Malabo
Malabo
Santa Isabel (before 1973) | |
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City (Former Capital 1968–2026) | |
Top: Malabo skyline; Middle: Cathedral of Santa Isabel, Presidential Palace; Bottom: Spain Cultural Center, Bata Waterfront | |
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Coat of arms | |
Malabo Location in Equatorial Guinea Malabo Malabo (Africa) | |
| Coordinates: 3°44′44″N 8°46′28″E / 3.74556°N 8.77444°E | |
| Country | Equatorial Guinea |
| Province | Bioko Norte |
| Region | Insular Region |
| Founded | 1827 |
| Current name | Since 1973 |
| Area | |
• Total | 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
• Total | 297,000 |
| • Density | 14,000/km2 (37,000/sq mi) |
| • Ethnicities | Bubi • Fernandinos |
| Demonym | Malabeño-a |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (WAT) |
| Climate | Am |
| HDI (2019) | 0.710 high |
Malabo (/məˈlɑːboʊ/ mə-LAH-boh, Spanish: [maˈlaβo] ⓘ; formerly Santa Isabel [ˈsantajsaˈβel] ⓘ) is a city in Equatorial Guinea, located in the province of Bioko Norte. It is located on the north coast of the island of Bioko (Bube: Etulá, and as Fernando Pó by the Europeans). In 2018, the city had a population of approximately 297,000 inhabitants.
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.
Malabo is the oldest city in Equatorial Guinea and served as its former capital. Ciudad de la Paz is a planned community in mainland Equatorial Guinea which was built to replace Malabo as the capital. The institutions of governance of Equatorial Guinea began the process of locating to Ciudad de la Paz in February 2017. Ciudad de la Paz was officially proclaimed capital of Equatorial Guinea in January 2026.