Data protection law in Equatorial Guinea: registration and research permits
What a survey team needs to know about personal data and survey authorization in Equatorial Guinea.
Summary for planning; confirm requirements with the regulator before fieldwork.
law adopted, regulator not confirmed operational
Data protection law
Law 1/2016 on the protection of personal data (2016)
Regulator
Organo Rector de Proteccion de Datos Personales (provided for by the law)
Registration
registry of data files (Registro General de Proteccion de Datos Personales) under the law
Survey permits
INE authorization required; regime not confirmed in practice
National statistics office
Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE)
Note
Law 1/2016 confirmed from the official gazette text mirrored by AFAPDP. INE website not reachable.
Equatorial Guinea research rules: common questions
Is there a data protection law in Equatorial Guinea?
Law 1/2016 on the protection of personal data (2016).
Who regulates personal data in Equatorial Guinea?
Organo Rector de Proteccion de Datos Personales (provided for by the law).
Do I need to register to collect personal data in Equatorial Guinea?
Registry of data files (Registro General de Proteccion de Datos Personales) under the law.
Do I need a permit to run a survey in Equatorial Guinea?
INE authorization required; regime not confirmed in practice.
Sources: the regulator and statistics office pages linked above, retrieved 10 Oct 2026. See our methods.