Moving to South Africa from Equatorial Guinea

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Equatorial Guinea to South Africa — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Equatorial Guinea to South Africa, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Equatorial Guinea to South Africa.

Is it safe?

Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GQ
11.7
ZA
24.5

Equatorial Guinea performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

GQ
$609
ZA
$1,354
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GQ
1.4
ZA
8.1

Equatorial Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GQ
59.0
ZA
47.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GQ
2.6t
ZA
6.9t

Equatorial Guinea generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

GQ
0.1
ZA
3.3
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GQ
0.2%
ZA
66.9%

South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Equatorial Guinea leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GQ
8.7%
ZA
28.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GQ
$16,900
ZA
$14,300

Equatorial Guinea performs better than South Africa across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GQ
63.7 yrs
ZA
65.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GQ
78.3
ZA
25.9

South Africa generally does better on family life, though Equatorial Guinea leads in literacy rate.

Data: Ministry of Finance, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Equatorial Guinea and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.

Equatorial Guinea passport

Equatorial Guinea passport holder visiting South Africa

Visa Required
Equatorial Guinea passport holders need a visa to enter South Africa.
South Africa passport

South Africa passport holder visiting Equatorial Guinea

Visa Online (e-Visa)
South Africa passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Equatorial Guinea.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from South Africa?

Internet is rarely the blocker — South Africa has 3.3 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is South Africa safe for expats?

Equatorial Guinea performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.

How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Equatorial Guinea?

Equatorial Guinea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.4 in Equatorial Guinea. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Equatorial Guinea: 46).

What language do they speak in South Africa?

The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Equatorial Guinea, the official languages are French, Portuguese and Spanish.

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At a Glance

GQ ZA
Population 1,679,172 57,516,665
Currency CFA Franc BEAC (FCFA) South African Rand (ZAR)
Languages French, Portuguese, Spanish Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +240 +27
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 10111