Updated
Overview
Gabon has 34% more people than Equatorial Guinea: 2.59 million against 1.94 million (2025).
Gabon's economy is about 65% larger than Equatorial Guinea's, at $21.43B versus $12.82B.
Per person, Gabon is the wealthier of the two: $8,263 against $6,615 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Gabon | Equatorial Guinea | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $21.43B | $12.82B | 2025 | $20.87B / $12.77B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $8,263 | $6,615 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 2.5% | -5.8% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 1.8% | 2.9% | 2025 / 2024 | 1.2% / — |
| Unemployment | 20.2% | Lower: 8.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 37 | 41 | 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $247 | $193 | 2024 / 2023 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 2.59 million | 1.94 million | 2025 | 2.51 million / 1.80 million |
| Population growth | 2.1% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 21.5 yrs | 20.9 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.54 | 4.04 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 68.5 yrs | 63.9 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 92% | 72% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 69% | 63% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 267,668 km² | 28,051 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 9.7/km² | 69.1/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | Lower: 5.40 Mt | 7.01 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | Lower: 2.1 t | 3.7 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $319.10M | $113.14M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 7,000 | 1,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Gabon grew while the other economy contracted: 2.5% against -5.8%.
Inflation is comparable in both: 1.8% in Gabon and 2.9% in Equatorial Guinea.
People and society
Demographically the two are similar, with median ages of 21.5 (Gabon) and 20.9 (Equatorial Guinea).
Life expectancy is 4.6 years longer in Gabon (68.5 vs 63.9).
Gabon is considerably more urbanized: 92% of people live in cities, against 72%.
Geography
By land area, Gabon is 9.5 times the size of Equatorial Guinea: 267,668 km² versus 28,051 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Equatorial Guinea is far more densely settled: 69 people per km² against 10.
Military
Gabon spends 2.8 times as much on defence as Equatorial Guinea: $319.10M versus $113.14M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Gabon fields the larger armed forces: 7,000 personnel against 1,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Gabon bigger than Equatorial Guinea?
- Gabon is larger by land area. Gabon covers 267,668 km² while Equatorial Guinea covers 28,051 km², so Gabon is 9.5 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, Gabon or Equatorial Guinea?
- Gabon has the larger population: 2.59 million versus 1.94 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Gabon richer than Equatorial Guinea?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Gabon is richer: $8,263 against $6,615. Total GDP tells the same story: $21.43B for Gabon versus $12.82B for Equatorial Guinea.
- Who spends more on their military, Gabon or Equatorial Guinea?
- Gabon spends more: $319.10M versus $113.14M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
Related comparisons
Full profiles
Every comparison for Gabon · Equatorial Guinea