad de la Paz in February 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-38911573|title=E Guinea government moves into forest HQ|work=[[BBC News]]|date=8 February 2017}}</ref> 

== History ==
{{Moresources|section|date=July 2023}}

===European discovery and Portuguese occupation===
[[File:Isla de Fernando Poo – Vista de la playa y ciudad de Santa Isabel.jpg|thumb|left|upright]]
In 1472, in an attempt to find a new route to [[India]], the Portuguese navigator [[Fernão do Pó]], encountered the island of Bioko, which he called ''Formosa''.<ref name="Adrian2013">Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 174</ref> Later, the island was named after its discoverer, Fernando Pó. At the beginning of the 16th century, specifically in 1507, the Portuguese Ramos de Esquivel made a first attempt at colonization on the island of Fernando Pó. He established a factory in ''Concepción'' (now [[Riaba]]) and developed plantations of [[sugarcane]].{{cn|date=November 2022}}

With the Treaties of San Ildefonso in 1777 and [[Treaty of El Pardo (1778)|El Pardo]] in 1778, during the reign of the Spanish King [[Charles III of Spain|Charles III]], the Portuguese gave to the Spanish the islands of Fernando Pó, [[Annobón]], and the right to conduct trade in the mainland, an area of influence of approximately 800&nbsp;000 [[Square kilometre|km<sup>2</sup>]] in Africa, in exchange for the [[Colonia del Sacramento]] in [[Río de la Plata]] and the [[Santa Catarina Island]] off the Brazilian coast (occupied by the Spaniards) during a recent war trying to stop Portuguese expansion in the [[Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata]]. The area stretched from the [[Niger Delta]] to the mouth of [[Ogooué River]], now in [[Gabon]], and included, besides the islands of Fernando Pó and [[Annobón]], the islets of Corisco and Elobeyes. Spain was uninterested in those lands because it already had vast colonies in other parts of the world, Spain lost interest in Spanish Guinea in 1827 and authorized the British to use the island as a base for suppressing the [[African slave trade]].{{cn|date=November 2022}}

===British presence===
In 1821, the ''[[Nelly (1798 ship)|Nelly]]'' approached the island of [[Bioko|Fernando Pó]]. He found it abandoned and founded the establishments of ''Melville Bay'' (now [[Riaba]]) and ''San Carlos'' (now [[Luba, Equatorial Guinea|Luba]]). Some years later, another British captain, [[William Fitzwilliam Owen]], decided to colonize the island and in the north of it — on the site of the present capital — erected a base for British ships hunting [[Slavery in Africa|slave traders]]. Thus, on 25 December 1827, ''Port Clarence'' was founded on the ruins of a previous Portuguese settlement.<ref name="Adrian2013" /> The name was chosen in honor of the Duke of Clarence, who later became King [[William IV]]. The [[Bubi people|Bubis]] indigenous to the island called it ''Ripotó'' (place of the foreigners). The population of the capital was increased by the arrival of slaves freed by the British.{{cn|date=December 2024}} These [[freedmen]] were settled in Port Clarence before the establishment of [[Sierra Leone]] as a colony for freed slaves. The descendants of these freed slaves remained on the island.{{cn|date=December 2024}} They joined other migrants who arrived as free workers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon, and became the population group called [[Creole peoples|Creole]] or [[Fernandino peoples|fernandinos]], whose language was [[Pichinglis]], a Bantu-English [[Creole language|Creole]] with some Spanish elements.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

During the British period, the British consul automatically became the governor of the colony, including Governor [[John Beecroft]], a British [[mulatto]] {{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} who modernized the capital, and whose work was later recognized by Spain with a monument in Punta Fernanda.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Reymalabo1930.PNG|thumb|160px|right|[[Malabo Lopelo Melaka|Malabo Löpèlo Mëlaka, Malabo I of Bioko]]]]

=== Spanish definitive control and new capital ===
In 1844, when Queen [[Isabella II of Spain]] ruled after the regency of her mother Maria Cristina and [[Baldomero Espartero]], in an attempt to modernize Spain and rescue its heritage, Spain let the UK know its desire to regain control of the colony and thus the island. It took another decade to implement this direct control. The capital already had more dynamic and Protestant religious missions which were very successful. Both factors helped to change the attitude of Spain, in addition to internal reasons already alluded.

Spain again took control of the island in 1855 and the capital, Port Clarence, was renamed ''Santa Isabel'', in honor of Queen [[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella II]].<ref name="Adrian2013" /> The capital of the island of [[Bioko|Fernando Pó]] became the capital of Equatorial Guinea.

Its present name was given to the town in 1973 as part of the campaign of President [[Francisco Macías Nguema]] to replace [[toponymy|place name]]s of European origin with African names, in this case honoring [[Malabo Lopelo Melaka|Malabo Löpèlo Mëlaka]], the last [[Bubi people|Bubi]] king. Malabo, the son of King [[Moka]], surrendered to the Spaniards. His uncle Sas Ebuera, head of the Bubi warriors, claimed to represent legitimate Bubi rule and continued resisting, confronting the Spanish openly in 1898.<ref>
{{cite book|page=58|title=The Human Tradition in Modern Africa|volume= 49|series=Human tradition around the world|author=Dennis D. Cordell|year=2012|editor=Dennis D. Cordell|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield, 2012|isbn=978-0742537323|via=Google Books|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WqKbRSk7S8C}}</ref> After the Spanish killed Sas Ebuera, Malabo became the king unopposed, but with no authority. Bubi clans and settlements were slow to accept Spanish sovereignty over the island, and the full conquest of the island was not achieved until 1912.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

===Reign of Terror===
{{Unreferencedsect|date=December 2024}}
During the so-called ''Reign of Terror'' of Macías Nguema, the dictator suppressed much of the intelligentsia of the country, initiating the process of taking over the positions of the public administration by part of the natives of Mongomo and clan Esangui.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

The infamous [[Black Beach]] prison, also known as ''Blay Beach prison'' (or Playa Negra prison), sits at the mouth of the Cónsul River, beside the black beach and behind the Governor's Palace and barracks. Several people have been jailed there during the 35 years of dictatorship. Among those imprisoned and tortured are many political leaders such as Rafael Upiñalo (Movimiento), Fabián Nsue (UP), Felipe Ondo Obiang (FDR), Martín Puye of [[Movement for the Self-Determination of Bioko Island]] (MAIB) or [[Plácido Micó Abogo]] of the Social Democratic [[Convergence for Social Democracy (Equatorial Guinea)|Convergence for Social Democracy]] (CPDS). A group of mercenaries were jailed at Black Beach for the [[2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt|2004 coup d'état attempt]] against President [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]].{{cn|date=December 2023}}

== Geography ==
[[File:Klimadiagramm-Malabo-Aequatorial-Guinea-metrisch-deutsch.png|thumb|250px|right|Climatological diagram of Malabo]]
Malabo is situated in the north of the island of Bioko, at coordinates 3° 45' 7.43" North and 8° 46' 25.32" East. The south of Malabo is limited by the Cónsul River and just across the river, south-west, is the hospital. West of the city, located about 9&nbsp;km from the center of Malabo, is renewed [[Malabo International Airport]]. In the coastal region north of the city are the [[bay]]s and [[cape (geography)|capes]]. The elder is the punta de la Unidad Africana located just behind the [[Malabo Government Building]] and which occupies the entire eastern part of the Bay of Malabo. Another cape of importance is punta Europa located in the west of the city near to the airport.

===Climate===
Malabo features a [[tropical monsoon climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Am''). Malabo receives on average {{convert|1,850|mm|in|0|disp=or}} of rain per year. The city has a pronounced, albeit short, sunnier (but still cloudy) [[dry season]] from December through February. January is normally its driest month with {{convert|29|mm|in|2|disp=or}} of rain falling on average. It also has a very long cloudy [[wet season]] that covers the remaining nine months from March to November. On average, the months hit hardest by the wet season are September and October, which receive {{convert|500|mm|in|0}} of [[rain]] and showers between them.

Daytime temperatures do not vary at all day to day, and vary only a few degrees throughout the entire year. At night, the average low temperature is {{convert|20|to|21|°C|°F|0}} in every month of the year but January to April have a slightly higher diurnal range because it is clearer. Nonetheless, with only 1,020 hours of sunshine per year, Malabo is one of the cloudiest,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/cities-who-receive-the-least-sunshine.html|title=The Cloudiest Cities in the World|date=16 May 2019}}</ref> wettest and most [[thunderstorm|lightning-prone]] capitals of the world, and experiences much [[fog]] and haze even when it is not raining in the driest months.

{{Weather box|location = Malabo
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 34.2
|Feb record high C = 35.3
|Mar record high C = 34.5
|Apr record high C = 36.5
|May record high C = 34.0
|Jun record high C = 32.5
|Jul record high C = 31.5
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 32.5
|Oct record high C = 32.5
|Nov record high C = 32.5
|Dec record high C = 33.5
|year record high C = 36.5
|Jan high C = 31.1
|Feb high C = 31.8
|Mar high C = 31.3
|Apr high C = 31.3
|May high C = 30.5
|Jun high C = 29.5
|Jul high C = 28.4
|Aug high C = 28.0
|Sep high C = 28.1
|Oct high C = 28.8
|Nov high C = 29.8
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 30.0
|Jan mean C = 26.9
|Feb mean C = 27.7
|Mar mean C = 27.6
|Apr mean C = 27.2
|May mean C = 26.7
|Jun mean C = 25.9
|Jul mean C = 25.3
|Aug mean C = 25.0
|Sep mean C = 25.1
|Oct mean C = 25.5
|Nov mean C = 26.1
|Dec mean C = 26.6
|year mean C = 26.3
|Jan low C = 23.0
|Feb low C = 23.9
|Mar low C = 24.1
|Apr low C = 23.8
|May low C = 23.5
|Jun low C = 23.3
|Jul low C = 23.2
|Aug low C = 23.1
|Sep low C = 22.8
|Oct low C = 22.9
|Nov low C = 23.0
|Dec low C = 22.7
|year low C = 23.3
|Jan record low C = 17.0
|Feb record low C = 16.5
|Mar record low C = 15.5
|Apr record low C = 16.5
|May record low C = 15.0
|Jun record low C = 18.0
|Jul record low C = 17.1
|Aug record low C = 15.0
|Sep record low C = 18.5
|Oct record low C = 17.6
|Nov record low C = 19.0
|Dec record low C = 17.5
|year record low C = 15.0
|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 28.9
|Feb rain mm = 70.6
|Mar rain mm = 102.7
|Apr rain mm = 155.7
|May rain mm = 227.1
|Jun rain mm = 260.8
|Jul rain mm = 202.0
|Aug rain mm = 177.1
|Sep rain mm = 250.1
|Oct rain mm = 254.3
|Nov rain mm = 100.3
|Dec rain mm = 39.6
|year rain mm = 1869.1
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 3.5
|Feb rain days = 4.6
|Mar rain days = 9.8
|Apr rain days = 12.0
|May rain days = 17.2
|Jun rain days = 19.0
|Jul rain days = 17.5
|Aug rain days = 14.8
|Sep rain days = 20.6
|Oct rain days = 19.5
|Nov rain days = 10.3
|Dec rain days = 4.0
|year rain days = 152.7
|Jan humidity = 83
|Feb humidity = 83
|Mar humidity = 84
|Apr humidity = 84
|May humidity = 87
|Jun humidity = 89
|Jul humidity = 90
|Aug humidity = 89
|Sep humidity = 91
|Oct humidity = 90
|Nov humidity = 88
|Dec humidity = 84
|year humidity = 87
|Jan sun = 120.9
|Feb sun = 121.5
|Mar sun = 108.5
|Apr sun = 114.0
|May sun = 99.2
|Jun sun = 66.0
|Jul sun = 43.4
|Aug sun = 52.7
|Sep sun = 48.0
|Oct sun = 71.3
|Nov sun = 87.0
|Dec sun = 117.8
|year sun = 
|Jand sun = 3.9
|Febd sun = 4.3
|Mard sun = 3.5
|Aprd sun = 3.8
|Mayd sun = 3.2
|Jund sun = 2.2
|Juld sun = 1.4
|Augd sun = 1.7
|Sepd sun = 1.6
|Octd sun = 2.3
|Novd sun = 2.9
|Decd sun = 3.8
|yeard sun = 2.9
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_648100_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Malabo (Santa Isabel) / Insel Bioko (Fernando Póo) / Äquatorial-Guinea
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 19 December 2018}}</ref>
|date=August 2012}}

== Administration ==
The mayor is María Coloma Edjang Mbengono who establishes the municipal services prescribed by law, which are the responsibility of the municipality. These include [[water supply network|drinking water]] and others public sources, [[street light|lighting]], [[company|paving]] of roads, cemeteries, [[Sanitation|cleaning]] and [[sanitation]], the [[Municipal solid waste|sanitary waste treatment]] and waste, [[disinfectant|disinfecting]], emergency [[first aid]], health inspections and drinks, health inspection of poor [[housing]], public banks, [[slaughterhouse]]s, [[marketplace|markets]] and the elimination of [[sewage|stagnant water]].
[[File:CCEI Bank GE HQ Malabo 2013.jpg|thumb|right|CCEI Bank headquarters in Malabo]]

=== Mayors since 1960 ===
{|
|-
||
* {{ILL|Wilwardo Jones Níger|de}}
* Abilio Balboa Arking
* Antonio Ribeiro Ebuera
* Julio Bonete Eiye
* Julián Ehapo Bomaho
* Vidal Djoni Bekoba
* Tomás Alfredo King Tomas
||
* Rosendo Toichoa Borico
* Felipe Beta Tobachi
* Antonio Reibeira Ebuera
* Elías Manuel Macho Ricacha
* Basilio Cañadas Idjabe
* Cristina Djombe Djangani
||
* Vicente Ebong Uwa
* Bernardino Edu Oba
* Victorino Bolekia Bonay
* Gabriel Mba Bela
* María Coloma Edjang Mbengono
* Isabel Eraul Ivina (2004)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.panapress.com/Malabo-gets-second-female-mayor--12-547305-25-lang2-index.html|title=Malabo gets second female mayor|agency=PANA|publisher=Panapress|date=19 May 2004}}</ref>
|}
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ayuntamientodemalabo.com/malabo_es/ayuntamiento_de_malabo_lista_de_alcaldes.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906211713/http://www.ayuntamientodemalabo.com/malabo_es/ayuntamiento_de_malabo_lista_de_alcaldes.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2004 |title=List of Mayors (1960–present) (in Spanish) |work=City Council of Malabo |access-date=19 November 2013 }}</ref>

==Cultural centres==
Through the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID), are made several development projects at both regional and national level.{{cn|date=January 2025}} Headquartered in the Technical Cooperation Office in Malabo (created in 1984), carried out actions for the development of the culture, health, education and institutional strengthening. Stressing the Cultural Center of Spain in Malabo (CCEM), founded in 2003, where young people are encouraged to feel a cultural space where they can unleash their creative freedom. It also has three geographical axes, in order to capture the largest number of people in the region and contribute to its development. Activities include the [[education|training]], art, film, theater, music and [[game]]s, with the two main festivals: Traveling Film Festival of Equatorial Guinea (FECIGE) and the International Festival of Hip Hop in Malabo.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Another important center is the Hispano-Guinean Cultural Center, from 2012 Equatorial Guinean Cultural Center began as headquarters of Institute Cardinal Cisneros, and then archive, museum and library. It was built in the 1950s.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

The [[Museum of Modern Art Equatorial Guinea]] has traditional and contemporary art of the country and the continent. The city also hosts the National Library, built in 1916.<ref>
{{cite web 
|url=http://www.aecid.es/ES/Paginas/D%C3%B3nde%20Cooperamos/%C3%81frica%20Subsahariana/Guin%C3%A9a-Ecuatorial.aspx 
|title=Equatorial Guinea (in Spanish) 
|access-date=24 November 2013 
|publisher=AECID
}}
</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url=http://ccemalabo.es/ 
|title=Cultural Center of Spain in Malabo (in Spanish) 
|access-date=24 November 2013 
|publisher=Embassy of Spain in Equatorial Guinea 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031132255/http://www.ccemalabo.es/ 
|archive-date=31 October 2010 
|url-status=dead 
}}</ref>

== Tourism ==

The tourism sector is seeing significant expansion.<ref>https://egjustice.org/content/building-growth</ref> Since the discovery of oil, numerous infrastructural developments have been made.<ref> https://clgglobal.com/navigating-the-dynamics-of-equatorial-guineas-thriving-oil-sector/#:~:text=The%20discovery%20of%20oil%20in,on%20extensive%20national%20infrastructure%20projects</ref> The city of Malabo is a focal point for tourism in [[Equatorial Guinea]], due to its direct connections with major tourist attractions on the island of [[Bioko]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rumbo Malabo|date=5 May 2021|title= 10 best things to do in Malabo|url=https://rumbomalabo.com/en/10-best-things-to-do-in-malabo/|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref> Nearby tourist attractions include the following:

* [[San Antonio de Ureca]]: A small town located in the south of the island rich in primates, birds, beaches, and waterfalls. During the months of November to February, it is possible to observe the spawning of leatherback sea turtles during the night.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}}
* Ilachi or Iladyi Waterfalls: They are the largest waterfalls in the country with more than 250 meters of fall. They are approximately a 45-minute walk from the city of [[Moka, Equatorial Guinea|Moka]].{{source?|date=March 2019}}
* [[Pico Basilé]]: The highest mountain in [[Equatorial Guinea]], it belongs to the volcanic shield next to [[Mount Cameroon]] and to the great caldera of [[Luba, Equatorial Guinea|Luba]]. The mountain is more than {{Convert|3000|m|ft}} high, and is visible from all over the city of Malabo. A church and statue of Mother Bisila is located atop the mountain. The sculpture was created by the Spanish sculptor Modesto Gené Roig in 1968.{{source?|date=March 2019}}
* The luxury resort of Sipopo, which was first built for the [[2011 African Union Summit]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=David |date=2011-06-07 |title=Equatorial Guinea builds luxury resort for week-long summit |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/07/equatorial-guinea-luxury-resort-sipopo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222151305/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jun/07/equatorial-guinea-luxury-resort-sipopo |archive-date=2022-12-22 |access-date=2023-01-02 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Malabo08220.JPG|thumb|left|250px|One of the main roads in Malabo]]
[[File:Abayak, Malabo08230.JPG|thumb|left|250px|Abayak neighborhood, west of Malabo]]
{| class="wikitable" class="toccolours" style="width:180px; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; float:right; clear:right; line-height:100%; font-size:90%;"
|-
! colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| Growth of population of Malabo
|-
! Year || Persons || %
|-
|1983 || align=right | 31&nbsp;650 || align=right | –
|-
|1994 || align=right | 60&nbsp;065 || align=right | +89.8
|-
|2000 || align=right | 73&nbsp;117 || align=right | +21.7
|-
|2007<ref name=popun>{{cite web |url=http://data.un.org/CountryProfile.aspx?crName=Equatorial%20Guinea |title=Equatorial Guinea |access-date= 24 November 2013 |publisher=United Nations Statistics Division |work=UNData}}</ref> || align=right | 96&nbsp;000 || align=right | 31.3
|-
|colspan=3 |1983 and 1994: censuses<br/>2000 and 2007: estimated
|}

Malabo has a relatively young population. Approximately 45% of the population is under 15. Only about 4% of the population is more than 65 years old. Most of the population lives in rural areas of the island.{{source?|date=March 2019}}

== Economy ==
{{see also|Energy in Equatorial Guinea}}
Malabo is the commercial and financial center. Malabo's economy is based on the [[public administration|administration]] and other services. Trade is also one of the most prominent and important economic activities, especially since the arrival of US companies which exploit [[oil well]]s close to the coast. This trade also comes from the presence of Americans, Mexicans, Nigerians, Cameroonians, Spanish and other Central Africans; The building that was originally built by the [[Banco Popular Español]], but after independence became the seat of Banco de Guinea Ecuatorial.

The main industry in the city is [[fishing]], while [[cocoa bean|cacao]] and [[Coffea|coffee]] are the main products of export.<ref name=afrol>
{{cite web 
| url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/10288 
|title=Luanda, Malabo strengthen link with US oil capital 
| access-date = 24 November 2013 
|publisher=Afrol News
}}
</ref>

Malabo has a high-tonnage port, connected mainly with the ports of [[Douala]], (Cameroon) and [[Bata, Equatorial Guinea|Bata]], and an air link via an international airport.

== Education ==
The [[National University of Equatorial Guinea]] (UNGE) and the National Distance Education University (UNED), the latter Spanish-language, have headquarters in the city. The [[Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve]], another of the country's universities, has one of its two campuses in the city.

International schools:
* [[Colegio Español Don Bosco]]
* Equatorial Guinea Turkish International College
* Royal International College

==Attractions==
[[File:Kathedrale Santa Isabel.jpg|thumb|250px|Cathedral of Santa Isabel]]

Malabo has preserved buildings from the colonial era, such as the Presidential Palace and the Palace of Justice of Malabo. Other colonial buildings are also found downtown, although they are worn; for example the wooden 19th-century buildings on Nigeria and Rey Boncoro streets.

Notable buildings include the [[St. Elizabeth's Cathedral, Malabo|Cathedral of Santa Isabel]], of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malabo]]. It is a church in the [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style, built between 1897 and 1916. Its architect was Luis Segarra Llairadó, paid by contributions from the government of Spain and the donations of the faithful. It has two spires 40 meters high. In January 2020 a fire due to an electrical failure caused the calcination of part of its structure, currently there is work ongoing for an early restoration in November 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rumbo Malabo|date=5 May 2021|title= St. Elizabeth's Cathedral|url=https://rumbomalabo.com/en/10-best-things-to-do-in-malabo/|access-date=5 May 2021}}</ref>

Other points of interest are ''La Gaditana'', known as ''Finca Amilivia'' prior to 1918, the casa Teodolita, built in 1902 and one of the oldest homes in the city, the City Hall building in Malabo, the Church of Elá Nguema, Independence Square, Parque Nacional de Malabo, the Casa de España and the bay of the harbor.

== Transport ==
===Public transport system===
Public buses make the journey between downtown Malabo and the neighborhood of Ela Nguema. Taxis circulate in the city and outlying areas.
[[File:Aeropuerto Malabo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Malabo International Airport]]]]

===Maritime transport===
The port of Malabo can theoretically reach a treatment capacity of 200,000 tons/year. The main maritime links are with national destination to Bata and international to Spain and Douala in Cameroon.

===Aviation===
The [[Malabo International Airport]] serves the city. It is located 7&nbsp;km from the centre in Punta Europa, [[Bioko]]. It serves long-distance direct flights to Europe and some African capitals.

From Malabo airport, one can fly to any of the other airports in the country. These airports are located in the region of [[Annobón]], [[Bata, Equatorial Guinea|Bata]], [[Mongomo]]yen, and [[Corisco]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 September 2020|title=How to travel to Equatorial Guinea|url=https://rumbomalabo.com/en/equatorial-guinea-ultimate-travel-guide/#How_to_travel_to_Equatorial_Guinea|access-date=12 September 2020|website=Rumbo Malabo}}</ref>

== Places of worship ==
Among the [[place of worship|places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples ([[Catholic Church|Catholic]]: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Malabo]], [[Protestantism|Protestant]], [[evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]]: [[Assemblies of God]]).<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 989</ref> [[Malabo Mosque]] was established in 2015.<ref name="Guinea Ecuatorial Press">{{Cite news|url=https://guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticias/_inaugurada_la_nueva_mezquita_de_malabo|title=Inaugurada la nueva Mezquita de Malabo|date=23 July 2015|work=Guinea Ecuatorial Press|first=Javier Nsue Nchama|last=Obama|access-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925134653/https://guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticias/_inaugurada_la_nueva_mezquita_de_malabo|archive-date=25 September 2022|url-status=live|language=es}}</ref>

== Sports ==
The main sports facility of Malabo, and the country, is the [[Estadio de Malabo]], with a capacity of 15,250 spectators. The stadium is home to the [[Equatorial Guinea national football team]] and hosted matches during the [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations]]. Notably, the [[Spain men's national football team|Spain national football team]], at the time World Champions, played a friendly at this stadium. The stadium also is home to the [[CD Elá Nguema]], the main club of the country. Also located in Malabo is the [[Estadio Internacional]]. The Estadio Internacional has a 6,000-seat capacity. The Equatorial Guinea national football team played here until the Estadio de Malabo was opened.
[[File:Estadio de Malabo Equatorial Guinea.JPG|thumb|right|250px|[[Estadio de Malabo]]]]

The [[2012 Africa Cup of Nations]] was organized jointly by [[Gabon]] and Equatorial Guinea. One of the four venues for the tournament was the [[Estadio de Malabo]], the main stadium of the country, constructed in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/copa-africa/2012/sedes/sedes.html | title = Africa Cup 2012 – offices | access-date = 24 November 2013 | publisher = Marca.com}}</ref> In Malabo were disputed six matches of the group stage (one match of Group A and five of group B),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/copa-africa/2012/resultados.html |title=Africa Cup 2012 – Schedule & Results |access-date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Marca.com}}</ref> and one cross of quarterfinals<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/copa-africa/2012/cuadrofinal.html |title = Africa Cup 2012 – Final Table |access-date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Marca.com}}</ref>

On 16 November 2013, the [[Spain men's national football team|Spain national football team]] played a friendly match against the [[Equatorial Guinea national football team]]. It was the first visit by a European team to the country, and the match was criticized by several organizations, including the president of the [[Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional]], [[Javier Tebas]], due to the political situation of the country and the government of [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marca.com/2013/11/15/futbol/seleccion/1384528943.html?a=fc1477cdd63d0ef5c46a9793575c1cb7&t=1385331705 |title = Tebas: "Equatorial Guinea is not the luckiest place that Spain could have chosen to play" |access-date=24 November 2013 |author=EFE |date=15 November 2013 |publisher=Marca.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rtve.es/deportes/20131116/espana-pasea-estrella-guinea-amistoso-manchado-politica/793080.shtml |title = Spain walks the star by Guinea in a friendly stained by the politic |access-date=24 November 2013 |date=16 November 2013|publisher=rtve.es}}</ref>

Some of the top clubs in the country, who have won the [[Equatoguinean Primera División]] several times, are from Malabo. The club with the most league titles is the [[CD Elá Nguema]] with 14. Other league champions from the city are the [[Renacimiento FC]] and the [[Atlético Malabo]] or [[Cafe Bank Sportif]]. Another club in the city is the [[Atlético Semu]], once champion of [[Equatoguinean Cup]].

Another important club from the city is the Malabo Kings of basketball, which was champion of the country, and in 2013 was proclaimed champion Central Zone of Africa Basketball Championship, winning in [[Kinshasa]] at Talia from Gabon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.feb.es/2013/10/14/baloncesto/miguel-angel-hoyo-campeon-zona-centro-africa-con-los-malabo-kings/50513.aspx |title = Miguel Ángel Hoyo, champion of the Central Zone of Africa with the Malabo Kings |access-date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Spanish Basketball Federation |date=14 October 2013}}</ref> The Malabo Kings had already finished second in 2011, [[Yaoundé]] (Cameroon).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asturiasmundial.com/noticia/5079/malabo-kings-gana-medalla-de-plata-en-eliminatorias-del-campeonato-africano-clubes-baloncesto/ | title=The Malabo Kings won the silver medal in the qualifiers of the African Club Championship Basketball |access-date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Asturias Mundial |date=21 July 2011}}</ref> In 2013 held in Malabo on I Campus of Basketball Ciudad de Malabo organized by the Equatorial Guinea Basketball Federation and Club de Baloncesto Conejero from Spain.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lanzarotedeportiva.com/index.php/baloncesto-5/masculino/8378-el-cb-conejero-pone-en-marcha-un-campus-en-malabo |title=The CB Conejero launched a campus in Malabo |access-date=24 November 2013 |publisher=Lanzarote deportiva |date=1 October 2013}}</ref>

Malabo was originally to host the [[2019 African Games]] but due to economic problems they decide to withdraw its hosting rights and was replaced by [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]].

==Discovery of oil==
[[File:EGLNG-above.jpg|thumb|The [[EG LNG Pipeline Suspension Bridge|suspension bridge]] and shipping terminal of the [[EG LNG]] [[liquefied natural gas]] company, seen from the air]]
Malabo has been significantly affected by [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]]'s growing co-operation with the [[petroleum industry]]. The country's production has reached {{convert|360000|oilbbl/d}} {{As of|2005|lc=y}}, an increase which led to a doubling of the city's population, but for the vast majority, very little of that wealth has been invested in development.<ref>{{cite news
|last= Cobb
|first=Charles
|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200212160112.html
|title=Obiang Sure to Win As Opposition Quits Poll
|publisher= AllAfrica
|date=16 December 2002}}</ref>


==Twin towns – sister cities==
* {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Guadalajara]], [[Mexico]]
* {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Celaya]], [[Mexico]]
* {{flagicon|MEX}} [[Acayucan]], [[Mexico]]<ref name="Guadalajara sisters">{{cite web | url =http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120302011742/http://www.guadalajara.gob.mx/dependencias/relacionespublicas/versioningles/sistercities.html|archive-date = 2 March 2012 | title = Sister Cities, Public Relations | publisher = Guadalajara municipal government|access-date = 12 March 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]]

{{clear right}}

== Notable people ==
{{See also|Category:People from Malabo|category=Yes}}
* [[Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel]], Equatoguinean author and activist
* [[John Batchelor (rugby union)|John Batchelor]], British rugby player
* [[Rita Bosaho]], Equatoguinean-Spanish politician and activist
* [[Rusly Cachina Esapa]], Equatoguinean transgender rights activist
* [[Elsa López]], Spanish writer and poet

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="300px">
File:Malabo coast line.jpg|Malabo coast line
</gallery>

{{Portal|Africa}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Malabo}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Malabo| ]]
[[Category:Weather extremes of Earth]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bioko Norte]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Equatorial Guinea]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1827]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Africa]]
[[Category:Former British colonies and protectorates in Africa]]
[[Category:1827 establishments in the British Empire]]
[[Category:1827 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Former national capitals]]