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Gabon
Gabon
Population
2.5M
Rank #142Source: World Bank
Capital
Libreville
Source: REST Countries
Region
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$20.90B
Rank #126Source: World Bank
Land Area
267.7K km²
Rank #77Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
68.337 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 267,668 km²
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Climate: tropical; always hot, humid
Terrain: narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Elevation: mean elevation: 377 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural Hazards: none
Environmental 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...
Land Use: agricultural land: 19% (2011 est.) forest: 81% (2011 est.) other: 0% (2011 est.)
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...
Natural Resources
petroleumnatural gasdiamondniobiummanganeseuraniumgoldtimberiron orehydropower
People & Society
Fertility Rate
3.65
Population
2.5M
Ethnic Groups
Gabonese-born 80.1% (includes Fang (23.2%)Shira-Punu/Vili (18.9%)Nzabi-Duma (11.3%)Mbede-Teke (6.9%)Myene (5%)Kota-Kele (4.9%)Okande-Tsogo (2.1%)Pygmy (0.3%)other (7.5%)Cameroonian (4.6%)Malian (2.4%)Beninese (2.1%)acquired Gabonese nationality (1.6%)Togolese (1.6%)Senegalese (1.1%)Congolese (Brazzaville) (1%)other (5.5%)
Religions
Roman Catholic (42.3%)Protestant (12.3%)other Christian (27.4%)Muslim (9.8%)animist (0.6%)other (0.5%)none/no answer (7.1%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$8,230.043
GDP per Capita PPP
21,510.173
(2024)
(2024)
GNI per Capita
7,790
(2024)
(2024)
Gini Index
38
(2017)
(2017)
Unemployment
20.091%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
1.173%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
Not Available
Energy
Electricity Access
94.1%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
91.3%
(2021)
(2021)
CO₂ Emissions
5.199 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
6.47 MJ/$
(2021)
(2021)
Renewable Electricity
33.208%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
91.182% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
71.926%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
122.607%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
3.973%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
Not Available
Container Port Traffic
180,000 TEU
(2020)
(2020)
Airports
2,305
Rail Lines
648 km
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG), Gabonese National...
Personnel Strength
the Gabonese Defense Forces (FDG) are comprised of approximately 6,500 active duty troops (3,000 Land Forces; 500 Navy; 1,000 Air Force; 2,000 Gendarmerie)
Military Expenditure (USD)
$0.32B
Military Expenditure (% of GDP)
1.54%
Military Expenditure History
1.6% of GDP (2019) 1.5% of GDP (2018) 1.8% of GDP (2017) 1.4% of GDP (2016) 1.2% of GDP (2015)
Deployments
450 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2020)
Equipment & Inventories
the FDG's inventory is comprised mostly of Brazilian, French, and South African equipment; since 2010, the leading suppliers are France and South Africa (2019 est.)
Service Age & Obligation
20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
42.987%
(2019)
(2019)
Primary Enrollment
100.172%
(2019)
(2019)
Secondary Enrollment
70.264%
(2019)
(2019)
Tertiary Enrollment
Not Available
Education Spending
2.316% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
88.86%
(2021)
(2021)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
24.531:1
(2011)
(2011)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.521
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
88.6%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
Not Available
Under-5 Mortality
33.2 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
14.54 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
67.918
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
48
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
61%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
3.8%
(2017)
(2017)
Food Insecurity
25.3%
(2023)
(2023)
Youth NEET Rate
Not Available
Governance
Women in Government
25.51%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
-0.92
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
-0.34
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
-0.78
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.70
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
-0.87
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
-1.02
(Weak)
(2023)
(Weak)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
presidential republic
Legal System
mixed legal system of French civil law and customary law
Executive Branch
chief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October 2009) head of government: Prime Minister Rose Christiane Ossouka RAPONDA (since 16 July 2020) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of:Senate or Senat (102 seats; members indirectly elected by municipal councils and departmental assemblies by absolute majority vote in 2...
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...
National Symbols
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,...
National Symbols
black panther; national colors: green, yellow, blue
National Anthem
name: "La Concorde" (The Concorde) lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS note: adopted 1960
Travel Information
Language(s): French
Currency: XAF (Fr)
Timezone(s): UTC+01:00
Landlocked: No
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Right
Calling Code: +241
Car Sign: G
Week Starts: Monday
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data