Equatorial Guinea profile

Demography and Health

Equatorial Guinea had an estimated population of 1,892,516 in 2024, ranking around 149th in the world by size. The country’s demographic profile is comparatively youthful, with a crude birth rate of 29.6 births per 1,000 people in 2023 and a crude death rate of 7.88 per 1,000, signaling a solid natural increase that will shape demand for education, jobs, and social services in the medium term. Life expectancy at birth stands at 63.7 years (2023), indicating middling health outcomes by global standards and room for improvement in the health system. The under-5 mortality rate is high at 70.6 deaths per 1,000 live births (2023), underscoring persistent challenges in child health, nutrition, vaccination, and maternal care. Net migration in 2024 is positive, with an inflow of 3,891 people, which modestly augments the population and could influence urbanization patterns and labor supply if sustained. Digital connectivity is growing, as 60.4% of the population used the Internet in 2023, suggesting expanding access to information and services but leaving a substantial minority without online access. The health workforce is relatively small, with physicians at 0.143 per 1,000 people in 2022, highlighting potential gaps in access to care and the need for investment in medical staffing. Domestic general government health expenditure per capita, PPP, was 122 international dollars in 2022, while current health expenditure accounted for 2.91% of GDP in 2022, indicating relatively constrained public health funding and a likely role for private spending or out-of-pocket payments. The suicide mortality rate is 7.03 per 100,000 population in 2021, a data point that provides a window into mental health and social support needs within the broader health landscape.

Economy

Equatorial Guinea shows a relatively high nominal GDP per capita of 6,745 US dollars in 2024, with a GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) of 17,567 international dollars, placing the country in the middle range when price differences are accounted for. The export orientation is evident from the share of exports of goods and services at 35.2% of GDP in 2024, larger than the import share of 25.4% of GDP, suggesting a trade profile where external demand contributes meaningfully to national output and a potential trade surplus on a goods-and-services basis. Inflation rose to about 4.79% in 2022, a moderate pace that, without offsetting productivity gains, can erode real incomes over time if longer-run inflation persists. The economy also features foreign investment activity, with net inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) at 1.15% of GDP in 2023, signaling some external capital but a level that is modest by international standards. Public health spending appears relatively restrained, with current health expenditure at 2.91% of GDP in 2022, and per-capita health expenditure in purchasing power parity terms at 122 international dollars, indicating limited public-financed health resources in relation to GDP. Taken together, the indicators describe an economy with notable per-capita income by global norms but with a concentrated revenue base, moderate external openness, and constraints on broader structural diversification and domestic investment drive.

Trade and Investment

Trade and investment dynamics in Equatorial Guinea show a pattern of openness coupled with selective foreign capital inflows. Net FDI inflows equal 1.15% of GDP in 2023, reflecting ongoing but limited integration into global capital markets. The export share of GDP at 35.2% in 2024 indicates that external demand plays a visible role in the economy, while imports at 25.4% of GDP suggest continued reliance on foreign goods and services to meet domestic consumption and investment needs. The combination of a relatively sizable export share and modest FDI inflows points to a trade-and-investment regime that can support growth but may also reflect constraints in the investment climate, governance, and diversification potential. The inflation environment and governance indicators together imply a business climate where policy credibility and institutional efficiency matter for sustaining higher levels of private investment and broader development outcomes over time.

Governance and Institutions

Governance indicators for Equatorial Guinea depict a challenging environment for policy credibility and the rule of law. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score -0.235 in 2023, indicating some vulnerability to shocks despite not being in crisis. Regulatory quality is -1.47, the Rule of Law is -1.34, and Control of Corruption is -1.57, while Government Effectiveness sits at -1.32; all values reflect governance weaknesses relative to global benchmarks. Collectively, these measures suggest that state capacity to design, implement, and enforce policies—particularly in complex areas like anticorruption, judicial independence, and regulatory frameworks—faces constraints. For investors and firms, the combination of weaker governance signals higher policy uncertainty and transaction costs, underscoring a need for reforms to strengthen institutions, reduce corruption, and improve public service delivery to foster a more stable and predictable business environment.

Infrastructure and Technology

In the infrastructure and technology space, Equatorial Guinea shows both progress and gaps. Internet penetration is 60.4% of the population in 2023, indicating growing digital access but leaving a substantial portion of people without online connectivity, which has implications for education, commerce, and service delivery. The health workforce is limited, with physicians at 0.143 per 1,000 people in 2022, signaling potential accessibility challenges for medical services and a need to scale up training or retention of health professionals. The energy mix includes renewable energy consumption at 4.2% of total final energy consumption in 2022, highlighting a reliance on non-renewable sources and room for accelerating energy transition. Freshwater withdrawal as a share of available freshwater resources is 0.184 in 2021, signaling moderate water-resource pressure under current use. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 3.78 t CO2e in 2023, reflecting a modest per-person carbon footprint compatible with a smaller population and energy intensity. Together, these indicators portray a landscape of growing digital infrastructure and service delivery potential, alongside health workforce and energy-transition challenges that could shape future development priorities and investment needs.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmentally, Equatorial Guinea presents a mixed sustainability profile. Renewable energy accounts for 4.2% of total final energy consumption in 2022, indicating a heavy reliance on non-renewable energy sources and a clear opportunity for policy-driven diversification toward cleaner energy. Total greenhouse gas emissions per capita are 3.78 t CO2e in 2023, a relatively modest footprint that reflects the small population and energy-use patterns, yet still an important area for ongoing climate action. Water resources show moderate stress, with freshwater withdrawal at 0.184 of available resources in 2021, suggesting that management of water supply and sanitation could be a priority as demand grows. Life expectancy of 63.7 years and a high under-5 mortality rate of 70.6 per 1,000 live births in 2023 point to intertwined environmental, health, and social challenges that underline the need for integrated policies—improving sanitation, water quality, nutrition, and maternal-child health services while expanding access to clean energy and sustainable infrastructure. Overall, Equatorial Guinea faces environmental pressures that require coordinated investment in energy transition, water and sanitation infrastructure, and public health to bolster resilience and long-term well-being.