Introduction
Background
El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - dominated the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009) following independence from France in 1960. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in December 2002 and the presidential elections in 2005 exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Following President BONGO's death in 2009, new elections brought Ali BONGO Ondimba, son of the former president, to power. Despite constrained political conditions, Gabon's small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make it one of the more stable African countries.
Geography
Location
Central Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Guinea country facts" data-cl-code="GNQ">Equatorial Guinea
Geographic coordinates
1 00 S, 11 45 E
Area (sq km)
total: 267,667 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km
Area - comparative (sq km)
slightly smaller than Colorado
Land boundaries (km)
total: 3,261 km
border countries: Cameroon 349 km, Republic of the Congo 2,567 km, Guinea country facts" data-cl-code="GNQ">Equatorial Guinea 345 km
Coastline (km)
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 extremes (m)
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Land use (%)
arable land: 1.21%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 98.15% (2011)
Irrigated land (sq km)
44.5 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources (cu km)
164 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) ()
total: 0.14 cu km/yr (61%/10%/29%)
per capita: 97.68 cu m/yr (2005)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
deforestation; poaching
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
People and Society
Nationality
noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese
Ethnic groups (%)
Bantu tribes, including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba); other Africans and Europeans, 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality
Languages (%)
French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi
Religions (%)
Christian 55%-75%, animist, Muslim less than 1%
Population
1,672,597
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2014 est.) evolution and prospects (1950-2100)
Age structure (%)
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 353,863/female 350,456)
15-24 years: 20.3% (male 169,681/female 169,082)
25-54 years: 29.7% (male 248,328/female 248,063)
55-64 years: 4.2% (male 33,608/female 35,838)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 27,117/female 36,561) (2014 est.)
Median age (years)
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.8 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate (%)
1.94% (2014 est.)
Birth rate (births/1,000 population)
34.64 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Death rate (deaths/1,000 population)
13.13 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Net migration rate (migrant(s)/1,000 population)
-2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)
Urbanization (%)
urban population: 86.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.27% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population
LIBREVILLE (capital) 686,000 (2011)
Sex ratio (male(s)/female)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate (deaths/100,000 live births)
230 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate (deaths/1,000 live births)
total: 47.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth (years)
total population: 52.06 years
male: 51.54 years
female: 52.6 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate (children born/woman)
4.49 children born/woman (2014 est.)
Health expenditures (% of GDP)
3.2% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density (physicians/1,000 population)
0.29 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Hospital bed density (beds/1,000 population)
6.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)
Drinking water source (% of population)
improved: urban: 96.8% of population
rural: 63% of population
total: 92.2% of population
unimproved: urban: 3.2% of population
rural: 37% of population
total: 7.8% of population (2012 est.)
Sanitation facility access (% of population)
improved: urban: 42.9% of population
rural: 32% of population
total: 41.4% of population
unimproved: urban: 57.1% of population
rural: 68% of population
total: 58.6% of population (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate (%)
4% (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
40,700 (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
2,300 (2012 est.)
Major infectious diseases
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria and dengue fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate (%)
13.9% (2008)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight (%)
6.5% (2012)
Education expenditures (% of GDP)
NA
Literacy (%)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 92.3%
female: 85.6% (2011 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon
Government type
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem
Independence
17 August 1960 (from France)
National holiday
Independence Day, 17 August (1960)
Constitution
previous 1961; latest drafted May 1990, adopted 15 March 1991, promulgated 26 March 1991; amended several times, last in 2011 (2013)
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President Ali BONGO ONDIMBA (since 16 October 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Daniel ONA ONDO (since 27 January 2014)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 30 August 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Ali BONGO ONDIMBA elected; percent of vote - Ali BONGO ONDIMBA 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note: President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president for 32 years; in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009; new elections were held on 30 August 2009 and the son of the former president, Ali BONGO Ondimba, was elected president
Legislative branch
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (102 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 18 January 2009 (next to be held in January 2015); National Assembly - last held on 17 December 2011 (next to be held in December 2016)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 75, RPG 6, UGDD 3, CLR 2, PGCI 2, PSD 2, UPG 2, ADERE 1, independents 9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDG 114, RPG 3, others 3
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (organized into Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts chambers and consists of NA judges); Constitutional Court (consists of 9 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointment and tenure 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 7-year, single renewable terms
subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; county courts; military courts
Political parties and leaders
Alliance for National Rebirth or ARENA [Richard MOULOMBA]
Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]
Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]
Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]
Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG [Ali BONGO ONDIMBA]
Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Benoit Mouity NZAMBA]
Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacharie MYBOTO]
Independent Center Party of Gabon or PGCI [Luccheri GAHILA]
National Rally of Woodcutters-Democratic or RNB-D [Pierre Andre KOMBILA]
National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]
Party of Development and Social Solidarity or PDS [Seraphin Ndoat REMBOGO]
Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]
Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS
Union for the New Republic or UPRN [Louis Gaston MAYILA]
Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Mathieu Mboumba NZIENGUI (until the next Congress)]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael MOUSSA-ADAMO (since 2 September 2011)
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s): New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Dante PARADISO; note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville; pouch: 2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270
telephone: [241] 01-45-71-00, after hours - 07380171
FAX: [241] 74 55 07
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 symbol(s)
black panther
National anthem
name: "La Concorde" (The Concorde)
lyrics/music: Georges Aleka DAMAS
note: adopted 1960
Economy
Economy - overview
Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most sub-Saharan African nations, but because of high income inequality, a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The economy was reliant on oil for about 50% of its GDP, about 70% of revenues, and 87% of goods exports for 2010, although some fields have passed their peak production. A rebound of oil prices from 1999 to 2008 helped growth, but declining production has hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. Gabon signed a 14-month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2007, and later that year issued a $1 billion sovereign bond to buy back a sizable portion of its Paris Club debt. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management has stifled the economy. However, President BONGO ONDIMBA has made efforts to increase transparency and is taking steps to make Gabon a more attractive investment destination to diversify the economy. BONGO ONDIMBA has attempted to boost growth by increasing government investment in human resources and infrastructure. GDP grew more than 6% per year over the 2010-13 period.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$30.06 billion (2013 est.)
$28.19 billion (2012 est.)
$26.7 billion (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate)
$19.97 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate (%)
6.6% (2013 est.)
5.6% (2012 est.)
7.1% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$19,200 (2013 est.)
$18,300 (2012 est.)
$17,600 (2011 est.)
note: data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (%)
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 63.9%
services: 32.5% (2013 est.)
Labor force
629,100 (2013 est.)
Labor force - by occupation (%)
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25% (2000 est.)
Unemployment rate (%)
21% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line (%)
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 32.7% (2005)
Budget
revenues: $5.031 billion
expenditures: $6.599 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues (% of GDP)
25.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) (% of GDP)
-7.9% of GDP (2013 est.)
Public debt (% of GDP)
23.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
22.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) (%)
1.2% (2013 est.)
2.7% (2012 est.)
Central bank discount rate (%)
3% (31 December 2010 est.)
4.25% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate (%)
15% (31 December 2013 est.)
15% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$2.497 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.552 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money
$3.973 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.908 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$1.7 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$1.672 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$NA
Agriculture - products
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish
Industries
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement
Industrial production growth rate (%)
4.4% (2013 est.)
Current account balance
$1.783 billion (2013 est.)
$2.687 billion (2012 est.)
Exports
$9.777 billion (2013 est.)
$10.2 billion (2012 est.)
Exports - commodities (%)
crude oil, timber, manganese, uranium
Exports - partners (%)
Japan 24.1%, US 17%, Australia 11.3%, India 7.4%, China 5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2012)
Imports
$3.934 billion (2013 est.)
$3.638 billion (2012 est.)
Imports - commodities (%)
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials
Imports - partners (%)
France 28.2%, China 12.6%, US 9.4%, Belgium 5.8%, Cameroon 4.3% (2012)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$2.47 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$2.373 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
External debt ($)
$3.433 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
$3.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency converter
Cooperation Financiere en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -
504.9 (2013 est.)
510.53 (2012 est.)
495.28 (2010 est.)
472.19 (2009)
447.81 (2008)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Energy
Electricity - production (kWh)
1.777 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - consumption (kWh)
1.442 billion kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - exports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - imports (kWh)
0 kWh (2012 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity (kW)
415,000 kW (2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels (% of total installed capacity)
59% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants (% of total installed capacity)
41% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources (% of total installed capacity)
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
Crude oil - production (bbl/day)
242,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
Crude oil - exports (bbl/day)
225,300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - imports (bbl/day)
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves (bbl)
2 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production (bbl/day)
19,280 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption (bbl/day)
15,800 bbl/day (2011 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports (bbl/day)
7,670 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports (bbl/day)
4,594 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production (cu m)
70 million cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - consumption (cu m)
80 million cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - exports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - imports (cu m)
0 cu m (2011 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves (cu m)
28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy (Mt)
4.758 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use
17,000 (2012)
Telephones - mobile cellular
2.93 million (2012)
Telephone system
general assessment: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
domestic: a growing mobile-cellular network with multiple providers is making telephone service more widely available with mobile-cellular teledensity exceeding 100 per 100 persons
international: country code - 241; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media
state owns and operates 2 TV stations and 2 radio broadcast stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available (2007)
Internet country code
.ga
Internet hosts
127 (2012)
Internet users
98,800 (2009)
Transportation
Airports
44 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 14 (2013)
Pipelines (km)
gas 807 km; oil 1,639 km; water 3 km (2013)
Railways (km)
total: 649 km
standard gauge: 649 km 1.435-m gauge (2008)
Roadways (km)
total: 9,170 km
paved: 1,097 km
unpaved: 8,073 km (2007)
Waterways (km)
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2010)
Merchant marine
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2010)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Libreville, Owendo, Port-Gentil
oil/gas terminal(s): Gamba, Lucina
Military
Military branches
Gabonese Defense Forces (Forces de Defense Gabonaise): Land Force (Force Terrestre), Gabonese Navy (Marine Gabonaise), Gabonese Air Forces (Forces Aerienne Gabonaises, FAG) (2012)
Military service age and obligation (years of age)
20 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 350,640
females age 16-49: 351,718 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 202,404
females age 16-49: 195,389 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 17,638
female: 17,614 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures (% of GDP)
1.34% of GDP (2012)
NA% (2011)
1.34% of GDP (2010)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
UN urges Guinea country facts" data-cl-code="GNQ">Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and lesser islands and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay
Largest cities of Gabon
These are the 50 largest cities of Gabon ordered based on their number of inhabitants.
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Libreville | 578,156 |
| 2 | Port-Gentil | 109,163 |
| 3 | Oyem | 30,870 |
| 4 | Moanda | 30,151 |
| 5 | Mouila | 22,469 |
| 6 | Lambaréné | 20,714 |
| 7 | Tchibanga | 19,365 |
| 8 | Koulamoutou | 16,222 |
| 9 | Makokou | 13,571 |
| 10 | Bitam | 10,297 |
| 11 | Tsogni | 9,957 |
| 12 | Gamba | 9,928 |
| 13 | Mounana | 8,780 |
| 14 | Ntoum | 8,569 |
| 15 | Nkan | 8,526 |
| 16 | Lastoursville | 8,340 |
| 17 | Okandja | 7,155 |
| 18 | Ndendé | 6,200 |
| 19 | Booué | 5,787 |
| 20 | Fougamou | 5,649 |
| 21 | Ndjolé | 5,098 |