Country explorer: Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea has experienced a fluctuating economy marked by a significant early boom in GDP per capita, linked to its oil revenues, followed by a decline in more recent years, distinguishing it from many of its African peers by the extent of its boom-bust cycle.

Equatorial Guinea has experienced significant demographic transformations, including a steady increase in population, a substantial net migration influx, a sharp decline in fertility rates from over 5 children per woman to just over 4, and a noticeable improvement in life expectancy, trends that reflect broader patterns of development and change common among upper-middle-income countries.

Over the last two decades, Equatorial Guinea has seen modest improvements in access to clean cooking fuels and electricity, mirroring the gradual progress typical of many upper-middle-income countries, yet remains challenged by gaps in basic services compared to regional peers like Gabon.

Equatorial Guinea has experienced notable improvements in human development as evidenced by a consistent rise in its Human Development Index, significant reductions in child mortality rate, and a robust increase in literacy rates, marking a distinctive trend of development compared to some of its peers.

Equatorial Guinea has seen a significant transformation in its environment and energy sectors, characterized by a reduction in per capita CO₂ emissions from exceptionally high levels, the absence of an increase in renewable energy sources in electricity production, remarkably high and decreasing freshwater resources per capita, and a slow but steady decrease in forest area, reflecting a common challenge of balancing economic development with environmental conservation unique in its scale among its peers.

Equatorial Guinea has shown modest but growing engagement with digital technology, as evidenced by increasing internet usage and mobile phone subscriptions, reflecting a digital transformation common to many upper-middle-income countries, albeit at a slower pace and from a lower base.

Equatorial Guinea has experienced a modest increase in its foreign-born population alongside a gradual decrease in its age dependency ratio, reflecting a slow but distinctive demographic shift towards a slightly more diverse and potentially economically active society, in line with trends seen in other upper-middle-income countries.

Equatorial Guinea has consistently exhibited low scores in governance indicators such as rule of law, corruption perception, political civil liberties, and press freedom, signifying enduring challenges in governance and democratic practices, comparable to some of its regional peers but markedly below global averages and upper-middle-income countries.