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Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone
Side-by-side comparison of Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Equatorial Guinea
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 58 years
Sierra Leone
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 55 years
In short
Sierra Leone scores 27.3 in the NationsTree Index (166th in the world) and Equatorial Guinea scores 25.7 (174th), a gap of 1.6 points. Their trees are 2.9 m and 3.0 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sierra Leone has 4.5 times the population of Equatorial Guinea. Sierra Leone is 2.6 times larger than Equatorial Guinea by land area. Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Equatorial Guinea 1.9 million and Sierra Leone 8.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $16,133 in Equatorial Guinea and $3,717 in Sierra Leone (2025, international dollars). People in Equatorial Guinea live on average 1.9 years longer (63.9 vs 62.0 years).
Of 27 indicators reported by both countries, Equatorial Guinea ranks higher in the world on 15 and Sierra Leone on 12. Equatorial Guinea is clearly stronger in main industries, trade and military. Sierra Leone is clearly stronger in science & innovation, environment & energy and institutions & safety.
As a nation, Equatorial Guinea is the older of the two (statehood since 1968, 58 years), compared with Sierra Leone (since 1971). Over the last five years Sierra Leone improved faster (direction score 69 vs 68 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Equatorial Guinea
-5.8%
208th of 210
Sierra Leonebetter
4.6%
59th of 210
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Equatorial Guinea
4.2%
169th of 212
Sierra Leonebetter
71.6%
25th of 212
UnemploymentEconomy
Equatorial Guinea
8.3%
136th of 187
Sierra Leonebetter
3.2%
45th of 187
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Equatorial Guinea
68%
173rd of 193
Sierra Leonebetter
91%
93rd of 193
CO₂ emissions per personEnvironment & energy
Equatorial Guinea
2.55
102nd of 203
Sierra Leonebetter
0.17
22nd of 203
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Sierra Leone overtook Equatorial Guinea in GDP (PPP) in 2025, the latest year with data.
Sierra Leone overtook Equatorial Guinea in the NationsTree Index in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Equatorial Guinea overtook Sierra Leone in GDP per person (PPP) in 1996 and has stayed ahead since.
Equatorial Guinea has been ahead of Sierra Leone in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Sierra Leone has been ahead of Equatorial Guinea in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Equatorial GuineaSierra Leone All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Equatorial Guinea | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 28,052142nd/216 · 2024 | 72,300120th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 28,052140th/216 · 2024 | 72,180117th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 1.9 m149th/217 · 2025 | 8.8 m100th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.40%29th/217 · 2025 | 2.04%47th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 67.5137th/216 · 2024 | 119.790th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 71.6%82nd/217 · 2025 | 45.9%158th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 37.1%41st/217 · 2025 | 37.7%36th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.8%173rd/217 · 2025 | 3.3%185th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $12.82 bn149th/210 · 2025 | $7.46 bn163rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $31.27 bn149th/199 · 2025 | $32.78 bn146th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $26.72 bn148th/199 · 2025 | $28.01 bn146th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $6,615123rd/210 · 2025 | $846201st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $16,133119th/199 · 2025 | $3,717178th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $5,890120th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | -5.8%208th/210 · 2025 | 4.6%59th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 2.9%86th/180 · 2024 | 7.5%148th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 8.3%136th/187 · 2025 | 3.2%45th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 35.4%49th/189 · 2025 | 51.4%86th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -0.6%51st/192 · 2025 | -4.2%137th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 3.2%126th/197 · 2025 | 29.5%14th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 41.4%13th/200 · 2025 | 25.7%76th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 22.3%13th/192 · 2025 | 7.0%134th/192 · 2024 |
| Services % of GDP | 55.5%116th/200 · 2025 | 41.6%182nd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $5.97 bn128th/182 · 2025 | $1.56 bn155th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $3.64 bn147th/182 · 2025 | $2.11 bn158th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 46.5%61st/183 · 2025 | 20.9%145th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 28.4%140th/183 · 2025 | 28.2%141st/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 74.9%106th/183 · 2025 | 49.1%146th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | — | 0.1%2018 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | — | 25.1%2018 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | — | 45.6%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | — | 19.7%2018 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | — | 0.7%2018 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -2.4%103rd/191 · 2025 | -5.2%141st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 2.3%91st/196 · 2025 | 2.4%90th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 23.5%19th/209 · 2021 | 9.0%50th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 14.94%15th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 6.63%10th/197 · 2021 | — |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.21%63rd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 1.93%36th/209 · 2021 | 8.82%8th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 1.9%173rd/206 · 2024 | 21.9%48th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 14,41640th/183 · 2022 | 19,33130th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | — | 71,000174th/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $14.0 m2001 | $39.0 m159th/175 · 2018 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 2.2%1996 | 5.5%82nd/168 · 2018 |
| Outbound trips departures | — | 122,00097th/107 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 63.9195th/217 · 2024 | 62.0206th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 68.0183rd/196 · 2024 | 90.5190th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.15155th/174 · 2022 | 0.13160th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.12010 | 0.42006 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | — | 23.1%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 17.8%2005 | 86.9%112th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | — | 18.1%2018 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.4%170th/217 · 2025 | 5.6%189th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 3.5%167th/193 · 2023 | 4.7%131st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 88.3%2000 | 43.6%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 1.8%2000 | 2.0%2002 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.674133rd/193 · 2023 | 0.467185th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 38.578th/108 · 2022 | 35.72018 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 8.8%83rd/108 · 2022 | 41.5%2018 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 65.1%182nd/215 · 2024 | 39.2%205th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 10.9%147th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 16.8%130th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 63.3%136th/186 · 2024 | 25.1%173rd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 50200th/210 · 2022 | 108127th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.1195th/208 · 2022 | 0.0206th/208 · 2021 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 1.88158th/164 · 2018 | 1.82160th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 118,427135th/161 · 2023 | 50,1932012 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.55102nd/203 · 2024 | 0.1722nd/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 4.2%169th/212 · 2022 | 71.6%25th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 42.2181st/200 · 2023 | 22.5132nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 86.1%7th/214 · 2024 | 34.0%101st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 1,25184th/149 · 2024 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 27.3187th/205 · 2025 | 33.3179th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 18.2195th/207 · 2025 | 32.2157th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 33.2193rd/207 · 2025 | 44.7154th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 62.9126th/207 · 2025 | 58.8144th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 30.8190th/205 · 2025 | 36.5179th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 24.8198th/205 · 2025 | 49.2128th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 2.272nd/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $120.7 m135th/156 · 2025 | $32.2 m148th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%121st/156 · 2025 | 0.4%149th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.7%88th/154 · 2025 | 2.5%130th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 1,000161st/170 · 2020 | 9,000136th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.16%155th/168 · 2020 | 0.35%138th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 12.0 m103rd/163 · 2024 | 2.0 m2016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Scientific articles articles | 3191st/197 · 2023 | 86144th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has the larger population: 8.8 m (2025) compared with 1.9 m for Equatorial Guinea (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone is larger: 72,300 km² (2024) compared with 28,052 km² for Equatorial Guinea (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $32.78 bn intl. (2025) compared with $31.27 bn intl. for Equatorial Guinea (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Equatorial Guinea has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $16,133 intl. (2025) compared with $3,717 intl. for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Equatorial Guinea has the higher life expectancy at birth: 63.9 years (2024) compared with 62.0 years for Sierra Leone (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Equatorial Guinea spends more on the military: $120.7 m (2025) compared with $32.2 m for Sierra Leone (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Equatorial Guinea or Sierra Leone?
Sierra Leone: 27.3 points (166th in the world); Equatorial Guinea: 25.7 points (174th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Burundi
Eswatini
Namibia
Somalia, Fed. Rep.
TogoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/equatorial-guinea-vs-sierra-leone. Data as of 26 October 2026.