Equatorial Guinea (Republic of Equatorial Guinea)

Equatorial Guinea Republic of Equatorial Guinea
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	194th best
Capital	Malabo
Land Area	28 050km21
Location	Africa
Population	1.3m2
Life Expectancy	60.59yrs (2017)3
GNI	$12 074 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	GQ, GNQ, 2265
Internet Domain	.gq6
Currency	Franc (XAF)7
Telephone	+2408

1. Overview
2. Equatorial Guinea National and Social Development
3. Equatorial Guinea's Demographics and Migration
4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
5. Equatorial Guinea's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Equatorial Guinea's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Equatorial Guinea's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Equatorial Guinea's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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1. Overview

#spain

“Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999, 2004, and 2008 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production, resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, improvements in the population's living standards have been slow to develop.”

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“A country of two distinct halves, Equatorial Guinea is a nation divided not only by the sea but also by oil wealth and its attendant issues. Equatorial Guinea´s large reserves of black gold were discovered beneath the ocean´s floor off the coast of Bioko Island in the mid-1990s, and the subsequent industrial development forever changed the island´s landscape, economy and culture. The country´s mainland (Rio Muni), however, is much the same as it has been for centuries.With oil wealth came problems: failed coups, danger money, bushmeat and buckets of oil - you could say Equatorial Guinea has something of a reputation. However, this is also the land of primates with painted faces, soft clouds of butterflies and insects so colourful they belong in the realm of fiction. On the mainland, white beaches, forest paths and junglescapes await. And if the excited beats of Equatorial-Guinea hip hop don´t get you dancing, the architecture will - Gothic cathedrals, ancient wooden churches and butter-coloured homes.”

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Equatorial Guinea National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better Value11
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
142=	Vanuatu	0.607
143	Nepal	0.602
144	Swaziland	0.597
145	Equatorial Guinea	0.596
146=	Cambodia	0.593
146=	Zimbabwe	0.593
148	Angola	0.586
149	Myanmar	0.585
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
96	Paraguay	$12 349
97	Barbados	$12 306
98	Peru	$12 246
99	Equatorial Guinea	$12 074
100	St Lucia	$12 048
101	St Vincent & Grenadines	$11 961
102	Egypt	$11 732
103	Dominica	$11 488
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	27.2
2	Norway	29.2
3	Sweden	30.2
	...
191	Yemen	131.2
192	Congo, DR	132.7
193	Sudan	135.5
194	Equatorial Guinea	136.0
195	Angola	141.2
196	Afghanistan	141.4
197	Eritrea	146.1
198	S. Sudan	151.7
	Africa Avg	115.2
	World Avg	89.2
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Equatorial Guinea's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Equatorial Guinea's population is predicted to fall to 1 102 000 by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.17. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
150	Bahrain	1.6m
151	Trinidad & Tobago	1.4m
152	Estonia	1.3m
153	Equatorial Guinea	1.3m
154	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	1.3m
155	Mauritius	1.3m
156	Cyprus	1.2m
157	Swaziland	1.1m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
173	Zambia	61.2
174	Botswana	61.1
175	Liberia	60.7
176	Equatorial Guinea	60.6
177	Cameroon	60.3
178	Sierra Leone	60.1
179	Benin	59.8
180	Guinea-Bissau	59.7
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
180	Liberia	4.02
181	Ethiopia	4.06
182	Congo, (Brazzaville)	4.10
183	Equatorial Guinea	4.17
184	Togo	4.20
185	Zambia	4.24
186	Guinea	4.30
187	Senegal	4.31
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
60	Syria	09.0
61=	Djibouti	09.1
61=	Tajikistan	09.1
63	Equatorial Guinea	09.4
64=	Kiribati	09.5
64=	Guatemala	09.5
64=	Saudi Arabia	09.5
67	Haiti	09.6
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
24	Kazakhstan	20.0%
25	Austria	19.0%
26	Sweden	17.6%
27	Equatorial Guinea	17.5%
28	Ireland	16.9%
29	Cyprus	16.0%
30	Belize	16.0%
31	San Marino	15.7%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
40	Azerbaijan	16.0%
41	Bulgaria	16.0%
42	Lebanon	15.6%
43	Equatorial Guinea	14.9%
44	Seychelles	14.6%
45	New Zealand	14.5%
46	Ukraine	14.4%
47	Israel	14.0%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #Equatorial_Guinea #equatorial_guinea_human_rights #freedom #gender_equality #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.5
2	Netherlands	8.6
3	Denmark	9.0
	...
187	Syria	141.9
188	Angola	142.8
189	Mauritania	144.3
190	Equatorial Guinea	147.3
191	Iran	152.1
192	Sudan	153.0
	Africa Avg	116.60
	World Avg	90.04
q=198.

Equatorial Guinea is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Equatorial Guinea does worse than average for commentary in Human Rights Watch reports₂₀, supporting press freedom₂₁, combatting modern slavery₂₂, its nominal commitment to Human Rights₂₃, freethought₂₄ and in LGBT equality in the 2020s₂₅. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its average Freedom in the World rating (one of the worst in Africa). President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has gripped power since 1979, ruling over a government rife with corruption and a people whose human rights are thoroughly desecrated₂₆.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

• Human Rights and Freedom in Equatorial Guinea

5. Equatorial Guinea's Health

#health

Compared to Africa (2025)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Mauritius	72.2
2	Tunisia	73.9
3	Seychelles	78.0
	...
46	Mali	144.8
47	Nigeria	146.7
48	Guinea	147.6
49	Mozambique	148.0
50	Central African Rep.	151.5
51	Equatorial Guinea	153.5
52	S. Sudan	156.7
53	Somalia	161.3
54	Angola	162.6
	Africa Avg	127.77
q=54.

Health (2025)27
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank27
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	40.8
	...
200	Guinea	147.6
201	Mozambique	148.0
202	Afghanistan	149.5
203	Central African Rep.	151.5
204	Equatorial Guinea	153.5
205	S. Sudan	156.7
206	Somalia	161.3
207	Angola	162.6
	World Avg	97.39
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₂₈. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₈.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₈, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Melanesia₂₈.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#2010s #alcohol #birth_control #demographics #equatorial_guinea #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #suicide

Equatorial Guinea is a pretty unhealthy country. Equatorial Guinea does better than average in terms of the prevalence of overweight adults₂₉ and in its suicide rate₃₀. However Equatorial Guinea performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average for its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₁ (still good for Africa), its alcohol consumption rate₃₂ (amongst the worst in Africa), its fertility rate₁₅ and in delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₃. It falls into the worst 20 in its average life expectancy₁₁, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₄ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₅. And finally, it is the worst in delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₆. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Equatorial Guinea in 1990 was 50.9yrs, lower than the global average of 64.6. It improved by +10.8yrs in the 30 years from then, better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Equatorial Guinea's peak fertility rate was 5.99 in 1990.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
173	Zambia	61.2
174	Botswana	61.1
175	Liberia	60.7
176	Equatorial Guinea	60.6
177	Cameroon	60.3
178	Sierra Leone	60.1
179	Benin	59.8
180	Guinea-Bissau	59.7
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better32
Pos.		2016 Per Capita32
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
162	Serbia	11.1
163	Belarus	11.2
164=	Andorra	11.3
164=	Equatorial Guinea	11.3
166	Hungary	11.4
167=	UK	11.5
167=	Gabon	11.5
167=	Slovakia	11.5
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
180	Liberia	4.02
181	Ethiopia	4.06
182	Congo, (Brazzaville)	4.10
183	Equatorial Guinea	4.17
184	Togo	4.20
185	Zambia	4.24
186	Guinea	4.30
187	Senegal	4.31
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Suicide Rate in the 2010s Lower is better30
Pos.		Suicide Rate in the 2010s Per 100k30
1=	Jordan	1.00
1=	Sao Tome & Principe	1.00
1=	Antigua & Barbuda	1.00
	...
83	Costa Rica	6.44
84	Malawi	6.68
85	Angola	6.83
86	Equatorial Guinea	6.89
87	Venezuela	6.95
88	Senegal	6.98
89	Burundi	7.04
90	Guinea-Bissau	7.16
	Africa Avg	7.70
	World Avg	9.24
q=185. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
99	Vietnam	99
100	Lesotho	100
101	Tanzania	101
102	Equatorial Guinea	102
103	Barbados	103
104	Venezuela	104
105	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	105
106	Serbia	106
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better29
Pos.		1976 %29
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
41	China	10.2
42	Central African Rep.	10.3
43	Sierra Leone	10.4
44	Equatorial Guinea	10.5
45	Comoros	10.8
46	Somalia	10.9
47	Senegal	11.1
48=	Cameroon	11.2
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better37
Pos.		2022 %37
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
64	Sweden	16.4%
65	Netherlands	16.9%
66	Austria	17.0%
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
68	Botswana	17.5%
69	Maldives	17.6%
70	Afghanistan	17.6%
71	Spain	19.2%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better35
Pos.		2022 Per 100035
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
188	Tanzania	123.4
189	Chad	135.7
190	Angola	135.8
191	Equatorial Guinea	136.4
192	Mali	147.7
193	Central African Rep.	159.0
194	Mozambique	165.1
195	Niger	168.0
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better33
Pos.		Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Avg %33
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
185	Congo, DR	73.2
186	S. Sudan	72.7
187=	Ecuador	72.6
187=	Equatorial Guinea	72.6
189	Suriname	72.2
190	Chad	72.1
191	Djibouti	71.2
192	Ethiopia	71.0
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better36
Pos.		2015 Avg %36
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
187	Syria	62.4
188	Ukraine	55.2
189	Chad	52.5
190	Nigeria	50.0
191	Central African Rep.	49.4
192	Somalia	46.0
193	S. Sudan	45.7
194	Equatorial Guinea	36.8
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better34
Pos.		Infant Mortality (2020s) Per 100034
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
180	Liberia	92.51
181	Angola	93.23
182	Guinea-Bissau	94.79
183	Equatorial Guinea	95.42
184	Congo, DR	97.76
185	Benin	98.27
186	Burkina Faso	103.67
187	Guinea	114.22
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Equatorial Guinea was 4th-worst amongst 49 countries in the 1990s, who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19), and it remained in that spot in the 2000s, before slightly improving.

6. Equatorial Guinea's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #internationalism #over-exploitation #the_environment

Compared to Africa (2025)38
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank38
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
37	Djibouti	84.5
38	Zambia	85.4
39	Gabon	87.9
40	Equatorial Guinea	91.2
41	S. Africa	92.2
42	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
43	Mozambique	93.9
44	Liberia	94.2
45	Sudan	97.8
	Africa Avg	78.58
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)38
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank38
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
120	Malaysia	89.5
121	Lithuania	89.5
122	Paraguay	91.0
123	Equatorial Guinea	91.2
124	Belize	91.3
125	Albania	91.5
126	St Vincent & Grenadines	92.0
127=	Monaco	92.1
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₃₉. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Equatorial Guinea is 123rd in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is computed from 21 data sets. Equatorial Guinea does better than average for energy to GDP efficiency₄₀ (but bad for Africa) and in its environmental performance₄₁. And finally, it does worse than average in its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better42
Pos.		Total42
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
179	Cameroon	-5.9%
180	Venezuela	-6.0%
181	Honduras	-6.3%
182	Equatorial Guinea	-6.5%
183	N. Korea	-6.7%
184	Mauritius	-7.5%
185	Liberia	-7.5%
186	Bolivia	-7.9%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better41
Pos.		201841
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
68	Macedonia	61.1
69	Brazil	60.7
70	Sri Lanka	60.6
71	Equatorial Guinea	60.4
72	Mexico	59.7
73	Dominica	59.4
74	Argentina	59.3
75	Malaysia	59.2
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better40
Pos.		2022 Avg40
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
68	Uruguay	0.96
69	Nicaragua	0.96
70	Zambia	0.97
71	Equatorial Guinea	0.98
72	India	0.98
73	Spain	0.98
74	Peru	0.99
75	Croatia	1.00
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		International Accords on the Environment Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
146	Fiji	51%
147	Qatar	51%
148	Vanuatu	50%
149	Equatorial Guinea	50%
150	Moldova	50%
151	Bahrain	50%
152	Swaziland	50%
153	Kuwait	49%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

7. Equatorial Guinea's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	S. Africa	63.3
2	Seychelles	63.4
3	Tunisia	68.7
	...
26	Congo, (Brazzaville)	127.3
27	Namibia	129.0
28	Sao Tome & Principe	129.2
29	Equatorial Guinea	130.2
30	Mali	130.7
31	Burkina Faso	130.7
32	Madagascar	131.6
33	Lesotho	131.8
34	Tanzania	132.1
	Africa Avg	124.71
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	Finland	6.1
2	Iceland	8.1
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
158	Namibia	129.0
159	Sao Tome & Principe	129.2
160	Vanuatu	129.6
161	Equatorial Guinea	130.2
162	Mali	130.7
163	Burkina Faso	130.7
164	Madagascar	131.6
165	Lesotho	131.8
	World Avg	84.96
q=197.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Iceland and Denmark₄₄. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₄. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₅.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₆

27 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₄.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
154	Zambia	154
155	Paraguay	155
156	Tanzania	156
157	Equatorial Guinea	157
158	Guyana	158
159	Afghanistan	159
160	Indonesia	160
161	Bolivia	161
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better47
Pos.		2025 %47
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
121=	Jordan	90
121=	Ghana	90
121=	Kenya	90
121=	Equatorial Guinea	90
121=	St Vincent & Grenadines	90
121=	Ivory Coast	90
121=	Uganda	90
121=	Barbados	90
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1900. Progression:

• 1960 (60%): Spanish/metric legacy; traditional units common.
• 1970 (75%): Education/commerce standardize metric.
• 1980 (85%): Metric dominant officially.
• 2000 (90%).
• 2025 (90%).

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Length of Schooling Higher is better48
Pos.		2021 Years48
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
170	Nigeria	10.1
171	Congo, DR	9.8
172	Guinea	9.8
173	Equatorial Guinea	9.7
174	Haiti	9.7
175	Ethiopia	9.7
176	Sierra Leone	9.6
177	Gambia	9.4
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users (2020s) Higher is better
Pos.		Internet Users (2020s)
1=	Iceland	99%
1=	Kuwait	99%
1=	UAE	99%
	...
128	Namibia	61%
129	Laos	61%
130	Sao Tome & Principe	59%
131	Equatorial Guinea	58%
132	Cambodia	58%
133	Tonga	58%
134	Senegal	58%
135	Samoa	56%
	Africa Avg	41.0%
	World Avg	67.8%
q=188. Also scored for 1990s-2020s.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better49
Pos.		2017 Ratio49
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
158=	Aruba	0.0
158=	Bahrain	0.0
158=	Palau	0.0
158=	Equatorial Guinea	0.0
158=	Belize	0.0
158=	Suriname	0.0
158=	Grenada	0.0
158=	Gabon	0.0
	Africa Avg	0.04
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Equatorial Guinea's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#charitability #culture #equality #human_development #inequality #peace

Compared to Africa (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Mauritius	48.7
2=	Seychelles	67.2
3	Tunisia	77.0
	...
44	Libya	127.8
45	Guinea-Bissau	128.8
46	Sudan	129.8
47	Equatorial Guinea	131.4
48	Chad	132.6
49	Angola	133.2
50	Central African Rep.	136.8
51	Congo, DR	142.7
52	S. Sudan	148.3
	Africa Avg	109.31
q=53.

Culture, Peace & Inequality (2025)50
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank50
1	Denmark	10.4
2	Netherlands	11.8
3	Finland	12.2
	...
172	Libya	127.8
173	Guinea-Bissau	128.8
174	Sudan	129.8
175	Equatorial Guinea	131.4
176	Chad	132.6
177	Angola	133.2
178	Yemen	134.3
179	Central African Rep.	136.8
	World Avg	80.47
q=183.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 39 datasets, including multiple decades of data on resisting corruption, Creativity and Culture, overall happiness, Open Trading, Aid and Development, passport utility (so far), personal financial stability, World Giving Index, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, poverty (so far), life expectancy inequality, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

• "Which are the Countries for International Contributions, Creativity, Peace and Inequality?" by Vexen Crabtree (2026).

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #equatorial_guinea #internationalism #politics

Corruption Higher is better51
Pos.		2022 Points51
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
168=	Comoros	19.0
168=	Turkmenistan	19.0
168=	Chad	19.0
171=	Equatorial Guinea	17.0
171=	N. Korea	17.0
171=	Libya	17.0
171=	Haiti	17.0
171=	Burundi	17.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

On average through the 2010s, Equatorial Guinea scored the 10th-worst on the Corruption Perception Index.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
144	Cameroon	144
145	Laos	145
146	Nigeria	146
147	Equatorial Guinea	147
148	Angola	148
149	Zambia	149
150	Pakistan	150
151	Guinea-Bissau	151
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
156	Venezuela	156
157	Bahrain	157
158	Mauritania	158
159	Brunei	159
160	Algeria	160
161	Papua New Guinea	161
162	Brazil	162
163	Equatorial Guinea	163
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better52
Pos.		Passport Reach (2020s) Q52
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
150	Madagascar	56.5
151	Togo	56.2
152	Papua New Guinea	55.8
153	Equatorial Guinea	55.7
154=	Mali	54.5
154=	Niger	54.5
156=	Cambodia	53.7
156=	Vietnam	53.7
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better53
Pos.		2023 Score53
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
79	Nepal	2.01
80	China	2.01
81	Tunisia	2.01
82	Equatorial Guinea	2.01
83	Dominican Rep.	2.02
84=	Morocco	2.02
84=	Angola	2.02
86	Uzbekistan	2.03
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
108	Ukraine	108
109	Belgium	109
110	Panama	110
111	Equatorial Guinea	111
112	Botswana	112
113	Slovakia	113
114	Suriname	114
115	Greece	115
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better31
Pos.		2017 Rank31
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
156	Ivory Coast	156
157	St Lucia	157
158	Vietnam	158
159	Laos	159
160	Equatorial Guinea	160
161	Fiji	161
162	Tonga	162
163	Brunei	163
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better54
Pos.		2019 Score54
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
4	Equatorial Guinea	0.00
5	Cambodia	0.00
6	Portugal	0.00
7	Croatia	0.00
8	Benin	0.00
9	Mauritania	0.00
10	Slovenia	0.00
11	Costa Rica	0.00
12	Romania	0.00
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty

Poverty (2020s) Lower is better55
Pos.		Poverty (2020s) %55
1	Malaysia	0.01%
2	Bhutan	0.01%
3	Cyprus	0.02%
	...
76	Indonesia	7.68%
77	Tajikistan	7.84%
78	Georgia	8.11%
79	Equatorial Guinea	8.79%
80	Guatemala	9.66%
81	Colombia	10.42%
82	Philippines	13.61%
83	Honduras	16.37%
	Africa Avg	41.51%
	World Avg	11.40%
q=106. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better56
Pos.		201956
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
172	Lesotho	33.10
173	Ivory Coast	33.30
174	Cameroon	33.50
175	Equatorial Guinea	34.60
176	Benin	34.90
177	Congo, DR	36.10
178	S. Sudan	36.20
179	Mali	36.70
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #equatorial_guinea #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₅₇:

	2010	2020
Christian	88.7%	88.7%
Unaffiliated	4.99%	4.99%
Muslim	4.05%	4.05%
Other	2.23%	2.13%
Jewish	<0.1%	<0.1%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Buddhist	<0.1%	<0.1%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices₅₈.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₅₉, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Equatorial Guinea states:

“While the constitution and other laws and policies protect freedom of religion or belief, a 1992 presidential decree regulates the exercise of freedom of religion or belief. This decree provides official preference for the Roman Catholic Church and the Reformed Church of Equatorial Guinea. While the decree does not hinder the practice of other religions or beliefs, its preferential effects can be observed in some circumstances; for example, Catholic masses are a normal part of any major ceremonial function₆₀, such as the October 12 National Day and June 5 President's Birthday. In addition, Catholic and Reform church officials are exempt from airport entry and exit taxes.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₆₁

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems