The great majority of the inhabitants of Equatorial Guinea speak a Bantu language. Spanish is the official language. Also spoken are pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, and Igbo. Following severe deterioration of the rural economy, the government has made efforts to increase production of these products to preindependence levels. Other agricultural products include rice, yams, plantains, cassava, manioc, and palm oil.
Manufactures are limited to basic consumer items and processed cocoa and timber.
There is a small fishing industry, and some livestock is raised. The discovery and exploitation of large offshore oil deposits greatly enhanced economic growth in the late 1990s. The country also has unexploited deposits of manganese, uranium, gold, titanium, and iron ore. Malabo is the main port. 4 Equatorial Guinea trades principally with Spain, the United States, Cameroon, Japan, and France.