Gabon

Code: GB | Region: Africa

Introduction

Background

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Gabon, a sparsely populated country known for its dense rainforests and vast petroleum reserves, is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in central Africa. Approximately 40 ethnic groups are represented, the largest of which is the Fang, a group that covers the northern third of Gabon and expands north into Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon. From about the early 1300s, various kingdoms emerged in present-day Gabon and the surrounding area, including the Kingdoms of Loango and Orungu. Because most early Bantu languages spoken in these kingdoms did not have a written form, much of Gabon's early history was lost over time. Portuguese traders who arrived in the mid-1400s gave the area its name of Gabon. At that time, indigenous trade networks began to engage with European traders, exchanging goods such as ivory and wood. For a century beginning in the 1760s, trade came to focus mostly on enslaved people. While many groups in Gabon participated in the slave trade, the Fang were a notable exception. As the slave trade declined in the late 1800s, France colonized the country and directed a widespread extraction of Gabonese resources. Anti-colonial rhetoric by Gabon’s educated elites increased significantly in the early 1900s, but no widespread rebellion materialized. French decolonization after World War II led to the country’s independence in 1960. Within a year of independence, the government changed from a parliamentary to a presidential system, and Leon M’BA won the first presidential election in 1961. El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba was M’BA’s vice president and assumed the presidency after M’BA’s death in 1967. BONGO went on to dominate the country's political scene for four decades (1967-2009). In 1968, he declared Gabon a single-party state and created the still-dominant Parti Democratique Gabonais (PDG). In the early 1990s, he reintroduced a multiparty system under a new constitution in response to growing political opposition. He was reelected by wide margins in 1995, 1998, 2002, and 2005 against a divided opposition and amidst allegations of fraud. After BONGO's death in 2009, a new election brought his son, Ali BONGO Ondimba, to power, and he was reelected in 2016. He won a third term in the August 2023 election but was overthrown in a military coup a few days later. Gen. Brice OLIGUI Nguema led a military group called the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions that arrested BONGO, canceled the election results, and dissolved state institutions. In September 2023, OLIGUI was sworn in as transitional president of Gabon.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

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1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references

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Africa

Area

total

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267,667 sq km

land

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257,667 sq km

water

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10,000 sq km

Area - comparative

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slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries

total

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3,261 km

border countries

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Cameroon 349 km; Republic of the Congo 2,567 km; Equatorial Guinea 345 km

Coastline

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885 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

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12 nm

contiguous zone

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24 nm

exclusive economic zone

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200 nm

Climate

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tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain

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

Elevation

highest point

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Mont Bengoue 1,050 m

lowest point

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Atlantic Ocean 0 m

mean elevation

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377 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

agricultural land

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8.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)

forest

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91.5% (2023 est.)

other

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0.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

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40 sq km (2012)

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage

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Congo (3,730,881 sq km)

Major aquifers

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Congo Basin

Population distribution

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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

Natural hazards

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none

Geography - note

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the country has maintained its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

People and Society

Population

total

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2,513,738 (2025 est.)

male

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1,299,085

female

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1,214,653

Nationality

noun

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Gabonese (singular and plural)

adjective

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Gabonese

Ethnic groups

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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

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

Religions

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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.)

Age structure

0-14 years

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34.6% (male 429,133/female 421,120)

15-64 years

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61.1% (male 787,480/female 711,913)

65 years and over

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4.3% (2024 est.) (male 53,410/female 52,049)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

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63 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

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55.8 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

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7.2 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

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13.9 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

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22.3 years (2025 est.)

male

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22.5 years

female

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21.5 years

Population growth rate

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2.35% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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25.51 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

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5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

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3.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Population distribution

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Urbanization

urban population

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91% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

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870,000 LIBREVILLE (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio

at birth

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1.03 male(s)/female

0-14 years

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1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years

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1.11 male(s)/female

65 years and over

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1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

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19.6 years (2012 est.)

note

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 20-49

Maternal mortality ratio

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233 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total

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26 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

male

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29.7 deaths/1,000 live births

female

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24 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

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70.4 years (2024 est.)

male

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68.6 years

female

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72.1 years

Total fertility rate

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3.16 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

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1.56 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

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urban: 90.2% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 54.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 86.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 9.8% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 45.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 13.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

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2.7% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

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9.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

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0.52 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

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urban: 81.3% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

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rural: 55.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

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total: 78.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

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urban: 18.7% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

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rural: 44.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

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total: 21.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

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15% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total

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6.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer

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5.31 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

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0.62 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

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0.5 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

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0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

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5.4% (2020 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

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48.5% (2020 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15

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2.9% (2021)

women married by age 18

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13.3% (2021)

men married by age 18

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4.8% (2021)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

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2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

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13.6% national budget (2023 est.)

Literacy

total population

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88.9% (2021 est.)

male

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90.8% (2021 est.)

female

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87.1% (2021 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

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deforestation from logging; solid-waste disposal; water pollution from oil industry; wildlife poaching

International environmental agreements

party to

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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

signed, but not ratified

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none of the selected agreements

Climate

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tropical; always hot, humid

Land use

agricultural land

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8.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

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arable land: 1.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

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permanent crops: 0.7% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

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permanent pasture: 6.4% (2023 est.)

forest

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91.5% (2023 est.)

other

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0.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

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91% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

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2.27% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

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3.144 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

text

230,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

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2.005 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

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908,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

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29.6 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions

energy

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272.4 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture

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4.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

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18.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other

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5.4 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

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238,100 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

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22.4% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal

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84.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

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14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural

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40.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

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166 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

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Gabonese Republic

conventional short form

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Gabon

local long form

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République Gabonaise

local short form

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Gabon

etymology

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name originates from the Portuguese word gabão, meaning "cloak," possibly used by early explorers to describe the shape of the Komo River estuary

Government type

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presidential republic

Capital

name

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Libreville

geographic coordinates

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0 23 N, 9 27 E

time difference

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UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology

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the city was founded in 1849 by freed slaves, and the name means "free town" in French

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

text

mixed system of French civil law and customary law

Constitution

history

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previous 1961, 1991; latest approved in November 2024 referendum

amendment process

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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

International law organization participation

text

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

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citizenship by descent only

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at least one parent must be a citizen of Gabon

dual citizenship recognized

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residency requirement for naturalization

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10 years

Suffrage

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18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state

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President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)

head of government

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President Brice OLIGUI Nguema (since 3 May 2025)

cabinet

text

cabinet appointed by president

election/appointment process

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the president directly elected by plurality vote to a 7-year term (no term limits)

most recent election date

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12 April 2025

election results

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2025: Brice OLIGUI Nguema elected president; percent of vote - Brice OLIGUI Nguema (Ind.) 90.35%, Alain Claude Bilie By Nze (EPG) 3.02%, other 6.63% 2016: Ali BONGO Ondimba reelected president; percent of vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba (PDG) 49.8%, Jean PING (UFC) 48.2%, other 2.0%

Legislative branch

legislature name

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Parliament

legislative structure

text

bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

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National Assembly (Assemblée nationale)

number of seats

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145 (all directly elected)

electoral system

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plurality/majority

scope of elections

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full renewal

term in office

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5 years

most recent election date

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10/6/2023

percentage of women in chamber

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21.6%

expected date of next election

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November 2030

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

text

Senate (Senate)

number of seats

text

70 (all indirectly elected)

scope of elections

text

full renewal

term in office

text

5 years

most recent election date

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9/27/2025 to 10/11/2025

percentage of women in chamber

text

20.3%

expected date of next election

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November 2025

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

text

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

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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

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Courts of Appeal; county courts; military courts

Political parties

text

Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG Restoration of Republican Values or RV The Democrats or LD

note

Paul Mba Abessole

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador Noël Nelson MESSONE (12 December 2022)

chancery

text

2034 20th Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20009

telephone

text

[1] (202) 797-1000

FAX

text

[1] (301) 332-0668

email address and website

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info@gaboneembassyusa.org https://gabonembassyusa.org/en/

consulate(s) general

text

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

text

Ambassador Vernelle Trim FITZPATRICK (since 26 January 2024); note - also accredited to Sao Tome and Principe

embassy

text

Sabliere, B.P. 4000, Libreville

mailing address

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2270 Libreville Place, Washington, DC 20521-2270

telephone

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[241] 011-45-71-00

FAX

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[241] 011-45-71-05

email address and website

text

ACSLibreville@state.gov https://ga.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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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

Independence

text

17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday

text

Independence Day, 17 August (1960)

Flag

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description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue meaning: green stands for the country's forests and natural resources, gold for the equator and the sun, and blue for the sea

National symbol(s)

text

black panther

National color(s)

text

green, yellow, blue

National coat of arms

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the panthers represent vigilance and courage, and they support a shield with a ship and an okoume tree, which is a symbol of the timber trade; the ribbon below the shield has the national motto in French, Union, Travail, Justice ("Union, Work, Justice"), and the ribbon above the shield has the Latin phrase Uniti Progrediemur ("We shall go forward united")

National anthem(s)

title

text

"La Concorde" (The Concorde)

lyrics/music

text

Georges Aleka DAMAS

history

text

adopted 1960

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites

text

2 (1 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales

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Ecosystem and Relict Cultural Landscape of Lopé-Okanda (m); Ivindo National Park (n)

Economy

Economic overview

text

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)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

text

$48.045 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

text

$46.472 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

text

$45.363 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2024

text

3.4% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

text

2.4% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

text

3% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

text

$18,900 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

text

$18,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

text

$18,700 (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$20.867 billion (2024 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

text

1.2% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

text

3.6% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

text

4.2% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

text

6.2% (2024 est.)

industry

text

50.9% (2024 est.)

services

text

37.5% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

text

33.7% (2024 est.)

government consumption

text

12.2% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

text

18.1% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

text

0% (2024 est.)

exports of goods and services

text

65.3% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

text

-29.2% (2024 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agricultural products

text

oil palm fruit, plantains, cassava, sugarcane, yams, taro, vegetables, maize, groundnuts, game meat (2023)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries

text

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

Industrial production growth rate

text

2.8% (2024 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force

text

824,400 (2024 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024

text

20.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

text

20.3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

text

20.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total

text

36% (2024 est.)

male

text

31.1% (2024 est.)

female

text

42.3% (2024 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

text

33.4% (2017 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017

text

38 (2017 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

text

2.2% (2017 est.)

highest 10%

text

27.7% (2017 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Remittances

Remittances 2023

text

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2022

text

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2021

text

0.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Budget

revenues

text

$2.939 billion (2021 est.)

expenditures

text

$3.226 billion (2021 est.)

note

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

Public debt

Public debt 2016

text

64.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

text

9.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Current account balance

Current account balance 2015

text

$140.996 million (2015 est.)

Current account balance 2014

text

$1.112 billion (2014 est.)

Current account balance 2013

text

$1.463 billion (2013 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports

Exports 2024

text

$13.622 billion (2024 est.)

Exports 2023

text

$12.869 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2022

text

$13.814 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - partners

text

China 26%, Indonesia 8%, Spain 7%, Israel 6%, Congo, Republic of the 5% (2023)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

crude petroleum, ships, manganese ore, refined petroleum, wood (2023)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports

Imports 2024

text

$6.094 billion (2024 est.)

Imports 2023

text

$5.38 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2022

text

$5.005 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - partners

text

France 14%, China 13%, S. Korea 13%, USA 7%, India 4% (2023)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

ships, refined petroleum, iron pipes, cars, packaged medicine (2023)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

text

$1.447 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

text

$1.415 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

text

$1.304 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

text

$6.442 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Coopération Financière en Afrique Centrale francs (XAF) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

606.345 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

606.57 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

623.76 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

554.531 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

575.586 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

93.5% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

text

98.5%

electrification - rural areas

text

29%

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

785,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

3.173 billion kWh (2023 est.)

imports

text

584.039 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

604 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

51.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

text

47.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

biomass and waste

text

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

imports

text

75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production

text

204,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

text

14,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

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2 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas

production

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463 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption

text

463 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

text

25.995 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

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22.101 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

67,100 (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

3 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

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3.18 million (2024 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

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125 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

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2 state-run TV stations and 2 state-run radio stations; a few private radio and TV stations; transmissions of at least 2 international broadcasters are accessible; satellite service subscriptions are available

Internet country code

text

.ga

Internet users

percent of population

text

72% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

80,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

3 (2022 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

Airports

text

42 (2025)

Railways

total

text

649 km (2014)

standard gauge

text

649 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

Merchant marine

total

text

87 (2023)

by type

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bulk carrier 1, general cargo 19, oil tanker 30, other 37

Ports

total ports

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9 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

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very small

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ports with oil terminals

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key ports

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Libreville, Oguendjo Terminal, Port Gentil, Port Owendo

Military and Security

Military and security forces

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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, Navy, Air Force, Light Aviation, Fire Brigade; Gabon National Gendarmerie (GENA); Republican Guard (GR); Military Health Service; Military Engineering (2025)

note

note: 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; the GENA is organized into regionally-based “legions,” mobile forces, a national parks security unit, and a special intervention group

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2024

text

1.5% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

text

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

text

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

text

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

text

1.8% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

text

approximately 7,000 active-duty Armed Forces including the Republican Guard and Gendarmerie (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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the Gabonese military has a mix of older and limited quantities of more modern armaments; suppliers include Brazil, China, France, Germany, Russia/former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Spain (2025)

Military service age and obligation

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18-24 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)

Military - note

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the Gabonese military is a small and lightly armed force that is responsible for both external and internal security; the military may also participate in the economic and social development work of the nation; key defense priorities include securing the country's borders and maritime domain; it has contributed to regional peacekeeping and joint security operations; in August 2023, officers from the Republican Guard seized control of the government and placed the president under arrest (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies

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Gabonese Studies and Space Observations Agency (Agence Gabonaise d’Etudes et d’Observations Spatiales or AGEOS; established 2015) (2025)

Space program overview

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has a small space program focused on using data from remote sensing (RS) satellites for environmental and natural-resource management, mapping, land-use planning, maritime surveillance, and research; member of the African Space Agency; has relationships with Brazil, China, the ESA, individual ESA member states (particularly France), and the US, as well as African countries such as Kenya, Niger, Rwanda, and South Africa; shares RS satellite data with neighboring countries (2025)

Key space-program milestones

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1986 - ESA established a ground station in Gabon 2018 - completed mapping Gabon’s forests 2019 - founding member of the Space Climate Observatory 2021 - began acquisition process for first satellite in joint project with Japan, known as BIRDs 2025 - became member of new African Space Agency

Transnational Issues

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

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261 (2024 est.)