Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea

Middle Africa

Africa
18
Overall score
Low overall · Penalty applied · 87% data coverage
Language
Spanish, French, Portuguese
Currency
XAF
Citizenship
10 years
Personal tax
Up to 25% headline
Cost of living
Consumer price level 45 (world = 100, 2024)
Overall scoring rubric
45
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
55Residence12%
22Citizenship and passport5%
61
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
54Salary and work12%
68Buying power13%
39
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
50Taxes7%
30Business8%
37Investment5%
39
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
38Quality of life18%
42Education7%
6
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
5Freedom6%
7Rule of law7%

Penalty: Severe safety risk (37) cut the overall score from 42 to 39. Safety measures the homicide rate, political stability, and control of corruption.

Penalty: Healthcare collapse (30) cut the overall score from 39 to 35. Healthcare measures life expectancy, child mortality, and health-system capacity and spending.

Environment (50) clears the 35 floor, so no penalty applies.

Penalty: Weak rights and institutions (6) cut the overall score from 35 to 18. Rights and institutions measures political and civil freedoms and the rule of law.

Overall score
Final weighted result
18

A low-cost Central African economy with low local wage costs, but a weak passport (~52 destinations), limited English and a long 10-year naturalization wait.

Pros

  • Relative affordability score 68/100
  • Human development score 67/100
  • Internet use 63%

Cons

  • Institutional environment score 22/100
  • Passport mobility score 27/100
  • Tax friendliness score 50/100

Best for

Applicants prepared to use local languagesCost-conscious residentsPeople with a confirmed local employment or study route

Score profile

Access
Residence
55
Citizenship
18
Passport
33
Earning power
Salary & work
54
Buying power
68
Cost of living
81
Economy
58
Business and wealth
Taxes
50
Personal tax
55
Corporate tax
29
Business
30
Investment
37
Wealth building
49
Daily life
Safety
37
Healthcare
30
Environment
50
Infrastructure
51
Education
42
HDI
67
Rights and institutions
Freedom
5
Rule of law
7

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Moderate
55
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock13.2% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality-1.40 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
Employment residenceStudy residenceFamily reunificationBusiness or investment residence where eligible
StudentAdmission, proof of funds, accommodation, insurance, and immigration approval are normally required; work rights vary.
WorkA local employer, qualifying occupation, or other work authorization is normally required; labour-market tests may apply.
Self-employedBusiness registration, tax registration, and a residence or work authorization suitable for self-employment are generally required.
PermanentEligibility depends on years and continuity of lawful residence, route, income, character, and country-specific legislation.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Low
18
Years required10 years
Dual allowedfalse
LanguageLanguage, integration, character, and documentation requirements depend on the nationality law and route.
ResidenceHeadline ordinary naturalization period: 10 years. Continuous residence and absence rules may apply.
NotesThis is a statutory headline from a sourced comparison table. Confirm the current nationality law and administrative practice before relying on it.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Limited
33

Passport-index style mobility for the Equatorial Guinea passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

65 / 198
Mobility
#77
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free29
  • On arrival36
  • eTA0
  • Visa required133

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Moderate
54
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$44,118 PPP (2024)
Unemployment8.3% (2025)
Participation60.5% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)GNI per capita benchmark: $14,610 PPP (2025); this is not a technology salary quote.
FreelanceInternet use is 63%; remote and freelance access still depends on payments, language, regulation, and immigration status.
Job marketLatest comparable unemployment rate: 8.3%. Role-specific demand varies substantially by city and sector.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Good
68
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$14,610 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$7,664 PPP (2024)
Price level45 (US = 100) (2024)
Income inequality38.5 Gini (2022)
Inflation2.9% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Excellent
81

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level45 (US = 100) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentModel benchmark: about $270 monthly housing share; derived from the World Bank consumer price level, not a market listing.
MonthlyModel benchmark: about $680 / month at a US$1,500 world-price baseline.
CitiesMalabo, Bata
Economy
Economic strength
Moderate
58
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$12.8B (2025)
GDP / person$6,615 (2025)
GNI / person$14,610 PPP (2025)
GDP growth0.9% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation2.9% / yr (2024)
Unemployment8.3% (2025)
Output per worker$44,118 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture3.2% of GDP (2025)
Industry41.4% of GDP (2025)
Services55.5% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Oil & gasTimberAgriculture
Top exports
Crude oilLNG & methanolTimber
TypeUpper-middle-income, oil-driven
Key sectorsOil & gas (the overwhelming source of income)
SummaryA small economy transformed by oil, with high headline income per capita but limited diversification and depleting reserves.
CurrencyCentral African CFA franc (pegged to the euro)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Moderate
50
Personal25
Corporate25
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, entity, residence, holding period, and domestic exemptions; consult the current country summary.
DividendsDomestic and withholding rates vary with residence, ownership, and treaty eligibility.
Exit taxNo harmonized cross-country answer; verify current deemed-disposal and residence-cessation rules.
Foreign cosPermanent-establishment, management-and-control, transfer-pricing, withholding, and reporting rules may apply.
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Moderate
55
Personal25
FreelanceFreelancers typically need appropriate immigration permission plus business and tax registration.
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, entity, residence, holding period, and domestic exemptions; consult the current country summary.
DividendsDomestic and withholding rates vary with residence, ownership, and treaty eligibility.
Exit taxNo harmonized cross-country answer; verify current deemed-disposal and residence-cessation rules.
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Low
29
Corporate25
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, entity, residence, holding period, and domestic exemptions; consult the current country summary.
DividendsDomestic and withholding rates vary with residence, ownership, and treaty eligibility.
Foreign cosPermanent-establishment, management-and-control, transfer-pricing, withholding, and reporting rules may apply.
Business
Business friendliness
Limited
30
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality-1.40 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness-1.18 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Foreign ownership is generally possible, subject to sector restrictions, licensing, local-participation rules, and beneficial-ownership checks.
Local co.Local company forms are available; registration, tax, capital, director, address, and licensing requirements vary.
FreelanceFreelancers typically need appropriate immigration permission plus business and tax registration.
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Limited
37
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Private credit6% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsCapital-gains treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position.
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxVerify current national and subnational net-wealth, property, inheritance, and transfer taxes.
BrokersLocal and international broker access depends on residency, exchange controls, sanctions screening, and platform onboarding.
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Moderate
49
How this score is calculated

How favourable Equatorial Guinea is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Moderate
54
Business
Limited
30
Investment
Limited
37
Tax friendliness
Moderate
50
Cost of living
Excellent
81

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Limited
37
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption-1.47 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.14 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Limited
30
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy63.9 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality68.0 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.15 per 1,000 (2022)
Hospital beds2.10 per 1,000 (2010)
Health spending$609 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic and private provision coexist; eligibility, service quality, and capacity vary by location.
InsuranceInsurance and proof-of-cover requirements depend on immigration status, employer, and residence route.
Avg costHealth expenditure: $609 PPP per person (2023).
Environment
Environment score
Moderate
50
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure42.2 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress0.2% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Moderate
51
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use63.3% (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Utilities
Electricity access66.9% (2023)
Grid losses10.6% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality1.88 / 5 (2018)
Air connectivity1,580 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Limited
42
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling12.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling8.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment2% gross (2000)
Education spending2.2% of GDP (1998)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

TuitionFees vary by institution, programme, level, and nationality; no harmonized official tuition series is used.
Public uniCheck current public-university fee schedules and scholarship rules directly with each institution.
LanguagesSpanish, French, Portuguese
Student workStudent employment rights vary by permit and may require separate authorization or hour limits.
HDI
Human development score
Good
67
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.674 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy63.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling12.5 years (2023)
Mean schooling8.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$12,762 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Low
5
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World5 / 100 (Not free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Low
7
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile7 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.