Map of Gabon | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates: 1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 267,667 km²
Land: 257,667 km²
Water: 10,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
Country comparison total: 3,261 km
Country comparison border countries: (3) Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km

Land boundaries
Total: 3,261 km
Border countries: (3) Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km

Coastline: 885 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate: tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Elevation
Highest point: Mont Bengoue 1,050 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 377 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 19% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 1.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 17.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 81% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 0% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 40 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Congo (3,730,881 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 40 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 166 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: none

Geography
Note: a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity


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Population
Distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 2,455,105
Male: 1,270,023
Female: 1,185,082 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.37% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 33.4% (2017 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Gabonese

Ethnic groups: Fang 23.5%, Shira-Punu'Vii 20.6%, Nzabi-Duma 11.2%, Mbede-Teke 5.6%, Myene 4.4%, Kota-Kele 4.3%, Okande-Tsogho 1.6%, other 12.6%, foreigner 16.2% (2021 est.)

Languages: French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Religions: Protestant 46.4% (Revival Church 37%, other Protestant 9.4%), Roman Catholic 29.8%, other Christian 4%, Muslim 10.8%, traditional/animist 1.1%, other 0.9%, none 7% (2019-21 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 34.6% (male 429,133/female 421,120)
15-64 years: 61.1% (male 787,480/female 711,913)
65 years and over: 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 53,410/female 52,049)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 67.6
Youth dependency ratio: 61
Elderly dependency ratio: 6.5
Potential support ratio: 15.3 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 22 years (2024 est.)
Male: 22.5 years
Female: 21.5 years

Population growth rate: 2.37% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 25.7 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.5 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: the relatively small population is spread in pockets throughout the country; the largest urban center is the capital of Libreville, located along the Atlantic coast in the northwest as shown in this population distribution map

Urbanization
Urban population: 91% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 870,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (the forests that cover three-quarters of the country are threatened by excessive logging); burgeoning population exacerbating disposal of solid waste; oil industry contributing to water pollution; wildlife poaching
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 26.29 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 5.32 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 1.13 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.6 years (2012 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 227 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 26.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 29.7 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 24 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.6 years
Female: 72.1 years

Total fertility rate: 3.21 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 31.1% (2012)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 97.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 44.7% of population
Unimproved total: 6.9% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 2.8% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 6.3 beds/1,000 population

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 81.3% of population
Improved rural: 55.1% of population
Improved total: 78.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 18.7% of population
Unimproved rural: 44.9% of population
Unimproved total: 21.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 15% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 6.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 5.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 6.4% (2019/20)

Education expenditures: 3.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 85.5%
Male: 86.2%
Female: 84.7% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 31.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 42.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
Conventional short form: Gabon
Local long form: République Gabonaise
Local short form: Gabon
Etymology: name originates from the Portuguese word 'gabao' meaning 'cloak,' which is roughly the shape that the early explorers gave to the estuary of the Komo River by the capital of Libreville

Government type: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Libreville
Geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: original site settled by freed slaves and the name means 'free town' in French; named in imitation of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone

Administrative divisions: 9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Dependent areas

Independence: 17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday: Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Constitution
History: previous 1961, 1991; latest approved in November 2024 referendum
Amendments: proposed by the president of the republic, by the Council of Ministers, or by one third of either house of Parliament; passage requires Constitutional Court evaluation, at least two-thirds majority vote of two thirds of the Parliament membership convened in joint session, and approval in a referendum; constitutional articles on Gabon’s democratic form of government cannot be amended; amended several times, last in 2023 (presidential term reduced to 5 years and election reduced to a single vote)

Legal system: mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 4 September 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Raymond NDONG SIMA (since 7 September 2023)
Cabinet: formerly the Council of Ministers, appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
Elections/appointments: formerly, the president directly elected by plurality vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 26 August 2023; prime minister appointed by the president
Note: November 2024 voters in Gabon voted on a referendum to extend the presidential term to seven years and replace the prime minister with a vice president, elections slated for August 2025
Election results: 2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%; 2009: Ali BONGO Ondimba elected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME (independent) 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU (UPG) 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO (UGDD) 3.9%, other 3.3%

Legislative branch
Description: Transitional Parliament (formerly the bicameral Parliament) consists of: Senate (70 seats; members appointed by Transitional president; member term NA), National Assembly (98 seats; members appointed by the Transitional president; member term NA)
Elections: on 11 September 2023, Transitional President Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema appointed 168 members to the Transitional Parliament; elections for a permanent legislature reportedly to follow 2-year transition
Note: the military government announced on 13 November 2023 that presidential and legislative elections will be held in August 2025
Elections results: all members of the Transitional Parliament appointed by the Transitional president

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of 4 permanent specialized supreme courts - Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation, Administrative Supreme Court or Conseil d'Etat, Accounting Supreme Court or Cour des Comptes, Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle, and the non-permanent Court of State Security, initiated only for cases of high treason by the president and criminal activity by executive branch officials)
Judge selection and term of office: appointment and tenure of Supreme, Administrative, Accounting, and State Security courts NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed - 3 by the national president, 3 by the president of the Senate, and 3 by the president of the National Assembly; judges serve single renewable 7-year terms
Subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts

Political parties and leaders: Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG , Restoration of Republican Values or RV, The Democrats or LD, Paul Mba Abessole

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, AU (suspended), BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSCA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Noël Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022)
In the us chancery: 2,034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
In the us fax: [1] (301) 332-0668
In the us email address and website: info@gaboneembassyusa.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024)
From the us note: also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
From the us embassy: Sabliere, B.P. 4,000, Libreville
From the us mailing address: 2,270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20,521-2,270
From the us telephone: [241] 011-45-71-00
From the us fax: [241] 011-45-71-05
From the us email address and website: ACSLibreville@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue; green represents the country's forests and natural resources, gold represents the equator (which transects Gabon) as well as the sun, blue represents the sea

National symbols: black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue

National anthem
Name: 'La Concorde' (The Concorde)
Lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS
Note: adopted 1960

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: natural-resource-rich, upper-middle-income, Central African economy; significant reliance on oil and mineral exports; highly urbanized population; high levels of poverty and unemployment; uncertainty on institutional and development reform progress following 2023 military coup

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $48.201 billion (2023 est.); $47.134 billion (2022 est.); $45.776 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 2.26% (2023 est.); 2.97% (2022 est.); 1.47% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $19,800 (2023 est.); $19,700 (2022 est.); $19,600 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 32.3% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 11.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 17.1% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 56.7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -17.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 5.8% (2023 est.)
Industry: 52.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 36.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: plantains, cassava, sugarcane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat, rubber (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Industrial production growth rate: 3.5% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 763,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 20.36% (2023 est.); 20.5% (2022 est.); 21.23% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 36.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 31.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 42.9% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 33.4% (2017 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $2.939 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $2.732 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 9.13% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 62.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 2.6% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 3.63% (2023 est.); 4.23% (2022 est.); 1.09% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $140.996 million (2015 est.); $1.112 billion (2014 est.); $1.463 billion (2013 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $12.935 billion (2022 est.); $11.229 billion (2021 est.); $7.275 billion (2020 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 43%, South Korea 8%, Italy 7%, India 7%, Indonesia 5% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: crude petroleum, manganese ore, wood, veneer sheets, refined petroleum (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $3.499 billion (2022 est.); $3.353 billion (2021 est.); $3.454 billion (2020 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 22%, France 21%, UAE 5%, US 5%, Belgium 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: poultry, plastic products, iron pipes, fish, excavation machinery (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $1.372 billion (2019 est.); $1.321 billion (2018 est.); $965.054 million (2017 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $6.06 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 93.5% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 98.5%
Access electrification rural areas: 29%
Installed generating capacity: 784,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 2.497 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 544.035 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 433.104 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 58.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 41.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 82,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 204,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 16,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 2 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 463 million m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 463 million m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 25.995 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 3.47 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 251,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.311 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 908,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 23.955 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 43,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 2.995 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 125 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.8% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Gabonese Armed Forces (Force Armées Gabonaise or FAG; aka National Defense and Security Forces of Gabon or des Forces Nationales de Défense et de Sécurité (FNDS) du Gabon): Army (Armée de Terre, AT), Navy (Marine Nationale, MN), Air Force (l'Armée de l'Air, AA), Light Aviation (L’Aviation Légère des Armées, ALA), Fire Brigade (du Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers); National Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Gabonaise, GENA); Republican Guard (Garde Républicaine, GR); Military Health Service (Service de Santé Militaire, SSM); Military Engineering (Génie Militaire) (2024)
Note 1: the National Police Forces, under the Ministry of Interior, and the National Gendarmerie (GENA), under the Ministry of Defense, are responsible for law enforcement and public security; elements of the armed forces and the Republican Guard, an elite unit that protects the president under his direct authority, sometimes perform internal security functions
Note 2: the GENA is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group

Military service age and obligation: 18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: TR

Airports: 40 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines: 807 km gas, 1,639 km oil, 3 km water (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 14,300 km
Paved: 900 km
Unpaved: 13,400 km (2001)

Waterways: 1,600 km (2010) (310 km on Ogooue River)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs