Quick facts
Equatorial Guinea population overview
Equatorial Guinea is the 47th most populous of 58 countries and territories in Africa. The United Nations put the population at 1,962,259 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +2.3% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 125 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 57,298 births (29.2 per 1,000 people) and 15,306 deaths (7.8 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 3,532 people. The infant mortality rate is 49.7 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 269,807 in 1960 to 1,938,431 in 2025 — a change of +618.5%, or +3.1% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 20.9 years; life expectancy at birth is 64.3 years; women have on average 4.1 children (2024, above the 2.1 replacement level); 37.1% of residents are under 15 and 3.8% are 65 or older (2025); 71.6% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Malabo. Equatorial Guinea covers 28,050 km², giving a population density of about 71.3 people per km². GDP was $12.82B in 2025 — about $6,615 per person (World Bank classification: upper middle income).
Equatorial Guinea population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #150 of 238 → | 1,998,698 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 1,962,259 |
| World rank | #150 of 238 |
| Rank in Africa | #47 of 58 |
| Share of world population | 0.024% |
| Annual growth rate #27 of 238 → | +2.3% |
| Births per year est. | 57,298 |
| Deaths per year est. | 15,306 |
| Net migration per year est. · #57 of 238 → | +3,532 |
| Birth rate #30 of 216 → | 29.2 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #85 of 216 → | 7.8 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #14 of 238 → | 49.7 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #14 of 238 → | 111.2 males per 100 females |
| Median age #191 of 238 → | 20.9 years |
| Life expectancy #194 of 216 → | 64.3 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #22 of 216 → | 4.1 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #82 of 216 → | 71.6% |
| Surface area 2023 · #142 of 215 → | 28,050 km² |
| Population density #132 of 215 → | 71.3 per km² |
| Capital | Malabo |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #151 of 212 → | $12.82B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #123 of 212 → | $6,615 |
| Income group World Bank | Upper middle income |
Equatorial Guinea population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 1,998,698 | – | – |
| 2025 | 1,938,431 | +45,915 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 1,892,516 | +44,967 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 1,847,549 | +44,004 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 1,803,545 | +44,759 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 1,758,786 | +42,318 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 1,716,468 | +262,545 | +3.4% |
| 2015 | 1,453,923 | +264,838 | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 1,189,085 | +241,718 | +4.6% |
| 2005 | 947,367 | +244,088 | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 703,279 | +132,015 | +4.2% |
| 1995 | 571,264 | +96,990 | +3.8% |
| 1990 | 474,274 | +88,727 | +4.2% |
| 1985 | 385,547 | +96,903 | +6% |
| 1980 | 288,644 | +743 | +0.1% |
| 1975 | 287,901 | -32,902 | -2.1% |
| 1970 | 320,803 | +22,565 | +1.5% |
| 1965 | 298,238 | +28,431 | +2% |
| 1960 | 269,807 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Equatorial Guinea
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bata | 173,046 | 8.7% |
| 2 | Malabo | 155,963 | 7.8% |
| 3 | Ebebiyin | 24,831 | 1.2% |
| 4 | Añisoc | 16,626 | 0.8% |
| 5 | Aconibe | 16,543 | 0.8% |
| 6 | Ciudad de la Paz Capital | 2,000 | 0.1% |
Bata is the largest city with 173,046 people; the capital, Ciudad de la Paz, has 2,000. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Equatorial Guinea cities →
About Equatorial Guinea
Population over time
- From 269,807 in 1960 to 1,998,698 today — up 640.8%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +2.9% per year.
- World rank: Population #150 of 238 · Population growth rate #27 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 63.9 years (2024), up 21.2 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 4.1 births per woman (2024) — above the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #194 of 216 · Fertility rate #22 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 30 births vs 7.9 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 22.1 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #30 of 216 · Death rate #85 of 216.
Age structure
- 37.1% of the population is under 15 and 3.8% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has shrunk from 5.6% in 1960 — the population is getting younger.
- World rank: Population under 15 #41 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #172 of 216 · Median age #191 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 4.83 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 7.14 Mt in 2007 — down 32.4% since.
- Per person: 2.55 t in 2024, vs 0.13 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #137 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #102 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 1,271.4 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 354% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 4.2% of final energy in 2022 (-80.5 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #83 of 150 · Renewable energy share #169 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 86.4% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 96.2% to 86.4% since 1990 — roughly 2,758 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #7 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 71.6% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 26% in 1960 (+45.5 points).
- Became majority-urban around 2009.
- World rank: Urban population #82 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 0.1% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 14,416 m³ in 2022, down 84.8% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #40 of 183 · Water stress #172 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $12.82B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is down 2.7% since 2015.
- That works out to $6,615 per person.
- World rank: GDP #151 of 212 · GDP per capita #123 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 8.3% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: 2.9% in 2024.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #52 of 186 · Inflation rate #99 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 63.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 49.5 per 100 people (2022).
- World rank: Internet users #149 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #200 of 210.
Equatorial Guinea in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Equatorial Guinea in 2026?
As of October 2026, Equatorial Guinea has an estimated population of 1,998,698. The United Nations estimated 1,962,259 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +2.3% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Equatorial Guinea growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +2.3% per year — roughly 125 more people every day. Each year there are about 57,298 births and 15,306 deaths, with net migration of +3,532.
What is the population density of Equatorial Guinea?
About 71.3 people per square kilometre: 1,998,698 people living on 28,050 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Equatorial Guinea?
The median age is 20.9 years, and life expectancy at birth is 64.3 years. 37.1% of the population is under 15 and 3.8% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Equatorial Guinea rank by population?
Equatorial Guinea is the 150th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 47th in Africa, with 0.024% of the global population.
How has the population of Equatorial Guinea changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 269,807; by 2025 it had grown to 1,938,431 (+618.5%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Equatorial Guinea Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/equatorial-guinea/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/equatorial-guinea/">Equatorial Guinea Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+2.3%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.