Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Equatorial Guinea instead of California, you would:

Health

live 15.3 years less

In California, the average life expectancy is 79 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2020. In Equatorial Guinea, that number is 64 years (61 years for men, 66 years for women) as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Economy

make 79.9% less money

California has a GDP per capita of $84,028 as of 2024, while in Equatorial Guinea, the GDP per capita is $16,900 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 70.0% more likely to be unemployed

In California, 5.1% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Equatorial Guinea, that number is 8.7% as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 41.7% less likely to have internet access

In California, approximately 92.6% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Equatorial Guinea, about 54.0% do as of 2021.

View global rankings →

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: California vs. Equatorial Guinea

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Equatorial Guinea is 37.7% cheaper than California
→
Size Comparison · See true size
California is about 14 times bigger than Equatorial Guinea.
→
Moving from California to Equatorial Guinea · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
→

Equatorial Guinea: At a glance

Equatorial Guinea is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 28,051 sq km. 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, 2008, and 2013 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.
Read more

How big is Equatorial Guinea compared to California? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Equatorial Guinea or United States. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.